I have tendered my resignation on the grounds that I do not believe council has done its best to secure the right outcome for the community.

I respect the community’s wishes to stand alone but unfortunately for mine, I do not believe that would have been the best outcome and council decided at a workshop to pursue merger opportunities with both Bega Valley Shire and Cooma/Snowy Shires.  

The mayor, general manager and I met with all organisations and reported back to council what we had discovered at another workshop where all councillors and majority of staff agreed that Bega would be the best outcome.  

So to that end, the mayor, general manager and myself, along with the Bega Valley mayor and general manager, went to meet with the Minister Paul O’Toole and our local member John Barilaro at a meeting hosted by Andrew Constance (Member for Bega) where we represented our intention to merge with Bega and Bega stated their intentions to merge with us if the following conditions were met:

State Government commitment to underwrite the Bombala sewer projects subject of National Stronger Regions Funding (NSRF) grant total value $3.7 million NSRF application, expected State contribution $1.7million

Provision of potable water supply to Delegate township $750,000

Bombala weir height increase $1.5million

Critical Bridge works - $4.8million

Continuation of an annual Fixing Country Roads funding allocation of at least $1.4million

While we did not have the commitments guaranteed in writing we did get assurances from the three ministers present that they would do their best to ensure this happened.

At the Bega meeting on Monday, following a further workshop on Sunday night at Bombala, we represented that Council was not entirely happy with their conditions of merger/takeover, however Bega Council still supported the Bombala merger option and supported the above funding commitments with the additional commitments from state government to upgrade Mt Darragh Road to the tune of $22 million.

At the public meeting on Monday night, it is my view that council did not make clear that Bega had been invited so that the community could be informed of why council was seriously looking at merging with Bega.

Again while the community was thinking Snowy /Cooma we could get neither organisation to commit to any funding arrangements and both were happy with the option of just merging with no extra commitments other than the full cost of amalgamation, hence why council entered serious negotiations with Bega to begin with.

To that end I would like to thank Michael Britten and Leanne Barnes and the Council of Bega for their time and effort.

Given the direction that Bombala Council has decided upon I find I cannot in good conscience continue to represent the community.

While I appreciate that this letter may be seen as divisive, it is not my intention and I would like to reiterate my support for the current councillors and staff for their valued efforts in ensuring this highly emotive and major structural change ensures future good outcomes for our community.

Thank you for your support.

Brad Yelds

Bombala