Amalgamation meetings wrap up as State Government decides on peninsula merger

The last of the public hearings into the proposed northern beaches council was held on Wednesday night in Dee Why.

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The last of the public hearings into the proposed northern beaches council was held on Wednesday night in Dee Why.

As the first and only meeting to be hosted in Warringah territory, there was a large crowd in attendance and 50 registered speakers.

While the majority of views were in support of one council, there was a significant turnout of Pittwater residents who were calling for the status quo and to remain an independent council.

Mayor of Warringah Michael Regan led the speeches with a quote from U2 lead singer, Bono.

“Vision over visibility,” he said.

Cr Regan also urged the audience to not fear a single council.

“Sense of place and community spirit are all very well ... but I don’t believe that they will disappear if we form one council,” he said.

He also commented on the squabbling that the reform process has prompted.

“If the only way to extol the virtues of your own neighbourhood and your own community is to attack or denigrate someone else’s, then I find that truly sad,” he said.

Several speakers said a northern beaches council would mean stronger representation to the state government for important issues like transport and housing.

One speaker also highlighted that one council would eliminate the “red tape” small businesses face when going between the three councils.W

In contrast, a number of speakers from pittwater argued that they had seen what life was like under Warringah and it should not happen again.

Written submissions for the proposal close April 8.