No vote for Waverley referendum
Image: Waverley Council chambers
Waverley Council last week voted down Greens councillor Dominic Wy Kanak’s proposed referendum on amalgamations.
Liberal Mayor Sally Betts voted against the referendum, saying it would make it difficult for businesses to comment and denied ratepayers a vote if they were not citizens.
Waverley Council has publicly declared it is opposed to amalgamating with other local councils unless “sufficient” benefits and community support arise.
Independent councillor Miriam Guttman-Jones voted for the referendum.
“It wasn’t supported by the Liberal councillors because it is the Liberal government that is pushing for amalgamation and therefore the Liberal councillors support amalgamation,” she said.
Information council provided to residents and businesses outlined six possibilities for the merging of LGAs, including Waverly merging with other major urban centres like the City of Sydney to create a “global city”.
Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith said he was opposed to the “global city” idea and said the NSW government would not force amalgamations, even after the election.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has called on the government to “come clean on forced amalgamations” before the election this Saturday.
LGNSW President and Coffs Harbour councillor Keith Rhoades said voters had a right to know each party’s position before March 28 so their vote could reflect the future they wanted.
Clr Guttman-Jones said she was quite sure that despite the government’s assurances they would “push it through” after the election.
“The government and other parties are yet to commit to no forced amalgamations and that’s just not good enough.”
Clr Betts said it was good the government had asked councils to talk to their communities.
“We know that the government is encouraging councils to merge and facilitating that process,” she said.
Councils are required to indicate by June 30 whether they want to remain by themselves, merge or be classified as rural.
