Minister for Local Government has indicated that the new councils will be in place for the next local government elections in September 2024.

Implementing the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council will be a very complex undertaking and this will take time.

Regular updates will be provided to the community throughout this process as they are available.

Demerging councils is significantly more complex than merging councils and it will take time.

This will be a very complex undertaking requiring the creation of two entirely new councils, rather than simply a return to the previous Cootamundra and Gundagai councils.

The NSW Government’s focus is not only on demerging the existing council, but ensuring the demerged councils are set up for future success.

The Government has identified that potential changes to the Act may be required to better facilitate the demerger. The extent and nature of those changes will be a matter for a future Government.

It is the Government’s expectation that Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council will remain in place until at least mid 2024.

A Roadmap for the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has been developed to show the pathway forward.

A transition manager is expected to be introduced in the second quarter of 2023 to oversee the build of the new councils while the existing Cootamundra-Gundagai council continues its operations.

It’s expected the new councils would commence operations prior to the local government elections in September 2024.

The Minister for Local Government has asked the Office of Local Government to provide a path forward for the demerger, consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993.

As part of its due diligence the OLG has appointed consultants with financial and local government expertise to assist with the implementation of the demerger, which will be a very complex undertaking.

The OLG is in regular communication with Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and will continue to work closely with the council throughout the process.

The Roadmap for the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council was developed to show the pathway forward and highlight the steps involved in progressing the demerger. The roadmap can be found here.

The Government has made no decisions on the future structure of the demerged councils

Direct costs associated with the demerger of the council will be paid by the NSW Government, in-line with state legislation, however ongoing operating costs will be a matter for the two new councils.

Any future demerger proposal received by the Government would be considered on its own merits, in line with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993.