Woollahra Council considers further appeal in face of merger defeat

WOOLLAHRA Council has spent nearly $800,000 in ratepayer cash fighting a merger and might spend more trying to overturn today’s second knock-back.

Woollahra council chambers at Double Bay could be sold off if councils merge. Picture: Justin Lloyd

• Council starts spending spree to fight amalgamation

WOOLLAHRA Council has lost its expensive legal fight to avoid being merged into an eastern suburbs “super council”.

The court of appeal ruled against the council this afternoon, paving the way for Woollahra Council to be merged with neighbouring Waverley and Randwick.

The up-market suburb’s council has been fighting for months to avoid the merger, splurging nearly $800,000 of ratepayer cash on legal fees.

Mayor Toni Zeltzer described July’s loss as “quite devastating”. Picture: Craig Wilson

The council is considering whether to mount a further appeal in the high court.

It has until January 10 to decide whether to pursue the case. If it does not, the merger will be formally proclaimed.

The council has until January 10 to decide whether to pursue the case. If it does not, the merger will be formally proclaimed.

Greens MP David Shoebridge suggested there would be an appeal.

“Clearly it is disappointing to those thousands of residents supporting their local councils and the concept of truly local democracy to see this case go down today, but this is not the end of the road,” he said.

The government announced Woollahra was to be merged with Randwick and Waverley under its Fit for the Future reforms in December 2015, saying it would have major benefits for ratepayers.

Woollahra launched legal action in the Land and Environment Court but lost the case in July.

IN OTHER NEWS

Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer described that ruling as “quite devastating”.

“We still firmly hold the view there are no benefits for the Woollahra community under this proposed merger, only costs,” Ms Zeltzer said.

“We have always put our community first and we will continue to do so in considering our next step.”

The council was trying to challenge the merger with its eastern suburbs neighbours on a number of points — including that the government failed to hold a proper public inquiry into the merger proposal.

It also claimed the council was denied procedural fairness because the government did not release a full report by consultants KPMG on the financial implications of the merger.

Originally published as Woollahra Council considers further appeal in face of merger defeat