A ratepayer referendum needed before amalgamation

A ratepayer referendum is needed before progress can be made to amalgamate Hobart and Glenorchy councils, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds says.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds (right) says a ratepayer referendum is needed before an amalgamation with Glenorchy City Council. Pictured with Dean Winters of Kingborough and Kristie Johnston of Glenorchy. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A RATEPAYER referendum is needed before progress can be made to amalgamate Hobart and Glenorchy councils, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds says.

Amalgamation was not a priority but she had not ruled out talks with Glenorchy, she said. “It depends on how the Hobart City Deal goes and if we do more regional planning work together,” she said.

“Glenorchy and Hobart are doing more work together on the North Rail corridor and if that collaboration continues then perhaps we won’t need amalgamation.

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Elements of the City Deal floated to date include the $400 million University of Tasmania STEM centre, a light rail system and modern public transport as well as redevelopment of Macquarie Point, including an Antarctic precinct.

Consultation with the community on the proposed benefits and disadvantages of a Hobart-Glenorchy merger would need to be done as well as an elector poll before the conversation could advance, Ald Reynolds said.

“It’s a big decision and would need to be supported by the community,” she said.

But that was unlikely during her first term. “I don’t think it’s going to be anything that moves quickly,” she said.

Fantastic to meet @AnnaReyno, new Lord Mayor of @cityofhobarttas, talking smart cities, clean energy, economy including support for entrepreneurs ahead of me pitching #TechrocketshipANZ to Hobart’s tech community at @enterprizetas. Looking for ways to make even more 🇬🇧🇦🇺 links! pic.twitter.com/AvpFqyUhAw

— Chris Holtby (@HMAChrisHoltby) November 14, 2018

A 2017 report by SGS Economics said the amalgamation of Hobart, Glenorchy, Kingborough and Clarence councils would save up to $294 million over 20 years, or about $15 million a year.

The report said the merger of Hobart and Glenorchy would save $166 million at $8 million a year on average.

Ald Reynolds said while she remained open minded to amalgamation she was less convinced of the model where three or more Greater Hobart councils merged.

“The average size council in Australia is 70,000-80,000 and if it was Hobart and Glenorchy it would be over 100,000 people,” she said.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said the council would be open to further discussions on amalgamation but was more focused on addressing the legacy issues left behind by the previous council.

“Council’s official position is it always willing to engage in discussions of how best to deliver services,” she said.

“When the previous council considered amalgamation the position was that we needed to have an informed discussion about modelling that we could engage the community on. “