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 majority 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.

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.

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.

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.

In May 2025, legislation establishing a new framework for de-amalgamation came into effect.

Key dates This is a list of key electoral dates: 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 — 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: 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

No

Neutral

Other

Unclear

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.

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.

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.

Notes

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