The great council clean-up

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole said residents of the new ‘Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’ will benefit from better services and infrastructure. 

Mr Baird said “Under our rate protection commitment, residents of the new council will pay no more for their rates than they would have under their old council for the next four years. 

Mr Toole said that from today it will be business as usual for local residents. “Your library is still open when you need it and your bins still go out on the same night they always have,” Mr Toole said. 

Mr Toole said that $10 million from the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund would go towards long-awaited community projects. 

“Additionally, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council will receive $5 million to meet the administrative costs of streamlining its operations. Unspent merger funds may be redirected into important community projects.” 

The Delegate stated in his report: “A larger local government entity will also be able to take a more strategic approach to regional planning and economic development while also providing a more effective voice for their constituents.” 

The Administrator of the new Council will be former QCC Mayor Tim Overall and the Interim General Manager Peter Tegart , and Peter Bascomb will be Deputy GM.  Cr Overall's request for a $30 million payout from the Stronger Communities Fund allocation has been rejected. The next election will be held on 9 September 2017 . 

Former mayors and councillors will have the opportunity to serve the community on newly established local committees. Mr Baird and Mr Toole said “Councillors who have shown a commitment to making the new council a success will have the opportunity to get involved. Mayors and councillors selected by administrators to be on these committees will continue to be paid at the same level, in recognition of their efforts and dedication to shaping the future of the those new councils.”

Mr Toole said the successful Expression of Interest process run by the Government had given administrators a running start in setting up these groups.”

Local Government NSW President Keith Rhoades said he was unsurprised at the number and nature of the sackings, given the highly politicised process to date.

“The process itself has been one long litany of mistakes and miscalculations and dubious dealings by the Government, and it’s telling that both IPART and now the Boundaries Commission have felt compelled to disassociate themselves from the political decisions being made,” Cr Rhoades said.

Cr Rhoades said  “We all know the reform process has been one of ever-moving goalposts,” Cr Rhoades said. 

“Each time councils cleared a barrier - whether it was to prove they were financially fit for the future, to show amalgamations were vehemently opposed by their community, or to submit their own merger proposals - the requirements were hastily changed.

“Promises of no forced amalgamations were broken, the scheduled election date for merged councils has now been pushed back, and financial support for mergers has been cut - so it’s past time that the Government live up to its commitments and do what it has told the sector and community it would.”

Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall said “I am pleased that the Government has made a determination on this matter and removed the ongoing period of uncertainty for staff, councillors and residents.”

“It’s important to assure all Queanbeyan and Palerang residents that despite today’s announcement, all usual Council business will continue to be undertaken during this interim phase, including the adoption of budgets for 2016-17 and implementation of services and projects contained in both budgets. That means water still gets delivered to taps and bins get collected.

“Staff employed by both Queanbeyan City Council and Palerang Council have protections under the Local Government Act which covers a three-year period from the time of proclamation. It is fortunate that Queanbeyan and Palerang are both high growth areas and it follows that looking to the future there will be enhanced employment and career opportunities with the larger council.”

The new local government area of Queanbeyan-Palerang Council will have a population of 56,368 (increasing to 76,000 by 2031) and an area of 56,368km2. The operating revenue of the new entity will be $159m, will have an asset base of $586m and a combined workforce of around 400 full time equivalent staff.

The primary role of the Administrator will be to oversee the successful transition of the two councils, including the development and implementation of a strategic 18-month plan. During the period, a 10-year Resourcing and Integration Strategy, comprising a Long Term Financial Plan, Asset Management Plan, Workforce Management Strategy and Governance Plan, will be developed. 

During 2015-16, Queanbeyan City Council engaged Professor Percy Allen to undertake an extensive Asset and Financial Sustainability Review. This review will now be extended to encompass the new local government area. 

“We estimate the outstanding infrastructure renewal backlog for the new local government to be in the order of $45-55m or 8% of total asset value. Our objective and planning will be to ensure this is brought down to a sustainable level of around 2%,” Mr Overall said.

Former Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison said “It’s generally disappointing but not unexpected. From the outset we suspected this was going to be a political exercise.

Following from the research we've done there’s no sound basis for this and the logic and financial basis for decisions has been disregarded.”

“There's a level of disappointment, you could say it’s getting close to disgust, but not much shock though” he said.  

“The administrator, Tim, has complete power and no obligation whatsoever to listen to anyone else. For that to be one person I think is a dangerous situation” said Mr Harrison.

“I come from the corporate world not the government world and I’ve been involved in a few corporate mergers in my time. The ones that fail most spectacularly are when you only take power from one side. You need to wipe out the top level from both organisations. And that goes for representational and organisational.”

        Member for Monaro John Barilaro supported the merger saying “A new council will be well placed to respond to the varied and changing needs of our community and a stronger council will have a stronger voice to advocate on behalf of the local community.” 

Mr Barilaro said “The NSW Government will conduct a review in four years to ensure the community was continuing to benefit from stronger councils.”

         Member for Eden Monaro Dr Peter Hendy said he was opposed to the forced council merger between Palerang and Queanbeyan Councils.

“I have always maintained that community representation, community support, and a strong business case are vital conditions for any council merger” Dr Hendy said. “I have written – repeatedly – to the NSW Government on this issue, and will continue to do so. The case for a council merger does not add up.”

ALP candidate for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly accused Dr Hendy of betraying :the interests of his constituents, paying nothing more than lip-service to their concerns as the NSW Liberal Government tramples all over local democracy.”

A Joint statement by Braidwood and Queanbeyan-Monaro Greens condemned the dismissal of Queanbeyan and Palerang councillors and mayors, and the appointment of Tim Overall as Administrator for almost 18 months.

“The NSW Government and its hired consultants failed to provide compelling evidence that this and dozens of other forced council mergers will serve the best interests of residents.”

Residents have become disenfranchised because Premier Mike Baird and his cabinet have deprived them of local representation for which they voted. 

People should also attend the community meeting scheduled for 19 May, at the Bungendore Council Chambers, 10 Majura St, Bungendore commencing at 5.30pm to clarify what exactly the Administrator will be doing.