A parliamentary inquiry will probe the state government’s push for council amalgamations.
Rockdale, Hurstville and Kogarah councils are among those that could be forced into mergers if they do not meet a range of performance criteria.
The upper house inquiry, which resulted from moves by the Greens and Christian Democrats for more scrutiny, is due to report by August 17.
The terms of reference include scrutiny of the June 30 deadline given for councils to lodge submissions to the Independent pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
The tribunal has been tasked with assessing whether councils are ‘‘fit’’ to operate independently or as merged entities.
While the inquiry would be unlikely to derail the Fit for the Future program, it could possibly delay the process or lead to modifications in the assessment system.
Labor spokesman on local government Peter Primrose said it would examine the criteria used to assess amalgamation proposals, in particular the scale and capacity criterion, as well as the impact of forced amalgamations on council finances, staff and communities.
Mr Primrose said the government could no longer ignore the concerns of councils and local residents.
Greens MP David Shoebridge told Parliament, compared to major international competitors, NSW metropolitan councils were, if anything, too large.
He said research undertaken by the party showed, on average, the population of Sydney metropolitan councils was already four times larger than the average council size across the OECD.
‘‘Indeed, the average population of local councils across our direct competitors, those to which we most often compare ourselves such as the developed world represented by the OECD, is 27,224 while the average population of the 41 metropolitan Sydney councils is 104,493,’’ he said.
WHERE THEY STAND
Rockdale Council has an ‘‘open mind’’ and is still consulting ratepayers on various options, including: standing alone, merging with Kogarah, a St George council of Kogarah, Rockdale and Hurstville, a St George-Canterbury council, or a bayside/airport grouping of Rockdale, Botany Bay and Marrickville councils.
Kogarah Council will seek to stand alone after this option received overwhelming support in a survey of ratepayers but, if the assessment criteria ‘‘goalposts’’ were to be moved, its preference would be for a St George council.
Hurstville Council will seek to stand alone, a position it says was strongly supported by more than 63 per cent of residents who took part in a survey.
Do you think your council should merge?
