Mayor Kris Hanna suggests merger between Marion and Holdfast Bay
Marion Mayor Kris Hanna says it is time Marion and Holdfast Bay councils amalgamate.
- Holdfast Bay wants to take two suburbs from Marion Council
- Marion Council wants to poach 20,000 Onkaparinga residents
- Then scraps the idea after finding out it would cost millions
Marion Mayor Kris Hanna says Holdfast Bay and Marion Councils should amalgamate.
On Tuesday night, Holdfast Bay Council will vote on a motion by Mayor Amanda Wilson to apply to the Boundaries Commission to expand its footprint into Marino and Glengowrie.
Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said he was concerned that Holdfast Bay was motivated by “financial reasons” and that a merger between the two councils would be the “best solution”.
He said Holdfast Bay’s population was 40 per cent of Marion’s but their debt was about three times higher.
“If there is a real problem of communities being on the wrong side of the council border, the best solution would be an amalgamation between the two councils,” Mr Hanna said.
“Indeed if Holdfast Bay Council persist with this, that might well be the submission of Marion Council to the Boundaries Commission.”
Mr Hanna said the communities in Marion and Holdfast Bay had a lot in common and merging the two would be more efficient.
Mr Hanna added that Mrs Wilson’s motion was worded to “avoid taking direct responsibility for a boundary shift, putting up a residents’ group as a stalking horse”.
“This is to get around the new laws which impose massive consultancy costs on councils which seek to revise boundaries,” Mr Hanna said.
“When Marion considered revising boundaries across South Rd, we were told (it would cost) $200,000 before even getting an answer about amalgamation.
“Not to mention the fact that they need to effectively compensate us for every council asset in those areas — there’s quite a few roads, footpaths and drains there.”
Mrs Wilson said a merger was not the right way to go.
“We believe investigating a community-led boundary realignment is the best way forward and we are not considering a merger,” Mrs Wilson said.
“There are strong communities of interest within Glengowrie and Marino, with residents working in, shopping in, and using our services within the City of Holdfast Bay, and we can see the benefits to the community of moving to Holdfast Bay.
“This is about listening to the community, who have regularly approached us (about joining Holdfast Bay).”
Instead of poaching suburbs, let’s merge
Kris Hanna, Marion Council Mayor
Holdfast Bay Council last night considered a controversial and potentially expensive bid to seize two suburbs from the Marion community.
While I recognise the democratic rights of the community, I’m concerned that the move to take control of Marino and Glengowrie appears to be made on financial reasons alone.
It’s worth firstly looking at the relative positions of Marion and Holdfast Bay councils.
Holdfast Bay’s population is about 36,600.
Marion’s population is about 92,000.
Holdfast Bay’s debt is about three times Marion’s, and it is slowly going backwards.
Years of careful economic management has placed Marion in a good position financially. And our ratepayers are the beneficiaries.
Our residential “average rate” increase this financial year is 1.8 per cent (the lowest in metropolitan Adelaide), while Holdfast imposed a 2.7 per cent increase.
We continue to invest in quality services and facilities for our community.
Rather than playing around with boundaries, Holdfast Bay should first step up co-operation with its neighbouring council.
Marion is working co-operatively with Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield councils on IT, procurement, fleet and utilities management, waste services and irrigation.
This is bringing big savings for our ratepayers. Sadly for its community, Holdfast Bay has not wanted to join us.
Holdfast residents should be asking their leaders: “Why not?”
Holdfast Bay’s takeover motion was carefully worded to avoid taking direct responsibility for a boundary shift. It seems the council would put up a residents’ group as a stalking horse to get around the new laws, which impose massive costs on councils seeking to revise boundaries.
Holdfast’s approach is in stark contrast to Marion’s transparent exploration of transferring several suburbs from Onkaparinga Council earlier this year.
When we looked into the new laws, it became apparent the cost to Marion ratepayers was too great.
We were being asked to pay an estimated $250,000 for consultants to tell us the price tag for the change, which could then be millions of dollars more.
It wasn’t worth pursuing. Our council is yet to take a formal position on the Holdfast proposal.
But, if Holdfast truly believes suburbs of Marion Council belong in its council area, then let’s stop playing around the edges.
Let’s have a bigger debate about both councils amalgamating.