THE forced merger of Bathurst and Oberon councils has moved a step closer after the Land and Environment Court this morning dismissed an appeal from Oberon.
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Oberon Council had launched an action against Local Government Minister Paul Toole over the state government’s program of forced amalgamations, joined by Cabonne and Gundagai councils.
The court has rejected the appeals in all three cases.
In a judgment published this morning, Chief Judge Brian Preston wrote: “The applicants have not established any of the grounds of challenge to the administrative decisions and actions in relation to the Oberon proposal, the Cabonne proposal or the Gundagai proposal. Each of the proceedings should be dismissed.
“The usual order for costs in judicial review proceedings, namely that costs follow the event, should apply.
“The Court orders in each of the proceedings: i. The proceedings are dismissed; ii. The applicant is to pay the respondents’ costs of the proceedings.”
