2025 Snowy Valleys Council de-amalgamation referendum
29 November 2025
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Should the Snowy Valleys Council be de-amalgamated and the former Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire Councils be re-constituted as separate local government areas? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outcome | Passed | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2025 Snowy Valleys Council de-amalgamation referendum was held on 29 November 2025 to vote on a proposal to de-amalgamate the Snowy Valleys Council in New South Wales, Australia and return to the former Tumbarumba Shire and Tumut Shire local government areas (LGAs) that were involuntarily merged in 2016.
The referendum required a majority of all 10,396 registered voters to pass, rather than just a majority among those who turn out to vote.
The final count resulted in an overwhelming majoirty in favour of de-amalgamation, easily passing the 5,199 threshold on the first day of counting alone and a final yes result of 87.3% of the vote and 76.2% of all registered voters.
Background
Amalgamation
In 2016 the Baird Government, under Minister for Local Government Paul Toole, implemented a policy of forced amalgamations as a supposed solution to many regional LGA's financial problems. 152 regional LGAs were reduced to 112. This included Tumut Shire and Tumbarumba Shire which were involuntarily amalgamated into Snowy Valleys Council.
The amalgamation was strongly contested, with the local group Save Tumbarumba Shire lobbying to prevent the amalgamation from going ahead.
In 2021, then-MLC David Shoebridge of The Greens successfully moved a motion calling on the government to end uncertainty around Snowy Valley Council's future, de-amalgamate the council, and bear the costs of that de-amalgamation. This was passed in conjunction with a duplicate motion by MLC Rod Roberts, then of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, relating to Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council.[1]
Previous de-amalgamation proposal
In 2020, Snowy Valleys Council put forward a formal de-amalgamation proposal. In 2021 that proposal was rejected by the then Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock despite a report by the state's Boundaries Commission, commissioned by Hancock, endorsing a demerger.[2][3][4]
Change of government
At the 2023 New South Wales state election, Labor took a policy of allowing for LGAs involuntarily merged in 2016 to attempt de-amalgamation to the election. After the election, Labor formed government and Ron Hoenig became minister for local government.[5]
In May 2023, a new independent business case was commissioned by Snowy Valleys Council and undertaken by Professor Joseph Drew of the University of Newcastle.[6]
In May 2025, legislation establishing a new framework for de-amalgamation came into effect.[7]
Key dates
This is a list of key electoral dates:[8]
- Close of roll — 20 October 2025
- Postal vote applications open — 21 October 2025
- Postal vote package distribution begins — 3 November 2025
- Pre-poll voting opens — 22 November 2025
- Telephone assisted voting applications and voting open[a] — 22 November 2025
- Telephone assisted voting applications close — 29 November 2025; 6pm
- Referendum day — 29 November 2025; 8am – 6pm
- Telephone assisted voting closes — 29 November 2025; 6pm
- Postal vote returns close — 12 December 2025; 6pm
- Count completed — 15 December 2025
- Results declared — 16 December 2025
Polling places
Electors were able cast their votes at the following places on polling day:[10]
- Adelong Services and Citizens Club
- Batlow Literary Institute Hall
- Khancoban Community Hall
- Rosewood Public School
- Talbingo Public School
- Tumbarumba RSL Memorial Hall (also open for pre-poll)
- Tumut CWA Hall (also open for pre-poll)
- Tumut High School
Positions
Yes
- Snowy Valleys Referendum, the primary Yes campaign[11]
Politicians
- Joe McGirr, MP for Wagga Wagga in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (independent)[12]
- James Hayes, Snowy Valleys councillor[13]
- Trina Thomson, Snowy Valleys councillor[14]
- Rick Firman, current member of the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission and former councillor and mayor of Tumut Shire[15]
- Tony a'Beckett, former Tumbarumba councillor[16] (Liberal Party member)[17]
- Ian Chaffey, former councillor and Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council[18]
- Julie Giddings McDonell, former Tumbarumba councillor
Community Groups
- Tumbarumba Men's Shed
- Tumbarumba Archive Group
Businesses
- Goldspink Automotive
No
Politicians
- Andrew Wortes, Independent councillor[19]
Neutral
Other
- Riverina Greens (encouraged all SVG residents to vote and stated that a majority of members support the Yes vote)[21]
Unclear
Politicians
- Justin Clancy, MP for Albury in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (Liberal)
- Michael McCormack, MP for Riverina in the Australian House of Representatives (National)
- Kristy McBain, federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories (Labor)
Councillors
- Grant Hardwick, Independent councillor
- Julia Ham, Independent Liberal councillor and Mayor
- John Larter, Libertarian councillor
- David Sheldon, Independent Labor councillor
- Michael Inglis, Independent councillor
- Hugh Packard, Independent councillor and Deputy Mayor
Results
By polling place
| Polling place | Yes | No | Formal | Informal | Turnout | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total | % | |
| Tumbarumba pre-poll | 1,176 | 96.6 | 41 | 3.4 | 1,217 | 99.9 | 1 | 0.1 | 1,218 | |
| Tumut pre-poll | 3,381 | 84.5 | 616 | 15.4 | 3,997 | 99.0 | 40 | 1.0 | 4,037 | |
| Adelong | 428 | 86.5 | 67 | 13.5 | 495 | 99.0 | 5 | 1.0 | 500 | |
| Batlow | 408 | 89.7 | 47 | 10.3 | 455 | 98.7 | 6 | 1.3 | 461 | |
| Khancoban | 171 | 88.1 | 23 | 11.9 | 194 | 99.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 195 | |
