The NSW government has released maps of the state’s proposed council mergers, a plan that could ultimately eliminate local governments.

They come in the form of grainy, low resolution image files embedded into PDF documents, a notable departure from the slick and easily reproduced ‘info graphics’ favoured in other major government announcements.

Some of the most controversial forced council mergers are planned for Sydney’s Metropolitan north: Warringah will be carved in two: one chunk merging with Pittwater and another with Manly and Mosman.

Also on the cards is a merger between Hunters Hill; Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai; Lane Cove and Ryde and another between North Sydney and Willoughby.

The ‘Hands off Holroyd’ campaign will be bitterly disappointed at the government’s plan to merge it with part of Auburn Council, rarely out of the news these days due to its colourful Deputy Mayor, Salim Mehajer. Parramatta City Council will pick up another chunk of Auburn and snatch-up Sydney Olympic Park.

There will be disquiet in the regions as well. The council amalgamation protest rally in November was peppered with marchers from areas such as Dungog and Cabonne.

Dubbo and Wellington look set to merge, as do Orange, Cabonne and Blayney and Shellharbour and Woollongong.

The end result, if Premier Mike Baird gets his way, will be a reduction in Greater Sydney Councils from 43 to 25 and regional councils from 109 to 87.

With today’s (Friday) announcement, Sydney’s metro councils have finally learned what Premier Mike Baird’s definition of ‘scale and capacity’ is: 150,000 people or more.

This figure was not divulged during the Fit for the Future process and many councils failed the test on ‘scale and capacity’ without knowing where the benchmark was set.

It sets the scene for NSW local government to grow to almost three times the size of the average Queensland councils (54,800) and twice the size of the average Victorian council (63,000).

Local Government NSW President Keith Rhoades called the decision a “dark day for local democracy” and a “bully-boy farce” that he said would remove genuine local representation.

“It’s a cruel joke, and unfortunately the joke is on the people of NSW because they are the ones likely to lose any meaningful input on the issues that impact on their day-to-day lives,” said Mr Rhoades.

“LGNSW will continue to hold the Government to account throughout this process, which must be followed to the letter if the Minister wishes to avoid legal challenges.

“But it’s important to note that even though the review process offers an opportunity for community input, the Minister is in no way bound by its findings or recommendations, or that of the Boundaries Commission.

“As long as it has ticked all the procedural boxes as set out in the Act, the Government can essentially proceed to forced amalgamations at will.”

Premier Mike Baird heralded the mergers and said it would improve infrastructure and stabilise rates.

“Importantly, fewer councils will mean a big reduction in red tape for the NSW community and the businesses that work with councils,” Mr Baird said.

New councils will receive up to $10 million towards merger costs and up to $15 million for new community infrastructure.

Local government elections scheduled for September next year will be delayed, probably until March 2017.

The public consultation process will start in January, once detailed proposals are made available at www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au

New Sydney Councils

Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville
Bankstown and Canterbury
Botany Bay and Rockdale
Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield
Hawkesbury and The Hills District
Holroyd and part of Auburn
Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai
Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde
Hurstville and Kogarah
Manly, Mosman and part of Warringah
North Sydney and Willoughby
Parramatta and part of Auburn
Pittwater and part of Warringah
Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra

New regional councils

Armidale-Dumaresq and Guyra
Bathurst and Oberon
Berrigan and Jerilderie
Blayney, Cabonne and Orange
Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River
Boorowa, Harden and Young
Conargo and Deniliquin
Cootamundra and Gundagai
Corowa, Lockhart and Urana
Dubbo and Wellington
Dungog and Gloucester
Goulburn, Mulwaree and Palerang
Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee
Kiama and Shoalhaven
Murray and Wakool
Newcastle and Port Stephens
Palerang and Queanbeyan
Shellharbour and Woollongong
Tamworth and Walcha
Tumbarumba and Tumut