Anti-amalgamation protesters call on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to meet with mayors over mergers

ANTI-amalgamation protesters have called on new NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to meet with mayors of councils who are fighting the proposed mergers.

About 200 people attended the Save Our Council Coalition rally at Parliament House on Sunday.

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ANTI-AMALGAMATION protesters have called on Gladys Berejiklian, who was confirmed as the new NSW Premier this morning, to meet with mayors of councils who are fighting the proposed mergers.

Greens MP David Shoebridge, Woollahra Councillor Anthony Marano and Orange MP Philip Donato spoke at a Save Our Councils Coalition rally at NSW Parliament House on Sunday.

Cr Anthony Marano called on Ms Berejiklian to meet Woollahra mayor Toni Zeltzer to discuss amalgamations after Deputy Premier John Barilaro raised the spectre of rolling back amalgamations in regional NSW.

Gladys Berejiklian emerges from a Liberal partyroom meeting as the new Premier of NSW. Picture: AAP /David Moir

The council’s lawyers will be in court on Tuesday morning to argue for expedition of its application for a High Court appeal against the proposed merger with Waverley and Randwick.

“At the local Government conference held in Wollongong back in September, Premier Mike Baird agreed in front of 800 councillors, administrators and staff, to meet with all mayors whose councils were involved in legal action with the government,” Cr Marano said.

“One by one he has declined all requests from mayors to meet with him.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird announced his resignation last week. Picture: Paul Miller

He called on Ms Berejiklian to meet with mayors.

“Premier Baird ‎spoke at his press conference last week about all the infrastructure projects his Government is responsible for and what a great shape the economy is now in,” Cr Marano said.

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“And it is in a great shape but at what cost to the community?

“It is not all about the money Mr Baird.

“Local communities are being destroyed because of your one-size-fits-all approach.”