Northern Beaches Council demerger: Residents could have say on splitting up ‘mega council’

A push is on to allow locals to have an official say on splitting up Northern Beaches Council into its three former bodies — Manly, Warringah and Pittwater councils. See what’s happening.

A “splittwater” rally outside NSW Parliament House held by supporters of a move to demerge Pittwater from the Northern Beaches Council. Picture: Supplied

Northern beaches residents look set have a say about whether Northern Beaches Council should be split up.

A special demerger poll asking if Pittwater, Manly and Warringah councils should be reinstated could be put together as part of the September local government elections.

Northern Beaches Council was created out of the compulsory amalgamation of the three former councils ordered by the previous NSW Coalition government in 2016.

But there has been a constant lobbying effort from supporters of the former Pittwater Council, and the Greens members of the current merged council, for it to be reversed.

Councillor Miranda Korzy lodged a Notice of Motion at this week’s council meeting, calling on fellow councillors to support the demerger poll. The motion included asking council staff to report on the financial advantages and disadvantages of a demerger.

A rally outside NSW Parliament House held by supporters of a move to split Pittwater from the Northern Beaches Council. Picture: Supplied

There are two proposed new laws before NSW Parliament outlining ways amalgamated councils could be split up.

Cr Korzy, a Pittwater Ward councillor, said she wanted residents to have their say at the upcoming election on the question: “Do you support the de-amalgamation of Northern Beaches Council (NBC) to reinstate Pittwater, Warringah and Manly Councils?”

She said residents were never given the democratic right to vote on whether they wanted to be live in a “mega council” area.

“It’s basically giving them a vote on something they were never given a vote on before,” she said during Tuesday night’s meeting.

Former Manly Mayor Jean Hay and Pittwater Mayor Jacqui Townsend, outside Manly Town Hall in 2013, joined forces to fight against council amalgamations. Picture: Manly Daily

“I can’t ignore the wishes of the thousands of Pittwater residents who have signed petitions calling for a council demerger.

“The merger has not resolved any potential financial issues individual councils may have been facing.”

Miranda Korzy, The Greens councillor for Pittwater Ward on Northern Beaches Council. Picture: Supplied.

Independent councillor Vincent De Luca, who supported the motion, pointed out that there had been rates rises each year since the amalgamated council was formed.

Cr Korzy said councils had only 10 years to de-merge under the Local Government Act.

“The cheapest way to do that is via a poll at the council election,” he said.

Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville backed the motion and said “(they) can tell us what they want and we can go from there.”

People at the first meeting of the new Northern Beaches Council at Manly Council Chambers in May 2016. Picture: Braden Fastier

Independent Manly Ward councillor Candy Bingham said there was no mood in Manly for de-amalgamation.

She said the former Manly Council was $66 million in debt prior to the merger and the merged council had led to efficiency gains and improved customer satisfaction.

“3000 signatures out of 260,000 people is probably not a good enough reason to spend $160,000 on a poll,” Ms Bingham said.

After an amendment was put forward by Liberal councillor Michael Gencher, council staff will complete a preliminary “desktop” analysis of the financial implication of splitting up the council.

Staff would also set out a possible way for the results of that analysis to be available to the public and then give people the chance to provide feedback on that analysis and the cost of conducting the demerger poll.