Mosman, Willoughby councils spend almost $290K on amalgamation proposals

NORTH Sydney Council remains tight-lipped on how much it has spent on amalgamations, despite Mosman and Willoughby councils revealing their costs.

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MOSMAN  and Willoughby councils have revealed they have spent almost $290,000 between them on merger proposals, but North Sydney Council remains tight-lipped on the issue.

NewsLocal reporters submitted the same questions to each council, which would amalgamate if the State Government’s latest proposal went ahead.

We asked how much the preparation of reports and submissions, advertising, public meetings and legal advice had cost.

Mosman Council chambers. Picture: David Swift

North Sydney Council was unable to answer, but a spokeswoman said a report would go to council in April.

Willoughby Council estimated its costs at $247,000, while Mosman Council’s estimate was significantly less, almost $42,000.

Mosman Council was part of a group of northern Sydney councils to commission an independent review of the original six-council merger plan to help inform its Fit for the Future submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in June 2015.

A council spokeswoman said Mosman’s share of the costs was $22,000.

Mosman Civic Centre. Picture: David Swift

The spokeswoman also said Wednesday night’s council-hosted public meeting cost $950.

“Advertising was included as part of other information material distributed to residents in support of the NSW Government’s information campaign,” she said.

Mosman Council’s anti-merger campaign in October to November last year cost $19,000 in advertising, signs, flyers and flyer distribution.

Anti-merger supporters from councils across NSW unit at the Save Our Councils Coalition “Local Democracy — Not Dictatorship” rally at Hyde Park in Sydney in March. Picture: Braden Fastier

The council spokeswoman said council had not been charged any costs to date for legal advice about mergers.

“Many hours of officers’ time has been dedicated to the local government reform process,” she said. “The exact extent of these hours has not been calculated.”

Community consultation on the proposal closes April 8.

A map showing the suburbs that would form part of the state government’s merger between North Sydney, Willoughby and Mosman councils.

Mergers opposed at meeting

ABOUT 200 people aired their views about the State Government’s new proposal to amalgamate Mosman with North Sydney and Willoughby at a public inquiry meeting last week.

The government-appointed delegate Ian Reynolds attended the meeting in Mosman.

Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson said residents remained opposed to the proposal and feared a loss of democracy, fewer services and increased costs and rates.

Mosman Council also held a community meeting on the issue on Wednesday night.

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