Lake Macquarie City Council has prepared a submission in response to the Independent Local Government Review Panel’s final report into local government reform in NSW, opposing suggested amalgamations.
General Manager, Brian Bell said the proposed submission would be made on behalf of the Lake Macquarie community on the recommendations contained in the Independent Local Government Review Panel’s Revitalising Local Government document.
“The submission outlines aspects of the Panel’s recommendations in Revitalising Local Government that Council agrees with, aspects that Council supports in principle but with some comments, and aspects that Council does not agree with and feels would be unnecessary, particularly in this region.”
The most significant of these concerns relate to the suggested amalgamation with Newcastle Council, and City boundary adjustments to the south.
“Lake Macquarie City Council is performing strongly and is well placed to provide good-quality daily services that all 200,000 of our residents expect and rely on. As we stated in our previous submission to the Local Government Review Panel before they released their final report, we strongly believe we meet the requirements for a sustainable and efficient council.”
For several years, Lake Macquarie has been improving its efficiency and working towards financial sustainability, and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) and the NSW Treasury Corporation have recognised these efforts and achievements.
Lake Macquarie Mayor, Councillor Jodie Harrison said she was surprised by the recommendation put forward by the Panel to amalgamate Lake Macquarie and Newcastle councils, and to move Morisset and Wyee into either Wyong Council or a new Central Coast Council, given the evidence provided in the Council’s previous submission.
“I want what is best for local government in NSW, but most importantly, what is best for the people of Lake Macquarie. In this matter, those goals are the same I believe. What we need to be doing is making sure that we build stronger and more sustainable councils through appropriate processes and structural changes.”
Once endorsed by the elected Council, the response will be submitted to the Minister for Local Government by the April 4 deadline.
