Mike Baird has unveiled new council boundaries across Sydney and NSW.

The re-jig has created 19 new councils, and the government says it may merge another nine, pending the outcome of legal action over attempted mergers so far.

“The most comprehensive local government reform in more than 100 years will result in 19 new councils beginning operations from today,” Premier Mike Baird said.

The new councils will be run by administrators and interim general managers until elections are held in September next year - 12 months after voting in regions that are not being merged.

Local Government Minister Paul Toole said many residents in new council areas may not even notice the change, as their services would continue operating as normal.

The new council will each be eligible for up to $10 million in funding to help with the costs of merging, as well as up to $15 million for new community infrastructure.

“New councils and their communities will decide how to spend their community funds,” Mr Toole said.

“Projects could include pools, libraries, sporting fields, car park expansions or grants to junior sporting groups.”

A review of the mergers will be conducted in 2020.

The Baird government shied away from merging politically-contentious regions.

For example, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce appears to have successfully argued against merging of Tamworth and Walcha councils, in which he faces a tough battle to retain the federal seat of New England.

Hawkesbury and The Hills shire councils in north-west Sydney have been spared amalgamation as well.

 

The following new councils will be created:

Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra)

Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury)

Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong)

City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby)

Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd)

Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin)

Federation Council (Corowa and Urana)

Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)

Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai)

Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River)

Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young)

Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville)

Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree)

Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool)

Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee)

Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah)

Queanbeyan-Palerange Regional Council (Queanbeyan and Palerang)

Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba)

Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington)

 

Subject to litigation, in-principle support has been given to the following mergers:

Botany and Rockdale

Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra

Bathurst and Oberon

Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby

Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby

Blayney, Cabonne and Orange

Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde

Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield

Shellharbour and Wollongong

 

The following merger proposals are still ‘pending’:

Newcastle and Port Stephens

Dungog and Maitland

Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra, Walcha and Uralla


More information is available here.