Canterbury Council to open talks with Bankstown Council about an amalgamation

A Canterbury-Bankstown council is a step closer, with Canterbury Council voting to open talks with their neighbours about an amalgamation.

Canterbury Council will open talks with Bankstown Council about an amalgamation after a proposal was passed at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday.

Canterbury Council has been opposed to forced mergers under the State Government’s Fit for the Future reforms.

But reports that the State Government could place NSW councils in administration has prompted the council to consider merging with Bankstown.

The motion to open negotiations was supported by all councillors except Greens councilllor Linda Eisler and Labor’s Esta Paschalidis-Chilas.

In its submission to the local government reforms, the council stated it wanted to stand alone.

Under Fit for the Future recommendations, Canterbury was given the option of either merging with Bankstown or the St George area councils Kogarah, Hurstville and Rockdale.

CANTERBURY COUNCIL SAYS NO TO FORCED MERGERS

In a report from Canterbury general manager Jim Montague, it states amalgamations are now “inevitable”.

Bankstown Civic Tower. Canterbury councillors will vote on whether to try and open talks with Bankstown.

“It is also clear that it is potentially detrimental to council and to our staff and ratepayers to continue to fight the inevitable,” the report states.

“Canterbury is faced with waiting until merger announcements are made, or approaching our neighbours with a proposal to work towards a mutually agreed merger, which has the potential to deliver a better outcome for our residents and for our staff.

“We can continue our opposition to this process or we can turn our minds and our resources towards securing our future.”

The report also states the council tried to hold talks with the three St George area councils when preparing its Fit for the Future submission without success.