Inverell Shire Council resolved to accept the recommendation of the Local Government Review Panel (LGRP) and remain a ‘stand alone’ council with a roadmap that, very basically, planned for an additional $6 million for the rural road network from July 1, and an additional $2.75 million added to that figure over the period to 2020. It opposed state government privatisation of water and sewerage and observed that a case could be mounted for Tingha, Bundarra and Bingara to be part of Inverell shire.

Mayor Paul Harmon said from 2011 to 2017, Inverell would meet five out of the seven FFF ratios, but council’s improvement plan would see council meet all seven ratios. 

He said two submissions on the draft were made from the public. 

“Those were quite remarkably different. One had a really holistic approach to everything that relates in the shire, whereas the other was more pointed at only one aspect of council’s operations moving forward,” Cr Harmon said. “It’s been a long document to put together; a lot of changing in the different ratios, and with extra funding we’ve got through Roads to Recovery, we’ve actually got to watch how that may tip some of the ratios.”

Council will receive $1.89 million extra next year for its roads and the following year it will be an extra 2 million. FFF came after an independent LGRP had conducted a two-year review into NSW local government, and recommended change in late 2013. 

Each NSW council was asked to assess its current scale, capacity and performance and prepare a plan to ensure it will be FFF. 

While amalgamation may be a consideration for some, councils with sound proposals that demonstrate the appropriate scale and capacity, and that developed an improvement plan, will be considered as FFF.

An independent expert panel will be assess FFF submissions and make recommendations to the Minister for Local Government.

Despite last week’s decision, Cr Harmon said council would have to decide in the future if it was still the best fit for the community.