Placards with the messages ‘Our Community, Our Voice, Our Choice’ and ‘No Forced Amalgamation’, made the community’s feelings clear. 

Inside, person after person stood up to speak in favour of a merger between Harden and Cootamundra Shires, as originally declared Fit for the Future by the State Government. 

“Harden, to date, has not received any reason for the rejection of our Harden and Cootamundra proposal, and equally no reason to proceed with Harden, Boorowa and Young,” Harden Shire general manager Trevor Drowley said. 

He confirmed for the benefit of the delegate, Harden Shire will submit an alternative proposal supporting an amalgamation between Harden, Cootamundra and Gundagai. 

After the community entered a vote of “No Confidence” against Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson at a recent community meeting, Ms Hodgkinson stood up to declare her support for a merger between Harden and Cootamundra. 

“The proposal before you has left three of my local government areas miserable," Ms Hodgkinson said, addressing the Boundaries Commission delegate. 

“There were two very sensible proposals put forward,” she continued, referring to the voluntary mergers put forward of Boorowa and Young and Cootamundra and Harden. 

Harden resident Amy Mergard reiterated the community is not adverse to amalgamation, however asked for consideration to be given to the original Harden and Cootamundra proposal. 

“We gave the government everything they wanted, we followed the rules, then the goal posts were changed,” Ms Mergard said. 

Another resident Brendan Mackay did the maths to work out the proposed $30 million saving over 20 years equated to just 75 cents per resident of a combined Harden, Boorowa and Young Shire per week.

A number of residents from Jugiong also spoke on behalf of their village, agreeing with a Cootamundra Shire proposal to carve the southern end of Harden, including Jugiong, out to go with Cootamundra and Gundagai should the minister not allow all of Harden Shire to move in that direction. 

Following community submissions, Ms Chadwick confirmed she would include the voice of the community in her report.