ANTICIPATING what might be state-imposed changes to local government independence, Rockdale Council has agreed to support in principle the amalgamation of the three St George councils provided there is no detrimental financial impact on the councils and communities involved. And the community would be consulted.
Rockdale mayor Shane O'Brien said that through this decision the council was indicating that it was willing to go the next step in the amalgamation debate.
He said it was now up to the government to explain exactly how voluntarily joining up with Hurstville and Kogarah councils would benefit the ratepayers and the individual councils.
"If it will improve service delivery we would be foolish to say no on principle but the state government needs to show how amalgamation would work to deliver sustainability without rate increases," Cr O'Brien said.
"We are not comfortable going into a process that will only allow sustainability through rate increases.
"We don't want higher costs for ratepayers."
Council amalgamations are part of the government's long term local government reform agenda for which it set up the Local Government Acts Taskforce and the Independent Local Government Review Panel in 2012.
Most councils took part in discussions last year, with amalgamations being among the most contentions topics.
Although the government made an election commitment that there would be no forced amalgamations, there is concern that that could change after the 2015 state election, particularly as the review panel's recent report said that Sydney's councils should be reduced from 41 to between 15 and 18 by mid-century.
"Sooner or later amalgamations will have to be part of the package," the report said, though stopping short of recommending forced amalgamations.
Cr O'Brien said that without more explanation, the only compensation on offer for voluntary amalgamation was that councils would be free of the rate cap — and "that's not about sustainable delivery but about bribing people to amalgamate".
He made it clear that Rockdale was opposed to the review panel's suggested amalgamation of the three St George councils with Canterbury Council or the formation of a regional joint organisation which would include the Rockdale, Hurstville, Kogarah, Canterbury and Sutherland Shire councils.
NOT INTERESTED
Neither Hurstville nor Kogarah councils seemed interested in a hook-up with Rockdale Council. A Hurstville Council spokeswoman said the council did not have a formal position on the matter.
A Kogarah Council spokeswoman said the council had made it clear to the Division of Local Government that it did not support any options for its amalgamation proposed by the panel.
‘‘This includes amalgamation of the St George councils or a wider amalgamation of the St George councils with Canterbury Council,’’ she said.
‘‘Kogarah Council has a proven record of providing quality and cost-effective facilities and services to its community.’’
Kogarah mayor Stephen Agius highlighted the council’s strong performance record.
‘‘NSW Treasury Corporation’s (TCorp) gave a positive assessment of Kogarah Council’s financial sustainability,’’ he said.
‘‘This result, coupled with council’s sustainable business and environmental practices, provides clear evidence of Kogarah Council’s capacity to continue to serve our community to expected standards.’’
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