Stanthorpe residents seek to stand alone

The process for Boundary Reviews will be under discussion at a public meeting tonight in Stanthorpe.
The meeting, pushing the de-amalgamation of Stanthorpe from Southern Downs Regional Council, comes on the back of a petition to force a review of the shire boundaries in the region.
According to campaigner Mary Rofe, the question most often asked by residents signing the petition was whether the money Stanthorpe Shire had in the bank before the forced amalgamation in 2008 would be returned.
“The wounds are still raw as residents voted overwhelmingly against amalgamation in the first place,” Ms Rofe said.
“Since then they have had to suffer loss of agency in their local government’s decisions; this despite having the majority of councillors from Stanthorpe in the amalgamated Council line-up.
“The amalgamation was marketed as a cost saving measure; the people of Stanthorpe are still wondering whether anyone can show these touted savings, as rates have escalated and seem set to keep on doing so, while services have dropped and become more Warwick centric.”
The public meeting at St Paul’s Anglican Hall (on Thursday, July 26, at 6.30pm) will be chaired by Anne Lindsay.
“All interested residents are encouraged to attend and find out more about this issue and how we can move towards becoming Stanthorpe Shire again.”
For more information, please call Bob Johnson 4681 0871 or Mary Rofe 0427 617 679.