Inner West Council: Plan for Marrickville to “secede” revealed

The Republic of Marrickville? That’s what could be on the cards if a Sydney deputy mayor is able to get independence from the amalgamated Inner West Council.

More trouble is brewing at Inner West Council as a plan is being proposed by its deputy mayor that would see Marrickville “secede” from the combined mega local government.

Independent Vic Macri is proposing the former Marrickville Council be allowed a Brexit-style break away from the Inner West five years after it was amalgamated with Leichhardt and Ashfield.

Marrickville councillor Mr Macri said one of the most diverse areas of the inner west, home to the Greek and Portuguese communities of Sydney, had been short-changed on funding and that Marrickville was being used as the council’s “cash cow”.

“The people of Marrickville don’t deserve this,” he said.

“I can’t see anything here (in the amalgamation) that is going to benefit the people of Marrickville.”

Vic Macri has said that enough is enough. Picture: John Appleyard

The Inner West’s firey brand of 13 councillors have for years argued back and forth over issues relating to the state government forcefully amalgamating them but it is believed this is the first time one of the three has moved for its independence.

Cr Macri is asking for the council to gauge community response to the plan through Newtown MP Jenny Leong, Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen and Heffron MP Ron Hoening.

Cr Macri, ahead of the budget being handed down next week, said the council was looking at a dire financial situation if the amalgamation continued.

It is the latest problem to land on mayor Darcy Byrne’s desk. (AAP IMAGE/ Danny Aarons)

Cr Macri cited figures that Marrickville Council spent $4.2 million on streetworks whereas the Inner West Council spends $9 million across its three local government areas.

“If we continue on this path in 10 years time our capital works deficit will balloon out to $50 million,” the deputy mayor said.

“The last budget Marrickville (council) had was our operational budget was $5 million in surplus and our capital works budget was $4 million in surplus.

“We’ve been used as a cash cow for Leichhardt and Ashfield that’s why I want out.

“We don’t deserve this, we’re going down the path of Central Coast Council … what are we second class citizens? Enough is enough.”

While Marrickville cannot leave the Inner West trifecta council on it’s own, if the community feedback supports the proposal the next move could be to pressure and lobby the state government.

Cr Macri wants to gauge opinion through local MPs including Ron Hoenig MP . (IMAGE MONIQUE HARMER)

and Jo Haylen. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

The Mike Baird Liberal government pushed through the changes to several councils in May 2016, including Canterbury-Bankstown.

Five years after the move became official the Inner West Council is still attempting to harmonise the different rates structures across Marrickville, Leichhardt and Ashfield.

NEWS TIPS: [e-mail]