Councils need to move past the ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’ labels and act in the best interests of their ratepayers, according to Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli.
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The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) handed down a Fit for the Future report to the NSW Government in October which saw Griffith and Murrumbidgee councils labelled ‘unfit’ while Leeton and Carrathool were deemed ‘fit’.
Griffith mayor John Dal Broi called the label “an insult” while Murrumbidgee mayor Austin Evans called the process “a con job”.
Mr Piccoli said councils across NSW had been given every opportunity to put up merger proposals.
“The government has made it pretty clear there will be amalgamations,” Mr Piccoli said.
“Councils shouldn’t get hung up on whether they’ve been labelled ‘fit’ or ‘unfit’.
“They should have a good look at what’s in the best interests of ratepayers and decide whether to merge or stand alone.”
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said she would support the final positions reached by councils in her electorate.
“Some councils in my electorate have challenged the IPART report and have conducted their own research in relation to future population growth which contradicts IPART’s findings,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“There have also been questions over arbitrary population sustainability figures produced within the report.”
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) congratulated Ms Hodgkinson for opposing forced amalgamations.
LGNSW president Keith Rhoades said Ms Hodgkinson showed courage in speaking up against forced amalgamations.
“It’s encouraging to see a very senior local MP prepared to back local democracy and the stand-alone wishes of residents and ratepayers in the councils of her electorate,” Cr Rhoades said.
At the most recent Griffith City Council meeting, Councillor Dal Broi voiced his anger at Leeton meeting “scale and capacity” while Griffith did not.
Mr Piccoli said IPART was an independent organisation and they had been given terms of reference.
“Griffith’s issue is not financial but rather they hadn’t put up a proposal to merge with Murrumbidgee,” Mr Piccoli said.
“The government has done everything to make the process as conciliatory as possible and will fund any costs of amalgamations and transitions in areas like IT. There is also money on the table for capital works in local government areas which merge.”
However, Mr Piccoli said the IPART report was only part of the decision-making process.
“Sometimes governments take their advice, sometimes they don’t and often only part of it,” Mr Piccoli said.”