Salisbury Council to vote on remaining with the Local Government Association after Marion Council’s exit
IN the wake of Marion Council voting to leave the Local Government Association, a second suburban Adelaide council is also considering going it alone. What do you think — VOTE NOW
IN the wake of Marion Council voting to leave the Local Government Association, a second suburban Adelaide council is also considering going it alone.
Salisbury Council will vote on whether to join its counterpart in the west in leaving the “voice of Local Government in South Australia”. Salisbury councillor Brad Vermeer labelled Marion’s decision — “Marexit” — as “beginning of the end”, saying he doesn’t believe the LGA is doing a good job representing ratepayers.
Mr Vermeer yesterday called the association a “bloated bureaucratic gravy train” and said he hoped Marion’s bold move would trigger councils in the northern suburbs to follow in their footsteps.
Marion voted on Tuesday night to leave the LGA, meaning it won’t pay its $93,000 membership fee for 2016-17.
“I think it’s a total waste of space and ratepayers’ money that could be used elsewhere, not going towards the salaries of overpaid bureaucrats,” Mr Vermeer said.
“Marion has led the way, and if we do the same I think Port Adelaide Enfield, Playford and Tea Tree Gully will follow.”
However, Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge said her focus would be getting northern suburbs representation on the LGA board. There is none currently. Ms Aldridge said she was in discussions with LGA president Dave Burgess and chief executive Matt Pinnegar.
“Once we know what representation the north will have on the board next year we’ll make a decision to review our membership,” Ms Aldridge said. Either way, Mr Vermeer intends to put up a motion to leave the LGA.
In voting to leave, Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said his council’s staff was capable of absorbing the services previously provided by the LGA.
“Larger councils have specialised staff who are very knowledgeable about planning issues and legal issues — and, in terms of advocacy, look what we achieved with Oaklands Crossing,” Mr Hanna said, referring to the Liberals’ $40 million promise for the intersection on Monday.
The LGA board voted in May to keep its fee structure largely unchanged despite protests from Marion that it put the largest burden on medium-sized councils such as itself and Tea Tree Gully.
Mr Hanna said Marion’s elected members were responsible only to their own residents and ratepayers.
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