The New South Wales Government has announced it will walk away from the amalgamations impacting 14 metropolitan councils, which were being contested in court.
The Berejiklian Government announced today that the following councils will no longer be amalgamated: Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield; Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai; Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde; Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby; and Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra.
Randwick Mayor Noel D’Souza said his Council is pleased with the decision and intends to seek compensation for legal costs incurred.
“Randwick City Council’s position has always been that we oppose mergers and would prefer to stand alone. Our Council is one of the largest, strongest and most financially viable in the state,” the Mayor said.
“I will be seeking full compensation from the Government for Council’s incurred costs in preparing for their merger. It’s not fair that Randwick ratepayers should pay for the Government’s backflip and indecision.
“Now it’s time to get on with the job of serving the residents of Randwick City and continuing to provide the high quality services and facilities that they deserve.”
Barry Smith, General Manager of Hunter’s Hill Council and President of Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW, said the drawn-out merger process has been gruelling for the sector.
“The uncertainty the amalgamations agenda have brought to the sector have been a huge resource drain on local councils and have distracted the sector from much needed reform to address sector innovation, misconduct in local government, cost shifting, rate pegging and professional development,” he said.
Mayor of Ryde, Bill Pickering, applauded the decision and said it is time to start patching up state and local Government relations.
“The past two years have been a rollercoaster of uncertainty with the on-again/off-again forced amalgamations,” Mayor Pickering said.
“Councils and the community have suffered from this long and divisive campaign and I want to thank my fellow Councillors and Council staff for their steadfast support of our right to stand alone and govern on behalf of the citizens of the City of Ryde.
“Now is the time to rebuild goodwill between the two levels of Government and to continue on with the job of serving our communities.”
The NSW Government’s decision comes ahead of the local government elections (in the recently amalgamated council areas) on 9 September.
