Waratah-Wynyard and Circular Head Councils General Manager Greg Winton recently released the findings of the ‘Impact of Resource Sharing on Staff and Councillors’ report prepared by the Institute for Regional Development, University of Tasmania.
“The release of this report is timely in that council amalgamations are again being pushed by some in the business community,” Mr Winton said.
“It’s important to remember that the key driver of this arrangement was to make each council stronger and better and it is clear in this report that we are well on the way to meeting this objective.”
Mr Winton said the resource sharing process had encouraged a broadening of boundaries and a broadening of thinking in both municipalities. “However, the true measure of success will be in cultural change.”
Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam said that, while the report highlighted some concerns with the resource sharing arrangement, mostly it recognised the positive outcomes achieved.
“The benefits of resource sharing can be no better demonstrated than staff from both councils jointly taking out the state title at the recent Local Government Management Association’s challenge in Launceston,” Mayor Quilliam said.
Waratah-Wynyard Mayor Robby Walsh agreed and said the mere fact General Manager Greg Winton was invited by the Local Government Management Association to present at its National Congress in May was testament to a good working model.
“However, it must be remembered that Mr Winton is only one of 14 resource-shared staff, all of whom are helping both Councils deliver enhanced services across both municipalities,” Mayor Walsh said.
“I look forward to the next stage of this arrangement and the many benefits it will bring to both the Circular Head and Waratah-Wynyard communities.”
Both Councils have also released a combined resource sharing status report to address the first recommendation of the Institute for Regional Development’s report as a sign of commitment to the process.
