Western Division Shires meet in Cobar

At the Western Division Shires meeting in Cobar l-r: Terry Dodds CEO Balranald, Cr Tommy Stanton Mayor Brewarrina Shire, David Kirby GM Brewarrina Shire Council, Leonie Brown GM Bourke Shire Council, Bob Stewart Chair Central Darling Shire Council, Cr Lillian Simpson Cobar Shire Councillor, Cr Lachlan Ford Mayor Bourke Shire Council, Cr Jody Starick Councillor Wentworth Shire Council, Cr Jarrod Marsden Mayor Cobar Shire Council, Cr Louie Zaffina Mayor Balranald Shire Council, Cr Daniel Linklater Mayor Wentworth Shire Council, Cr Jim Hickey Deputy Mayor Broken Hill Regional Council, and Peter Vlatko GM Cobar Shire Council. Other Councils that attended but not in photo: Broken Hill City Mayor, Cr Tom Kennedy and Cr Bob Algate, Carrathool Shire Mayor Cr Darryl Jardine and GM Rick Warren and Walgett Shire Mayor Cr Jasen Ramien and Donna Ausling Manager Environmental Strategy, Economy and Partnerships. Photo supplied

Story: Ian Cole

The Western Division Councils of NSW met in Cobar last Thursday and Friday 5th and 6th March, for the first meeting of the group in three years.

Bourke Mayor Lachlan Ford was elected to the executive of the renewed Western Division Councils group, saying that Bourke Shire Council feels that it’s an important group of eight remote shires which have very similar needs, low populations, low rate bases, and similar geography and similar issues.

Councillor Ford said it was an honour to be elected to the executive of a body on which former Bourke Mayor Wally Mitchell and other previous Bourke Mayors were long term leaders.

“The Western Division makes up 30% of New South Wales with these eight councils and I think it’s important that we’re represented and we try to do our best to advocate for the issues that affect our region, he said.

Councillor Ford said that water was one of the major issues discussed, especially with the Murray Darling Basin Plan Review happening now.

“There was a pretty good consensus around water at the meeting, mainly about the damage the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has done to our communities when government takes water or they change the rules,” he said. […]

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