Manly Mayor Jean Hay calls on councils to work together whatever the amalgamation outcome

Mayor of Manly Jean Hay has called a peace offering between the three northern beaches councils on amalgamation.

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Mayor of Manly Jean Hay has called a peace offering between the three northern beaches councils on amalgamation.

In an interview on Radio Northern Beaches this week, Cr Hay said whatever the outcome is, it’s time for the councils to work together.

“At the end of the day we’ve just got to be big enough and work together for whatever we’re being given and for everyone to be united,” she said.

Cr Hay also told the host that her gut feeling was that a single council is likely to be formed, and that she would not mind if that was the case.

“It would be good because obviously there has been a swell of community support for that, particularly in the Warringah area, and obviously Mike Baird is listening,” she said.

“ ... and Jonathon O’dea now has come out in support of it and Brad Hazzard did the same thing.”

Host of the program, Ian Nicholas, who is also the leader of community group One Northern Beaches Council Alliance, said he was shocked by the mayor’s response. “I was surprised because previously she’d been so strong for a divided northern beaches. This sudden turn is very welcome,” he said.

The boundaries commission has released the public hearing dates for the one northern beaches council proposal: Mona Vale Golf Club on Monday, March 21 6pm- 10pm, Manly Golf Club on Tuesday, March 22 from 6pm-10pm and Dee Why RSL on Wednesday, March 23 from 6pm-10pm.