Former Wyong mayor Greg Best slams State Government on “undemocratic” council mergers
FORMER Wyong mayor Greg Best has slammed the State Government for “shafting” ratepayers and ignoring their right to vote for council amalgamations.
Central Coast
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FORMER Wyong mayor Greg Best has slammed the State Government for “shafting” ratepayers and ignoring their right to vote for council amalgamations.
The former independent councillor labelled outgoing NSW Premier Mike Baird’s forced council merger plans as an “expensive” and “undemocratic dog’s breakfast”.
Mr Best told the Express Advocate he was “extremely frustrated” to hear newly appointed Premier Gladys Berejiklian would not reconsider the Government’s position on merging Gosford and Wyong councils.
Mr Best claims councils had no choice but to surrender to the amalgamation process or risk losing out on a $20 million funding deal.
“It’s time to call the undemocratic and forced amalgamation for what it really is; simply, a pig with lipstick,” Mr Best, who currently sits as an adviser on Central Coast Council’s Local Representation Committee, said.
“This whole fiasco was only ever supported as the State Government had a political gun at the head of the former councils while flatly refusing to consult.
“Then they just took a stroke of a pen to the joint and decimated the councils, the staff and the whole damn thing, putting everyone into a tail spin.
“You’ve got to have change in life, I’m fully up for it. But you’ve got to manage change and help people adjust to it, not just go in there with a sledge hammer and destroy everything.”
While not fully opposed to the establishment of one super council for the region, Mr Best said it was the community’s right to have their say on the controversial issue.
“It’s not whether your position on amalgamation is a good idea, it’s to go about it democratically and to do it in an appropriate way,” he said.
“You don’t just shaft people as this Government has gone and done.
“People have had it, they want to be consulted.
“That’s why the rise of Hanson and Trump have occurred because these politicians have forgotten about the little people who are doing it tough.”
Mr Best’s scathing remarks come as 2GB radio shock jock Ray Hadley called on Ms Berejiklian to “sort out” Central Coast Council earlier in the week.
Mr Hadley’s on-air spray follows two “dud” deals in Warnervale, including the controversial Chappypie Chinese-theme park and Amphibian Aircraft Group’s failed 40-year airport lease.
However, Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald confirmed there were no plans for the NSW Government to backflip on the Gosford and Wyong council merger.
“For the last 20 to 25 years this amalgamation has been talked about by a succession of ministers, governments and councils,” he said.
“We’ve moved towards this for a long period of time.
“Money was put on the table to help make it work and reduce any impact on ratepayers.
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“The feedback I’m getting very strongly from the community is it was logical and welcome.
“I would encourage Greg and anyone else who feels strongly about the issue to not look back, look forward, and put themselves up for election.”
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