| Rosewood | 94 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 94 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 94 | |
| Talbingo | 51 | 81.0 | 12 | 19.0 | 63 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 63 | |
| Tumbarumba | 335 | 94.9 | 18 | 5.1 | 3,353 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 353 | |
| Tumut | 778 | 84.8 | 139 | 15.2 | 917 | 99.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 922 | |
| Tumut HS | 211 | 82.7 | 44 | 17.3 | 255 | 99.2 | 2 | 0.8 | 257 | |
| Declared Institution | 71 | 91.0 | 7 | 9.0 | 78 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 78 | |
| Enrolment/Provisional | 92 | 91.1 | 9 | 8.9 | 101 | 100.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 101 | |
| Postal | 721 | 84.6 | 131 | 15.4 | 852 | 99.9 | 1 | 0.1 | 853 | |
Aftermath
If the referendum succeeds, Snowy Valleys will be the second New South Wales LGA involuntarily amalgamated in 2016 to de-amalgamate, following Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council who received the go-ahead in July 2025 when it was announced that it would return to Cootamundra Shire and Gundagai Shire.[22]
A $5 million grant from the NSW Government will be available to Snowy Valleys Council to cover the cost of the de-amalgamation process if it goes ahead, however this is to be given at the Minister's discretion and Hoenig has said he will make his decision after hearing business cases prepared by Council.[23]
According to SVC Mayor Cr. Julia Ham, the two new shires are planned to be declared by the Governor on 1 July 2027 with the current councillors to be appointed as administrators.[24]
Notes
- ^ Telephone assisted voting is available for those with low vision or blindness and typically runs 8:30am to 5:30pm during the pre-poll period and 8am to 1pm on Referendum Day.[9]
- ^ Hoenig declined to endorse a position on the referendum, saying "it's Snowy Valleys' vote", but said that if the referendum returned a "yes" vote he would ensure that the de-amalgamation goes ahead, as it is technically still at his discretion whether or not to proceed.[20]
References
- ^ Mason, Edwina (27 April 2021). "Town tensions rise as ratepayers bear the cost of merged councils". About Regional. Archived from the original on 24 May 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Mason, Edwina (15 November 2025). "Snowy Valleys residents weeks away from demerger decision day". About Regional. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Prezet, Lauren (20 July 2021). "Southern NSW amalgamated councils denied request to reinstate old boundaries". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Bogle, Isadore; Sally Bryant (21 July 2021). "Council denied request to demerge, prompting community outrage". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Hoenig becomes NSW Local Government Minister". Local Government Focus. 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "De-amalgamation Business Case". www.snowyvalleys.nsw.gov.au. Snowy Valleys Council. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Mason, Edwina (22 June 2025). "New NSW demerger pathway in effect as southern councils continue their quest for local control". About Regional. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "What are the key dates?". elections.nsw.gov.au. NSW Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Telephone assisted voting Snowy Valleys Council de-amalgamation referendum". elections.nsw.gov.au. NSW Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "All polling places". map.elections.nsw.gov.au. NSW Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Snowy Valleys Referendum". snowyvalleysreferendum.org. Ingrid Becke. Archived from the original on 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Dr Joe McGirr filmed this message because someone needed to say it plainly". facebook.com. Snowy Valleys Referendum. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Councillor voting 'yes' to demerge". Tumut and Adelong Times. 30 October 2025. Archived from the original on 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ Malacari, Camillo (13 November 2025). "Adelong hosts referendum discussion". Tumut and Adelong Times. Archived from the original on 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ Castles, Helen (25 September 2025). "Boundaries Commission backs breakup of Snowy Valleys Council". Tumut and Adelong Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ "Tony a'Beckett". facebook.com. Julie Giddings McDonnell. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Southern NSW residents turn out in droves to oppose proposed council amalgamation". ABC News. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Take back the future Former snowy valleys mayor urges YES vote". facebook.com. SVC Oversight. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Thoughts and opinions on the demerge referendum". Tumut and Adelong Times. 20 November 2025. Archived from the original on 23 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (20 November 2025). "The road ahead: what happens after the vote". Tumut and Adelong Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ "SVC RESIDENTS VOTE IN THE SNOWY VALLEYS DE-AMALGAMATION REFERENDUM THIS SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER". facebook.com. Riverina Greens. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Hall, Tim (22 August 2025). "Referendum looms on NSW council split". councilmagazine.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 September 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Bunn, Anthony (25 October 2025). "Residents urged to 'vote yes to fixing a mistake' on council break-up ballot". The Border Mail. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Malacari, Camillo (30 November 2025). "Snowy Valleys voters say Yes to de-amalgamation". Tumut and Adelong Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.