Council amalgamations long overdue

Council amalgamations long overdueRepresenting the biggest reform of local government in NSW since 1948, local council amalgamations will reduce waste and red tape, deliver substantial savings and create stronger communities.Last Friday, NSW Premier Mike Baird (pictured) and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole announced the creation of 19 new councils across the state, slashing the number of councils from 42 to 25, and creating new ‘super councils’ across Sydney.Baird says the reform will free up money for important projects such as local roads, parks, playgrounds and footpaths. “Reducing waste and red tape through local government mergers could free up close to $2 billion over the next 20 years, allowing councils to fund better services and new infrastructure for communities or lower rates,” he says.The Property Council, a long-time advocate of amalgamations, welcomes the move, with NSW executive director Jane Fitzgerald congratulating Premier Mike Baird for having the “political courage” to take on “a task that had been left in the too hard basket for decades”.Fitzgerald says the new local government boundaries will create modern, professional and community-responsive councils.”Fewer, more professional and financially viable councils will benefit business and the broader community greatly,” she says, adding that the vast majority of councils have run deficits and fallen short in delivering the infrastructure and services to support Sydney’s growth.According to Fitzgerald, councils will now have the scale to fund and deliver essential services and infrastructure, supported by funding to kick start new investment.”The property industry pays almost $6 billion in rates and charges to councils across NSW and more than 70,000 development applications pass through local government annually.”We would encourage Premier Baird to finish the task as soon as possible by going ahead with the remaining mergers as soon as the court decisions are made.”New councils commenced operations on 12 May 2016, with administrators expected to govern until council elections in September 2017.