The Member for Monaro John Barilaro said the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) Report health check of NSW councils has found that 56 per cent in regional NSW are ‘not fit’ for the future, and he urged local Councils to consider merging, offering a $10 carrot.
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The IPART report found reducing waste and red tape through local government mergers could free up funds for NSW ratepayers, to stabilise council rates and fund better services and new infrastructure for communities.
The NSW Government today also announced a new Stronger Communities Fund, providing each new council in regional NSW up to $10 million to invest in community infrastructure projects such as sporting fields, libraries, and parks and funding of up to $5 million for each new council to ensure ratepayers do not pay for the up-front costs of merging.
This funding will be available to those mergers agreed to by councils and the NSW Government.
“Four years of independent research, analysis and consultation with councils and the community has shown that the current system of local government is not working as well as it should be,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This IPART report shows the situation is now critical and that action is needed to ensure ratepayers get value for money and the services and infrastructure they deserve.”
The NSW Government will now give councils a 30-day consultation opportunity to inform the Government’s position on local government reform and respond to these IPART findings.
Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government has made a three-point guarantee to give regional communities extra confidence that reforms will deliver tangible benefits and stronger councils:
Mergers will reduce waste and red tape
All the savings will go to:
Better services,
More infrastructure, or
Lower rates
Local representation will be maintained.
“I urge Queanbeyan, Palerang, Cooma, Bombala and Snowy River Shire Councils to consider these IPART findings for their council and hold discussions with neighbouring councils and the NSW Government so they can deliver better value for money for ratepayers across the region now and into the future," Mr Barilaro said.
“The savings and Stronger Communities Fund will enable each council to make a decision on whether to invest their extra funds into better services, more infrastructure or lower rates for their community.
“We know that there is no one size fits all in the regions. That is why we have provided $5.3 million for regional Joint Organisations and $4 million for an Innovation Fund to help regional and rural councils that are struggling financially to make the improvements needed.”
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