Peninsula ratepayers to benefit $111m from single northern beaches council merger

The Peninsula could save a hefty $111 million if plans for a single northern beaches council goes ahead.

Premier Mike Baird at the Western Sydney Out There Summit, University of Western Sydney today. A major summit to set the future plan for Sydney's West. Picture: Justin Lloyd

• Single council back on the table
• Pittwater in merger fight
• Mayor hits out at Manly ‘empire’ bid

The Peninsula could save a hefty $111 million if plans for a single northern beaches council goes ahead.

These projected savings – recently released by KPMG – could be enough to sway local opinion and the boundaries commission on the merger option, with the other proposals’ savings substantially less.

A merger of Mosman, Manly and part of Warringah has a projected saving of $47 million and a Pittwater and remaining part of Warringah merger has a projected saving of $29 million.

Up until now, KPMG only released financial details for the two council proposals, but with a single northern beaches council option back on the table, the financial consultants released a new financial analysis.

In addition to $111 million in savings over 20 years, a single northern beaches council would receive $25  million as a funding package to support them in the merger process.

A spokesman from Warringah Council said the ­report supports every other independent study which found that a single council would be the best deal for ratepayers.

The spokesman said there would also be other benefits to the proposal.

“The Government’s KPMG report also confirms there would be a significant reduction in red tape, more efficient council operations and a greater ­capacity to reduce the northern beaches’ $35 million infrastructure backlog.”

Pittwater Council – who has been proactive in their campaign against the one council – said financially, both proposed mergers are effectively the same.

“Both will yield strong ­financial results,” the spokesman said.

The KPMG report also speculates there would be 10 councillors in the new council. It also states the peninsula community will have the chance to shape how a new merged council would be structured.

Joining Pittwater’s call against a single council is Manly, who voted on Monday night to spend $20,000 educating the community against a “mega council”.

However, this is not the view of Mayor of Manly Jean Hay, who said that if the council cannot stand alone, she would prefer one council.

She also said spending $20,000 is a waste of money.

“Quite frankly I think it’s money down the drain,” she said.

“There has been a significant shift of opinion in the community and the feedback that I’m getting is supportive of the one council on the northern beaches” she said.

As well as $20,000, the council will be putting in a submission to the boundaries commission against the proposal.