It is a question of identity that MidCoast Council is not asking its community as it prepares to sign-off on proposed membership to the Hunter Joint Organisation (JO).
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That is the view of Alan Tickle and it is one he is red-flagging for community action.
The former Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor is a vocal advocate for community consultation and dogged in his determination to ensure the new MidCoast Council is effective in representing regional interests.
News that MidCoast Council would make a short submission by October 27 “agreeing to the State government’s position” that it be included in the Hunter JO angered Mr Tickle.
“The failure to consult with local representatives and the community on this … is a disgrace.”
Last week Manning Valley Business Chamber president Jeremy Thornton thrust a spotlight on the absence of community consultation in determining MidCoast Council’s position.
“It is crucial the community speak and have a say in this process,” Mr Thornton said.
The process so far has seen the State government consult with local government on the proposed JO model via two papers.
It invited feedback from councils to assist with the development of JO functions and proposed boundaries.
MidCoast Council made no submission to either paper and last week stated it would make a “short submission” to the paper that proposed it be included in the Hunter JO and work with Newcastle, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Dungog, Singleton, Maitland, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock councils in its negotiations with the State government when its comes to strategic planning, funding, community interest and governance.
Mr Tickle does not support MidCoast Council’s inclusion in the Hunter JO and flagged the need for a Mid Coast JO and his view is echoed by former Greater Taree City Council mayor, Paul Hogan, who is also concerned about the potential negative impact on the Manning Valley’s tourism industry.
“The State members across the five State electorates affected from the south of Great Lakes, Gloucester and north to Nambucca should have a serious discussion on how their electorates would venture under a Mid North Coast banner both in terms of tourism destination strategy and broader economic development,” Mr Tickle said.
“I am pretty confident that if you asked the question of the major population centres of Forster-Tuncurry, Taree-Wingham, whether they consider themselves part of the Hunter region or Mid North Coast, the vast majority would say Mid Coast.”
Mr Tickle said “the door is ajar with council’s to our north if the administrator cares to make contact with them to discuss feasibility of a Mid Coast JO.”
Mr Hogan is passionate about growing tourism in the Manning Valley and ensuring marketing of our region maintains its growing momentum.
The ‘Manning Valley naturally’ brand promotes our regions natural assets, the nine stunning National Parks, 45 kilometres of pristine coastline, Ellenborough Falls and the only double delta river system in Australia.
“The success of the ‘Manning Valley naturally’ brand can’t be lost,” Mr Hogan said.
“I can see combining this theme with the pristine beaches and lakes of the wider MidCoast Council area can enhance this, but how on earth does the Hunter Valley fit into that sort of marketing? It simply doesn’t fit.
“That is why consideration and discussions with the councils to our north should have occurred rather than to simply lie down and allow the Great Lakes status quo to remain.
“That is not the forward or progressive thinking needed to shape a new MidCoast Council.”
Mr Tickle and Mr Hogan said in the absence of community consultation it was important “organisations and individuals, particularly the chamber of commerce put in a submission before the October 27 deadline.”
To obtain the document called, ‘Joint Organisations: Getting the boundaries right’, visit the ‘Fit for the Future’ website at www.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au/joint-organisations.