Mayor Rod McDonald says Tasman would have no voice if councils amalgamated

Another Tasmanian mayor has spoken against the possibility of council amalgations, meanwhile the union has concerns of its own. What he says >

Tasman Mayor Rod MacDonald at Nubeena. Picture: Chris Kidd

The mayor of the Tasman Council has made an impassioned plea to ensure his council is not swallowed up in a super-council of more than 80,000 people.

Rod Macdonald says an option for Tasman to amalgamate with Sorell and Clarence councils would destroy his community’s “democratic voice”.

“In this scenario, it is highly likely that Tasman would have no representation on that council,” he said.

The proposed Eastern Shore amalgamation. Picture: Local Government Board

“It is one vote one value but we would have 2600 voters on a council with 80,000 people and would struggle to get anyone elected.

“Citizen panels have been suggested but they don’t cut it.

“Tasman is the only council in Tasmania where residents have had the opportunity to vote and of the 80 per cent of people who voted 70 per cent, or the overwhelming majority, rejected amalgamation.”

Mr Macdonald said Tasman was financially sustainable and if the government wanted to achieve savings it could streamline several services.

“We have a statewide driver’s licence, so for example, we could have the same for dog licences,” he said.

“We’re very open to working with the government to get efficiencies. You could have common administration and accounting systems and planning systems.”

Mr MacDonald said in New South Wales and Queensland amalgamation of councils had “devastated communities” and led to reduced services in outlying regions.

He was critical of some councils for not letting staff speak up on amalgamation and that consultation was now being done online.

Local Government Minister Nic Street has welcomed the Local Government Board’s launch on its website of surveys seeking feedback from council staff, elected members, and the broader community on potential boundary reforms.

Budget Estimates, Nic Street MP. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Street said he was particularly pleased to see the surveys were being tailored specifically to understand the different perspectives of staff, elected members, and everyday Tasmanians.

“I have said all the way through this Review that buy-in from both the sector and the broader community is essential to developing a package of reform proposals that is both workable and can deliver real and enduring benefits,” he said.

“It is especially important that we hear directly from council staff – in their own words – the challenges and opportunities that could come with different structural reform options.”

Mr Street said the Board’s surveys would complement the intensive statewide engagement program by the Local Government Association of Tasmania and local government professionals.

The surveys will be open until midnight on July 5.

‘Uninformed’: Australian Services Union says council workers are being denied chance to weigh in on amalgamations

Council workers are being denied the opportunity to weigh in on possible amalgamations which will affect their futures, the Australian Services Union says.

Face-to-face sessions are being held throughout June for consultation with the nine “community catchments” – the divisions created to discuss possible amalgamations.

In a letter from ASU secretary Lisa Darmanin to Local Government Minster Nic Street, Ms Darmanin outlined several concerns the union had around consultation, including informational videos being released out of hours on the Friday prior to a Monday consultation meeting, information being unclear, and the delay of information packs being released.

Ms Darmanin said the union’s greatest fear was that workers would not be empowered to attend catchment meetings.

“Councils are denying workers an opportunity to have a say on changes that will have huge implications for their work future,” she said.

Australian Services Union secretary Lisa Darmanin. Photo: supplied

“A few examples are Sorell Council only allowing one representative from each council department to attend the southeast community catchment consultation, outdoor workers at Brighton Council being uninformed on the three community catchments consultations relevant to their council, and depot and landfill workers at Glenorchy City Council having no knowledge at all about the Western Shore community catchment consultation despite directors from the council attending.”

Ms Darmanin urged the local government board to consider ways to allow more workers to attend.

“The ASU believes councils restricting participation or failing to inform workers of the staff consultations may lead to the consultative process entirely failing,” she said.

“Accordingly, we urge you to consider what action you could take to ensure all council workers can participate in a face-to-face consultation.”

A spokesperson for the local government board told the Mercury a total of 25 face-to face sessions would be held across the state.

“In addition, online sessions for staff and elected representatives unable to attend the face-to-face sessions are being finalised,” the spokesperson said.

“Focus groups will be run in each catchment to test in more detail the perspectives of a range of people with diverse views.

“State-wide surveys for elected representatives, staff, and communities will be conducted to ensure all key stakeholders have a voice throughout the process.”

Community members will be able to make submissions until August 2, after which formal hearings will be held in each catchment.

Originally published as Mayor Rod McDonald says Tasman would have no voice if councils amalgamated