NSW Local Government Minister Don Page has refuted false claims that the State Government plans to reduce 152 councils to just 16 across the State, as claimed by the United Services Union in a recent circular.
The union claimed that ‘if councils merged into the Regional Organisations of Council boundaries it would mean a reduction from 152 Councils to 16 Council entities.’
Speaking during the launch of the Destination 2036 Draft Action Plan in December, he saw an expanded future role for ROCs in Local Government, as initiators of collaborative agreements and organisers of resource and skills sharing among neighbouring councils.
“Many ROCs are already involved in collaborative agreements which make member councils stronger and able to meet future challenges – and the best form of job protection for local government employees is a strong local government sector,” he said.
“As I said when I announced the Destination 2036 Draft Action Plan last week, I strongly support greater co-operation between neighbouring councils and I anticipate that regional organisations of councils will play a greater role in implementing such plans and actions across entire regions, because many ROCs have regional leadership roles already.
“However, the USU’s suggestion that the Destination 2036 Draft Action Plan states that the borders of each ROC – the collective area of the councils within each ROC – are to become the borders of new ‘super councils’ is simply not true.
“Perhaps this is a deliberate scare campaign by the USU in order to boost its membership, but all it is doing is misleading the public on the Draft Action Plan and its intention to strengthen the local government sector.”
The Draft Action Plan is online at the Division of Local Government website, www.dlg.nsw.gov.au and submissions from the public will be taken until February 15, after which several working groups will be set up to help finalise the Action Plan.
“This Draft Action Plan gives the residents and communities of NSW an insight into how councils could improve the delivery of services to ratepayers, and modernise to meet the challenges of a changing world – and allows those residents to comment and add to the discussion process.” he said.
The USU would not respond to the Minister’s comments.
