Mayors and general managers from Walcha, Uralla, Armidale and Guyra met with the deputy director-general of the Department of Local Government, Ross Woodward, in Sydney last week.

Uncertainty had existed about whether the meeting was a signal that amalgamation may be forced upon the members and former members of the New England Strategic Alliance of Councils.

The Department of Local Government is principally a policy advice and regulatory agency, with a key role in managing the relationship between councils and the State Government.

Walcha Council’s general manager Jack O’Hara said he was awaiting correspondence from the Department before making a recommendation to council.

Full story in this week's paper.