AGY-1109 | Local Government Boundaries Commission [I]

Full description

A Local Government Boundaries Commission was established in 1964 as standing review body to deal with the questions of Local Council and County Council Boundaries. The Commission could examine and report on matters referred to it by the Minister. In many cases the Commission acted as a Board of Inquiry hearing evidence from either Local Councils or Shires and the public. Two or more proposals affecting the same area could be dealt with concurrently.

The Commission consisted of a Chairman, Councils' Member and a Departmental Member plus a Boundaries Commission Panel (three aldermen and two councillors).

In May 1974 following the Barnett Committee of Inquiry into Local Government Boundaries (1971-1974) the Boundaries Commission was asked to examine and recommend changes for 15 provincial cities and their adjacent areas. This reference was extended in October 1974 to all areas of the State, excluding the County of Cumberland. Between 1974 and 1978 the minister received more than 100 boundary alteration proposals. (1)

In 1976 "in accordance with a reference made to it by the Minister under section 15 J (1) (a) of the Local Government Act 1919 the Commission commenced examination of local government areas within the County of Cumberland". (2)

During the period 1975 to 1980, the Commission steered through a significant number of boundary changes and amalgamations affecting more than 50 shires and municipalities. Some were established by agreement and others flowed from recommendations of Public Inquiries.

In June 1980 special legislation was used to rationalise boundaries thus bypassing the Commission. Upon the retirement of the then Chairmen in July 1980 the Commission was disbanded. (3)


FOOTNOTES

(1) Annual Report of the Department of Local Government for the year ended 30 June 1977, in the Parliamentary Papers 1976-77-78 Vol. 8 page 1183.
(2) Ibid. page 1183.
(3) Lambley D.A. A Key to the Historical Geography of Local Government Areas in New South Wales, Geographical Society of New South Wales Inc & the New South Wales Department of Local Government, Sydney 1989, page 6.