City Deal a threat to southern council group

An impending Hobart City Deal which would pin the four greater Hobart councils together could spell the end of a southern council group, mayors say.

Hobart Mayor Anna Reynolds says it is possible the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority may cease to exist under a Hobart City Deal. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

AN impending Hobart City Deal which would pin the four greater Hobart councils together could spell the end of the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority, mayors say.

The STCA is made up of the 12 southern councils, with its board represented by the mayors from those councils. It exists to help councils work together to address regional development issues and progress sustainable economic, environmental and social outcomes.

The Hobart City Deal, which is due to be ticked off on by the end of the year, will bring together the Hobart, Kingborough, Glenorchy and Clarence councils to work collaboratively on a number of developments.

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The establishment of a City Deal will add to the already established Local Government Association Tasmania body as well as the STCA, with a number of mayors saying all three boards may be too much.

Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds on Friday said the STCA’s future was wearing thin, furthering the comments she made in July that the authority lacked leadership.

“I think there will be a lot of soul searching at the STCA’s first meeting for the year in February,” Ald Reynolds said.

“I think it’s possible the STCA may not continue.”

STCA chair and Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee said a City Deal would leave the other eight southern councils feeling “left out”.

“It’s concentrating on the four greater Hobart councils and I think the regional councils are feeling somewhat isolated through this,” he said.

Cr Bisdee said if the four greater Hobart councils chose to withdraw from the STCA after the City Deal formation, it would be the “death nail” in the existing committee.