No merger tick of approval for city vision

14 Feb 2017

Newcastle City Council welcomes the NSW Government's decision not to merge it with Port Stephens Council as a win for the city's long-term vision.

The Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today announced that regional mergers will not proceed, including the proposed merger between Newcastle and Port Stephens.

The decision ends a proposal period that was first announced in December 2015 as part of the State Government's Fit for the Future process.

The process deemed Newcastle City Council financially fit and today's decision vindicates council's preference to stand alone.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the decision underscores the renewed financial health, sound operational performance and significant service delivery improvements of council.

"Council has forged a path to financial sustainability and accelerated the transition from a great regional city to an emerging global centre, and we can now get on with the job with this drawn-out merger process behind us," Councillor Nelmes said.

"We will now redouble our commitment to the community and important stakeholders across the education, business, industry and community sectors to create a smart, liveable and sustainable city."

City of Newcastle acknowledges that we operate on the grounds of the traditional country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples.
We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing relationship with the land, and that they are the proud survivors of more than two hundred years of dispossession.
CN reiterates its commitment to address disadvantages and attain justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this community.