The NSW government is offering a financial incentives for voluntary council amalgamations as part of a plan to make Local Government more financially secure.
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The government released its ‘Fit for the Future’ package last week as a response to the Independent Review into Local Government which was released earlier in the year.
Guyra Shire Council General Manager Peter Stewart said that while detail is short at the moment, he has doubts whether Guyra can make a case to remain a stand-alone entity.
Mr Stewart said that he hopes a meeting to be held in Armidale next Monday will give more details. Under the package, councils will be required to make a submission by 30 June 2015 on how they plan to be Fit for the Future. It will be assessed by independent experts against independently-set criteria.
“Guyra needs to show that it can be sustainable into the future which is something that can never be achieved with our rate base,” he said. “There appears to be no option to assess the impact of the loss of local representation or local decision making.”
“We are not alone. Of the 152 councils in NSW two thirds won’t meet the criteria,” he said. “Our close geographical connection and community of interest with Armidale means we a high priority for a merger.’
“This is not what Guyra wanted, and while there will be benefits, there will also be losses if this goes ahead,” he said. “We have no option – if we fight it we won’t win and we will be bigger losers.”
He said the Council would contemplate the proposal, especially given its current financial state. But if it was to amalgamate he wanted to see it done properly and include a review of shire boundaries.
“If you don’t get it right we don’t want to have to fix it in the next 10 or 20 years,” Mr Stewart said.
He was highly supportive of more regional co-operation among neighbouring Northern Tablelands councils, noting the airport, roads, water and waste as areas currently being discussed by delegates.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said he wants to continue to work closely with all councils in the Northern Tablelands and build on the strengthening relationships in the region to ensure every council is Fit for the Future.
“We’ve come a long way in the last 12 months – we have elevated our thinking and now have a regional focus, which is important to tackle the big issues and making savings.
“This package presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve what we do and the services we offer to our communities and modernise local government.”
The MP said that Councils which become Fit for the Future will have access to a range of further initiatives to help provide improved services and infrastructure, including:
• access to a State borrowing facility to fund local infrastructure;
• more flexibility with procurement and simplified reporting;
• access to a streamlined IPART process for setting rates; and
• eligibility for additional planning powers.
