Minutes of Demerger Transition Committee Meeting

Demerger Transition Committee Meeting Minutes

27 January 2026

MINUTES OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Demerger Transition Committee Meeting
HELD AT THE Council Chambers, Gundagai
ON Tuesday, 27 January 2026 AT 2pm

PRESENT: Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor), Cr Rosalind Wight (Deputy Mayor), Cr David Graham, Cr Penny Nicholson, Cr Gil Kelly, Cr Les Cooper

IN ATTENDANCE: Peter Bascomb (Demerger Transition Manager), Roger Bailey (Interim General Manager)

1 Acknowledgement of Country

The Chairperson acknowledged the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land at which the meeting was held and paid his respects to Elders, both past and present, of the Wiradjuri Nation and extended that respect to other Aboriginal people who were present.

2 Apologies, Leave of Absence, and AUDIO-VISUAL attendance requests

2.1 Apologies

That the apology received from Cr Ryan be accepted.

2.2 Leave of Absence

Nil

2.3 Audio-visual attendance requests

Nil

3 Disclosures of Interest

Nil

4 General Manager’s Report

4.1 General Manager Office

4.1.1 Consolidating Expectations for the Demerger Transition

Committee Resolution

Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson

Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight

The Committee recommends that Council:

1. Confirms 1 July 2027 as the target date for the commencement of the two successor councils.

2. Confirms that the primary objectives of the Demerger Transition Project are:

(a) By 31 December 2026, 6-months ahead of the commencement date for the new Councils, the project must have prepared documentation sufficient for the OLG to prepare the required Proclamation

(b) To enable the two successor councils to effectively commence operations the project must develop two separate suites of IP&R documents and other governance arrangements, including policies and organisational structure, that clearly demonstrate that the two councils will be operationally and financially sustainable in the long term.

Carried

4.1.2 Demerger Dispute Resolution Process

Committee Resolution

Moved: Cr David Graham

Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly

That the Committee recommends that Council:

1. Adopts the dispute resolution process as outlined in the report.

2. Updates the Terms of Reference for the Demerger Transition Committee to include the dispute resolution process.

3. Confirms that decisions of the Demerger Transition Dispute Resolution Panel (DTDRP) will be accepted and implemented by Council.

4. Undertakes an expression of interest (EoI) process to recruit suitable nominees for the proposed Demerger Transition Dispute Resolution Panel (DTDRP).

5. Confirm any costs associated with the DTDRP be met from Council’s previously budgeted demerger funding.

Carried

4.1.3 Confirmation of Previous Commitments from Council Submissions

Committee Resolution

Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight

Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly

The Committee Recommends that Council:

1. Recommits to the Objectives and Interventions used in the preparation of the Draft Demerger Transition Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan.

2. Acknowledges that adherence to the Objectives and Interventions may impact the development of CGRC’s FY27 Operational Plan.

Carried

The Meeting closed at 2:43pm.


CHAIRPERSON	GENERAL MANAGER