Meetings with both the Minister for Local Government, Gabrielle Upton and the Acting Chief Executive at Office of Local Government, Tim Hurst, have not made Nambucca Shire’s position regarding Joint Organisation membership any clearer.
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The mayor Rhonda Hoban said she repeatedly asked for information outlining the council’s options, including whether there would be ‘financial disadvantages’ to not being in a Joint Organisation.
She said the Minister had referred her to Mr Hurst, who only said non-members would not have access to the $300,000 JO seed funding and there was no grant program specific to JOs at this point in time.
“Really we are no clearer about our situation,” Cr Hoban said.
“We need to know our options before we can make a decision. If we are told we can’t form a second JO for the region, possibly with Coffs and Clarence (the other two councils in the same position) and that there are penalties, then we would have to give serious consideration to joining the JO with Bellingen, Kempsey and Port Macquarie/Hastings.
“But until we know that, then it is impossible to make any decision. We have been told a letter will be sent soon outlining our options.”
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