It was hosted by Labor candidate for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly, NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley and Shadow Minister for Local Government Peter Primrose.

About 100 people attended from around the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area to hear Dr Kelly reiterate the policy outlined by Bill Shorten to kill off Mike Baird’s controversial council mergers plan if he is elected Prime Minister. Mr Shorten has promised $20million in funding to the Australian Electoral Commission to hold plebiscites in all 152 NSW local government areas.

Mr Primrose outlined some of the legal concerns associated with the forced mergers, before opening it up to contributions from the floor about community concerns over the forced amalgamation process.

President of the Delegate Progress Association Penelope Judge was at the meeting.

“What was clearly emerging from the contributions was a concern about the overturning democracy about the veil of secrecy surrounding decisions by the various administrators,” Mrs Judge said.

“People are angry at having elected councillors replaced by handpicked ‘stooges’ and the lack of information available. It is clear that the current legal challenges are not yet over and there are more problems to be resolved,” she said.

Meanwhile, John Barilaro and Snowy Monaro Regional Council administrator Dean Lynch said that any pre-merger council funds in reserve will be re-invested into the community.

“Any reserve funds belonging to the former Bombala Council, Cooma-Monaro Shire Council and the Snowy River Shire Council will stay within the community they originated from,” Mr Lynch said.

“I’m aware that some in the Bombala community are concerned that this money may be channelled into other areas, however I can assure residents that all unspent pre-merger funds will be invested into projects that your community needs.”