Local Voices, Local Choices.
Your vote will decide the future of your town.
The NSW Government has called a referendum to decide whether Snowy Valleys Council should be de-amalgamated and the Tumut and Tumbarumba councils re-established. This site provides up-to-date information, financial facts, and community perspectives so you can make the best decision for your town.
About the Referendum
What’s Happening
In 2016, Tumut Shire Council and Tumbarumba Shire Council were forcibly merged by the NSW Government. The result has been rising rates, reduced services, and ongoing financial losses.
Now, after nine years of community effort, the Minister for Local Government has called a referendum.
The question is simple:
Should Snowy Valleys Council be de-amalgamated and the Tumbarumba and Tumut councils be re-constituted as separate local government areas?
Why This Matters
The 2016 merger promised savings and better services. Instead, the whole Snowy Valleys region has been left with higher rates, reduced services, and a council running at a loss every year.
A YES vote in the referendum is about more than finances — it’s about giving every community in the Snowy Valleys a voice and a council that works for them.
Financial Reality
Snowy Valleys Council has lost about $6 million every year since the merger.
Projections show losses of $5.5m–$11.5m annually out to 2035.
If nothing changes, services will keep declining and rates will keep rising.
Demerger is the only path to financially sustainable councils.
De-almagamation Means
De-amalgamation is simply the process of reversing the 2016 merger of Tumut and Tumbarumba councils. It means bringing back two separate, locally accountable councils — one for Tumut and one for Tumbarumba.
In practice, de-amalgamation means:
Fairer rates — with independent reports showing clear savings in many areas.
Local representation — decisions made closer to the people they affect.
Accountability — councils that answer to their towns, not a distant office.
Protecting services — from roads and waste to pools and libraries, local councils understand what matters most.
A sustainable future — restoring councils that can balance budgets and plan responsibly for their communities.
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