Single council gets nod from meeting in Manly

THE overwhelming majority of speakers at the hearing on Tuesday into the proposed single northern beaches council were in favour of it and called for unity among peninsula residents, not division.

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole will release IPART's Review of Local Council Fit For The Future proposals. Pic Stephen Cooper

THE overwhelming majority of speakers at the hearing on Tuesday into the proposed single northern beaches council were in favour of it and called for unity among peninsula residents, not division.

In contrast, at the hearing at Mona Vale Golf Club on Monday, more than two-thirds of speakers are believed to have spoken in favour of maintaining Pittwater as a stand-alone council.

Many at Tuesday’s meeting at Manly Golf Club pointed to the fact that when they were asked by residents of other areas where they lived, they said: “I live on the northern beaches”, in the same way residents of Sutherland say they live in “The Shire”.

Some speakers pointed to the fact that many organisations are already based on the area as a single region, including the police, sporting organisations and voluntary groups, all of which would benefit from having to deal with only one council, rather than two or three.

Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Paul Toole

Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Historical Society president Jim Boyce said having to work with three councils and their various committees made it harder for voluntary organisations to operate.

“Local voluntary organisations would find it easier to operate with one council, rather than three,” he said.

It was also argued by some speakers that a single northern beaches council did not mean Warringah would take over its neighbours but that all three councils would be scrapped and a new council formed in its stead.

Several speakers said local representation could be ensured by having a ward system, as in Warringah and Pittwater, where a number of councillors were elected in each ward to represent that ward, and that entities like Manly Council’s precinct committees and local progress associations could guide the new council and ensure it considered the views of residents at the suburban or precinct level.

Some speakers said it was ironic that by threatening to split the northern beaches by splitting Warringah, the State Government had in fact united peninsula residents.

Warringah resident Kate Lewis told the hearing that the previous night her three sons had told her they were “northern beaches boys”.

“We should all be in this together,” she said.

“It would benefit everyone.”

Fairlight resident John Wilson said one council could better fight for the rights of northern beaches residents than one council.

“There will be costs and there will be challenges but change is mandatory, so let’s get on with it and make it work,” he said.

Warringah councillor Roslyn Harris said the term “mega-council” was a myth, because lots of councils have greater populations than the proposed single council.