Council has now requested that the Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, defer the Boundary Commission hearings and any other action in relation to her proposal until after the March 2011 NSW State election, in view of the following :

- ‘Serious inaccuracies’ in the Kibble Report, upon which the Minister’s Proposal for the Creation of a New England Regional Council has been formulated;

- Disregard for the ‘strongly expressed’ wishes of the residents of the Uralla Shire;

- The likelihood that the due process of this matter will occur during election preparation and campaigning; and

- Clear indication from the State Opposition that its members will take a consultative approach to local government.

Also unanimously passed was the motion that ‘the Uralla Shire Council, whilst concentrating upon a submission to defeat the Minister’s proposal for the amalgamation of the Armidale Dumaresq Council, Guyra Shire Council and Uralla Shire Council in order to remain an autonomous Council; fully supports the residents of the Guyra and Uralla Shires in their endeavours to provide an alternative which retains an autonomous rural council, being the New England Rural Council’.

Residents from Guyra Shire were provided with an opportunity to speak during a ‘Have your say’ segment at the meeting.

Speakers included David Bearup, Joe George, Robyn Jackson, and Cameron Way.

All speakers were adamant that Guyra and Uralla councillors would need to agree on a course of action, in an effort to avoid amalgamation of the three councils.