Gunnedah Shire councillors have endorsed a mayoral minute to rejoin the Mining and Energy Related Councils NSW (MERC).
At the October meeting, elected members agreed for council membership of the organisation for one year.
Continued membership will be considered after evaluating the benefits and outcomes before renewing for a further period.
Mayor Colleen Fuller OAM was appointed as council’s delegate, with Cr Ann Luke as the alternate delegate.
Cr Fuller told the meeting that there had been a dramatic change in MERC in recent months, particularly with the appointment of a new executive officer.
“I put this forward to you all and hope that you will accept it for one year,” she said.
“Should it be going in the direction it should go … then maybe we continue on.”
Cr Kate McGrath said there had been a difference in opinion between the executive and membership, particularly in terms of policy.
Cr McGrath asked Cr Fuller if that issue had been resolved.
“Yes, there’s been a massive improvement and change there,” Cr Fuller said.
Cr Rob Hoddle said he had initially been against MERC and had encouraged council to leave the organisation.
“I’m in the hands of the mayor here … because she attended several meetings of MERC this year,” he said.
“We’ve been a member for free to see if they could get us back.
“And she is impressed with the way the organisation is going.
“I think, going forward, we’ve not only got the problem of getting royalties back from the state government … and I’m told on good authority that every week the Maules Creek mine generates $3 million in royalties to the state government, of which we’re seeing very little.”
Cr Hoddle said he believed it was worthwhile to go back to MERC for another year.
“If it doesn’t work, we’ll just have to change our mind,” he said.
Cr Juliana McArthur queried MERC’s policy proposal of a mining community investment fund of $50 million a year across four years.
MERC’s recent newsletter, tabled with the meeting documents, notes that eligibility would be determined by sector consultation.
“I don’t know what that means,” Cr McArthur said.
“I’m a little concerned around the eligibility determination.
“Clearly, we’re in an area that covers a coal region.”
Cr McArthur, who asked the mayor if she had been provided with further background, said she would rather see wording that the 35-40 councils that are impacted by mining get an equal share.
“It isn’t really clear … because we haven’t had enough meetings. The next meeting is going to be held here in Gunnedah on 2 November,” Cr Fuller said.
“I would put that on notice and take back to Mr Jennings [MERC’s executive officer].”
Cr Linda Newell sought clarity around MERC and council’s membership of the organisation, given that Gunnedah Shire had withdrawn previously from the group.
“Do we wait 12 months, see whether they achieve anything, and then jump on when they look like they’re going to do something,” she said.
“Or do we waste $10,000 and find out in 12 months’ time that it’s not worth our time?”
Deputy mayor Rob Hooke, a former representative on MERC, had also voiced previous concerns with council’s membership.
“I put forward that we should leave that organisation … it had lost its way,” he said.
“From an individual point of view, it was quite enlightening to be there to discuss issues with people but it wasn’t doing anything for our particular region.
“What I have seen now is that they have a clear direction on trying to get funds that are directed into the state coffers … from royalties back into the regions.
“It’s something we really need to do once we transition away from mining in this area.
“There could be some time … but we’ve got to start now.
“I think it’s a worthwhile cause now, for a small amount of money, to actually put our shoulder behind the wheel and see if we can get some funds, a future fund, and whatever we’d like to call it, back into the regions.”
Cr Fuller said she had every faith in the new executive officer of MERC.
“I now see the change that I believe it’ll be good for all mining areas across our region when we’re talking the amount of money that he’s talking now,” Cr Fuller said.
The motion to rejoin MERC was moved by Cr Fuller and seconded by Cr Hoddle, with Cr Newell voting against.
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