All councillors, except for mayor Michael Kent, complied the questionnaire, which asked if the community supported “the Local Government Board Review process between Glamorgan Spring Bay, Sorell and Tasman councils and giving the power to the Minister for Local Government to decide if that amalgamation occurs?”

The development association president Michael Symons said the council’s official survey, undertaken in late 2017, showed the majority of ratepayers wished to see amalgamation and boundary adjustments further investigated.

“After 18 months of consultation, and a week before a vote on the issue is due, our councillors are saying they don’t understand the impacts the decision will have on the municipality and seem to be positioning themselves to make a ‘no’ vote,” he said.

“There have been two public meetings in Bicheno with regards to this issue, both meetings have had council representatives in attendance. 

“The over whelming consensus at the end of those meetings was for the council to further investigate the possible advantages and disadvantages of amalgamation including any possible boundary adjustments.

“If councillors were to vote ‘no’ on this issue it would be a blatant disregard of the wishes of our community.”

One of the major concerns raised at the latest council meeting, was that under section 214 of the Local Government Act, if the council approved the motion to continue amalgamation investigations the final decision went to the minister.

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Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said participation in the review did not mean the council would be bound to proceed with amalgamation.

“I wrote to the council in December 2017 making it clear that, notwithstanding the Local Government Board’s final recommendation, amalgamations must still be entered into on a voluntary basis,” he said.

“It has always been the view of government that participating councils will be guided by both expert advice and community feedback to arrive at an outcome on what is the best interests of their residents and ratepayer.”

A petition is also being circulated by the Bicheno Community Development Association, confirming community members’ desire for continued discussion on amalgamation and boundary changes.

A meeting between Break O’Day Council representatives, members of the the Freycinet Community Association and Swanwick Community Association, and community members was held on Wednesday night about the issue. 

About 30 people attended the meeting, with Freycinet Community Association president Georgia Alexander saying the result of the meeting was an “overwhelming yes” to amalgamate. 

The group, along with Bicheno Community Development Association president Michael Symons will attend Glamorgan Spring Bay’s next council meeting to present them with a petition asking the council to investigate the issue more.