Uralla Shire Council yet to decide whether it will join the NAMOI or New England Group of Councils joint organisations

New laws will allow councils to voluntarily create a super-group, share amenities and better lobby the state government.

Uralla Shire Council mayor Michael Pearce said the council still hasn’t decided whether it will join the NAMOI or New England Group of Councils.

“We’re no longer the wallflower waiting for someone to ask us to dance,” Cr Pearce said.

“We’re the popular girl or boy that everyone wants to have a dance with – it’s a nice feeling.”

Mr Pearce said the council would not have considered the New England Group if Armidale Regional Council had not elected new faces.

“Honestly with the change of leadership and the change of personnel and the change of some councillors – it definitely makes things more appealing,” Cr Pearce said.

“If the old council was still there I don’t think we’d be having any talks at all – because the old council was just hell bent on merging with everyone.

“Now there’s new players on board and we’re quite open to discussions and we’ll see how things roll from there.”

Uralla will become a full member of one group and an associate member of another.

“One of the major benefits is in regard to the water alliance in the NAMOI JO,” Cr Pearce said.

“There’s different working groups, it’s all about the collaboration between organisations.”

A Fairfax Media poll revealed more than 70 per cent of voters thought Armidale Regional Council becoming a member of a joint organisation was a good idea.

Uralla Shire Council will have a workshop to discuss the decision in two weeks.

They will have to notify the state government by February next year.