Canterbury and Bankstown councils united in opposition to forced mergers

Canterbury and Bankstown may not have much in common, according to residents, but they are united by overwhelming opposition to a merger under local government reforms.

Canterbury and Bankstown may not have much in common, according to residents, but they are united by overwhelming opposition to a merger under local government reforms.

Packing a function room at Bankstown Sports Club last week, residents from the two local government areas made their concerns known in a public inquiry into council merger proposals.

The inquiry, chaired by government-appointed delegate John Roseth, was one of several held across the state, with more to take place this week.

Delegates will report their observations to Local Government Minister Paul Toole once the public meetings are complete.

About 100 speakers had their say over two sessions, speaking in front of a packed room of ratepayers, some of whom bore placards with “Hands Off Bankstown” and “Say No To Mergers”.

Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour. Picture: Tim Clapin

Speakers had three minutes to present their arguments about the merger.

Canterbury Council’s general manager Jim Montague kicked proceedings off, saying the merger would create a council bigger than the population of Northern Territory and Canberra.

During the inquiry, Bankstown state Labor MP Tania Mihailuk argued that the figures did not stack up.

“The money saved by Bankstown standing alone supersedes what it would save with a merger,” Ms ­Mihailuk said.

Residents expressed concerns about the implications a merger would have on local services, such as garbage collection and community programs.

By and large, however, they pointed to the differences in identity between the two councils as a reason a merger should not go ahead.

One difference, pointed out by Campsie resident Paul Reid, was the special rate variation in Canterbury but not in Bankstown.

Bankstown Mayor Khal questioned whether the merged council of 110 sq km and 351,000 residents, making it the largest in NSW, would be capable of servicing the entire community.

“Residents told the ­inquiry they fear such a huge council would not be able to continue to deliver the level of service they have come to expect and ­deserve,” he said.

The maximum number of councillors allowed is 15 under the NSW Local Government Act 1993.

This means one councillor would represent 23,399 residents in a merged council.

Mr Roseth will examine the proposal and review public submissions before preparing a report for Local Government Minister Paul Toole and the Boundaries Commission.

The final decision is ­expected to be handed down by July but an announcement could come as early as next month.

The NSW Government has spent nearly $6 million in the past six months on ­advertising and consultants to spruik the benefits of a cut in local government.