Woollahra judgement a disappointment for local democracy, claims SOCC but vows to continue the fight
Save Our Councils Coalition (SOCC) concurs with Woollahra Council’s Mayor Toni Zeltzer, in feeling ‘significantly disappointed’ by the judgement handed down on Wednesday in the Council’s court case challenging the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s forced amalgamation agenda.
In his findings, The Chief Judge of the NSW Land and Environment Court, Brian Preston, asserted ‘that the procedural problems identified by the applicant, and KPMG’s role as a ‘’partner’’ rather than an ”independent” analyser of the Government’s assumptions, was not fatal to the Government’s agenda’.
According to SOCC, Woollahra Council fearlessly led the way for many metropolitan and regional councils, which also feel angered by the Baird Government’s egregious attempt to destroy well-run, successful local councils and trash the principles of local democracy.
SOCC President Carolyn Corrigan expects Woollahra Council to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
“All the councils awaiting court decisions have compelling differences in their challenges, and we are keenly awaiting other judgements,” says SOCC spokesperson Phil Jenkyn.
SOCC continues to monitor the current situation in the councils that have been forced to amalgamate, with an expectation of de-amalgamations under a new government in NSW claiming Labor, Greens, Christian Democrats and the Shooters, Fishers & Farmers have all said they will support the de-amalgamation of councils that have been forcibly amalgamated by the Baird Government.
