Last week Walcha Council released a survey to comply with the NSW government’s latest attempt at forced council amalgamations under the guise of the Fit for the Future plan.
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Council’s survey has resulted in a number of enquiries asking exactly what one of the options, a Rural Council, would mean.
Walcha Council general manager Jack O’Hara said that at this stage there is no definite answer to that question, as the government has requested councils consider a number of options, one of which is the concept of a Rural Council.
The Local Government Review Panel report released last year highlighted the special circumstances of small rural communities in NSW.
The panel identified a number of rural local government areas, with small and often declining populations that appeared unlikely to remain sustainable.
“The panel recommended exploring a new structural approach for these councils, maintaining the individual identity of the community, yet reducing the council’s costs through streamlining regulatory and reporting requirements and administrative overheads and making greater use of shared resources,” Mr O’Hara said.
He said councils would not be required to adopt all the options but should show how combining two or more of these alternatives would help them improve financial sustainability and efficiency.
These options are: resource sharing – with neighbouring councils or via a regional joint organisation; shared administration – agreements with neighbouring councils; speciality services – marketing specialist services to other councils; streamlined governance – reducing the number of councillors or formal council meetings; streamlined planning, reporting and regulation – exploring flexibility under current legislative provisions and a service review – exploring options for improved cost recovery in service provision or optional service delivery methods.
“Each council is being asked to look at their current situation and consider the future needs of their community and the recommendations of the Review Panel,” Mr. O’Hara said.
“The recommendation for Walcha Council was to merge with Uralla or establish a Rural Council.”
Councils are to assess their current and future position against a set of established sustainability criteria, which addresses financial management, service delivery, infrastructure management and scale of operations.
Councils are also required to investigate options with their neighbouring local government areas, in particular those who the Review Panel recommended mergers.
To ensure that Walcha Council knows what its community wants they are encouraging you to go to www.walcha.nsw.gov.au/news/1166937-survey-walcha-councils-future and fill in the survey by 5pm tomorrow. If you require more information please contact Walcha Council or you can log onto the website: www.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au.
