WYONG Shire Council should concern itself with fixing up its own backyard, not extending it, Lake Macquarie mayor Jodie Harrison said on Monday.
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It is the latest salvo between the neighbouring councils over the state-led push for council boundary changes and amalgamations.
There are 10 Lake Macquarie suburbs that could be reallocated to Wyong Shire. Among them is Wyee.
Lake Macquarie City Council has formally opposed the proposed changes.
Cr Harrison said locals had longstanding and compelling ties with Lake Macquarie.
"For 108 years, our residents in the areas in question have been socially, environmentally and economically linked to Lake Macquarie Council," she said.
"We do not want or need to be dragged into a turf war on this issue.
"Lake Macquarie Council believes Wyong would do well to fix up its own backyard before suggesting that the boundary change is 'minor, sensible and would have positive public benefit'."
Last week, Wyong council formally backed plans to extend the shire's boundaries to take in the 10 southern Lake Macquarie suburbs.
It voted to "support an immediate boundary change in the shire's north on the basis of the significant public benefits expected for the residents of the area including Bonnells Bay, Brightwaters, Morisset, Morisset Park, Mandalong, Mirrabooka, Silverwater, Sunshine, Wyee and Wyee Point".
Wyong mayor Doug Eaton said shifting Wyee and Wyee Point into Wyong Shire was "a no-brainer".
But he said Morisset and surrounding suburbs should be added to Wyong only if Lake Macquarie merges with Newcastle.
Cr Harrison said the proposed merger and boundary changes would mean a dud deal for residents.
"Lake Macquarie Council has looked at our own efficiencies and compared them to all our neighbouring councils and we know that the proposed boundary changes and amalgamation is not in the best interest of 200,000 Lake Macquarie residents," she said.
The wishes of Lake Macquarie residents were paramount, she said.
"The south-western Lake Macquarie community has been consulted and strongly oppose the proposed boundary change," she said.
"Eighty-five per cent of Morisset residents and 69 per cent of Wyee and Wyee Point residents want to stay as part of Lake Macquarie, for a range of reasons."
Public submissions on the Independent Local Government Review panel's recommendations closed on April 4.
The Minister for Local Government will decide which recommendations will be enacted.