Tasmanian councils saved $1.2 milion through sharing services

SHARED services saved seven Tasmanian councils $1.2 million last financial year, Local Government Shared Services says.

SHARED services saved seven Tasmanian councils $1.2 million last financial year, Local Government Shared Services says.

A formalised agreement between seven Tasmanian councils and five Northern Territory councils saw 14,000 hours of work exchanged during 2015-16.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council has recently joined the organisation, alongside Brighton, Central Highlands, Glenorchy, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Huon Valley, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman councils.

Local Government Shared Services chairman Peter Murfett said the organisation was hoping for an increase in membership this year.

“Since the inception of the initiative, we have seen a 66 per cent increase in hours exchanged between participating councils with savings growing at a similar rate,” he said.

Studies into council mergers in Tasmania’s South are expected to be released in early October.

One report is considering the creation of a great south-eastern council, comprising Clarence, Tasman, Glamorgan Spring Bay and Sorell councils.

Clarence council has also been included in amalgamation modelling for a greater Hobart council, alongside Hobart, Glenorchy and Kingborough.