North Sydney Council prepares legal challenge against possible forced amalgamation with neighbours

AN EMBATTLED Sydney council has taken the first steps in preparing for a legal fight as the countdown to possible forced amalgamations across NSW begins.

Local Govt Minister

NORTH Sydney Council has laid down the gauntlet to Local Government minister Paul Toole over a possible amalgamation.

At its meeting on Monday night, the council voted unanimously to prepare to legally challenge any move by the State Government to place it into administration ahead of the contentious Fit for the Future determinations.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) is due to present its recommendations on the Fit for the Future proposals submitted by every NSW council on October 16.

NSW Cabinet is expected to prepare a response by mid December.

Mosman councillor and Save our Councils Coalition spokeswoman Carolyn Corrigan supports the move by North Sydney Council.

However, last month rumours swept the state suggesting Local Government minister Paul Toole had plans to sack every NSW council after the IPART recommendations were delivered to help pave the way for amalgamations.

SPIES AT NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL MEETINGS

NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL SECOND MOST COMPLAINED ABOUT IN NSW

The government wants to reduce 41 metropolitan councils into 18 super councils.

Mr Toole later denied the rumours but that has failed to appease many worried councils.

At the North Sydney meeting, council resolved to “immediately commence a legal challenge (including an application for stay) against any decision by the State Government ... to place North Sydney Council into administration pending forced amalgamation”.

Former North Sydney mayor Ted Mack says the current council is the “worst in 40 years”.

The move has been applauded by the Save our Councils Coalition (SOCC), which has been leading the fight against possible forced amalgamations.

“North Sydney are leading the way in preparing to resist the unjustified attack on local democracy by the NSW Government,” said SOCC spokeswoman Carolyn Corrigan, who is deputy mayor of neighbouring Mosman Council, which has been grouped into a possible amalgamated lower north shore council with North Sydney and Willoughby.

“Faced with the evidence of sustainable councils being threatened with amalgamation it is hard to conclude anything other than minister Toole must have an ulterior motive for pushing ahead with these amalgamations.

“I expect other councils will adopt similar motions to the one adopted by North Sydney.

North Sydney councillor MaryAnn Beregi has defended the current council’s record.

“Minister Paul Toole will have a fight on his hands if he attempts to demolish councils which have been serving their local community effectively and transparently for years.”

North Sydney Council is seen as one of the more vulnerable of the metropolitan councils after being threatened with suspension last year and issued with a Performance Improvement Order by the State Government.

Last month, the Office of Local Government confirmed it had been “closely observing meetings at North Sydney Council”.

Former North Sydney Mayor Ted Mack told the Mosman Daily the current council was “the worst council in 40 years” and that the current crop of councillors were a “vast problem”.

But North Sydney councillor MaryAnn Beregi said the council had undertaken a “fantastic program” of capital works and was still trying to address some of the legacies of Mr Mack’s time as mayor.

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