Lack of Cootamundra-Gundagai finance report impedes council Boundaries Commission demerger probe

The Boundaries Commission was asked by Local Government Minister Shelly Hancock in August to evaluate a demerger proposal that was sent in by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council in early July.

"The [Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional] Council has advised the Boundaries Commission that it was unable to complete its 2020-21 financial accounts by the due date of 31 October and that has sought and received an extension to December 17 2021," a boundaries commission statement said.

"The Boundaries Commission has determined that it would not be appropriate to base its examination of the proposal on the previous year's financial position and is therefore awaiting completion and audit of the 2020-21 accounts.

"The Commission has re-appointed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to provide advice on the financial aspects of the de-amalgamation proposal."

Boundaries Commission chairman Bob Sendt said financial aspects were only one of the nine factors required under the Local Government Act for the commissions to consider in its independent examination of the proposal.

"However a proper analysis of the financial advantages or disadvantages of any proposed change to a council boundary is key to understanding councils' ability to provide services to local residents and ratepayers while remaining financially viable," Mr Sendt said.

Mr Sendt said the commission expected to announce the timing and venues of its public inquiries and the opening and closing dates for public submissions in early January around the demerger proposal.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: