The Property Council of Australia today welcomed Acting Brighton Mayor Councillor Barbara Curran’s intervention into the council amalgamation debate.
Executive Director Brian Wightman encouraged the community to continue the conversation with the visit of Jeff Kennett AC for a Property Council Lunch at the Country Club Casino tomorrow the perfect opportunity for this to occur.
“Following his presentation, Mr Kennett has offered to take questions and if the Acting Mayor wishes to attend and ask a question offering a different point of view, we will more than happily accommodate,” Mr Wightman said.
Mr Wightman reiterated the community sentiment in support of council amalgamations over many years.
“The Property Council has been polling the issue with EMRS consistently since 2010 and there continues to be strong support for council reform in Tasmania. Residents understand that council reform ultimately means using economies of scale to deliver better council services.”
Following an EMRS survey during May 2016, Mr. Wightman said more than three quarters of respondents (77 per cent) support a comprehensive review into the number of councils in Tasmania.
“Again, the majority of respondents (70 per cent) also agreed 29 councils for a population of 510,000 people was too many.
“The community wants it, the state government wants it and many of the councils have expressed a desire for it to happen. There has been no better time than the present to take action on the issue of reform of local government,” he said.
Media contact: Brian Wightman | E [email protected]