New Sydney Metro Mayors Group

A new grouping of councils has recently formed.  Calling themselves the Sydney Metropolitan Mayor Group, they were pulled together by Canterbury Mayor Brian Robson. Currently  representing 22 Councils across Sydney they include some northern Sydney councils - Pittwater, Manly, Mosman, Hunters Hill and Ryde. Notably absent is Warringah, North Sydney, Willougby, Kuring-gai, and Hornsby.

In amongst the Save Pittwater protest
at Warringah ILGRP consultation

"We brought together a group of Mayors representing 22 Councils from across Sydney and have now formalised these passionate, community focused individuals into an incorporated association.  I look forward to working together with all my Mayoral colleagues to promote Local Government and to ensure our residents continue to have access to their own democratically elected councils," Robson said.

While the Mayor Robson's anouncement does not mention amalgamations they appear to be a grouping of vehemently anti amalgamation councils.
(media release  http://www.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/www/html/16-news.asp?n=2280)

Robson is quoted at keepitlocal.net.au “It’s no secret that I’ve been unhappy with our representation through Local Government NSW.” “This is not a bureaucratic organisation, it’s basically to provide a voice which we feel has been lacking,”

Meanwhile, Local Government NSW, the organisation representing all councils has commented on the ILGRP report.

"After consulting with Mayors, councillors and General Managers at a Forum on 28 June, Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has now submitted its response to the Future Directions paper, strongly opposing its proposals on mass council amalgamations and its County Council model." 

“While LGNSW supports voluntary council amalgamations, it does not believe there is anything in the Future Directions paper that would entice the vast majority of councils and their communities to merge with their neighbours,” said Cr Donald.' 

(media release http://www.lgnsw.org.au/)

No surprise that LGNSW supported the revenue raising reform proposals on rate pegging, cheaper finance and removing rate exemptions for schools and government businesses.

So it will be interesting to see what carrots and sticks the Government will find to "entice" councils and their communities to merge with their neighbours.

Metro Strategy - Mosman argues for subregion - Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill

Mosman Council have just publicly released two submissions one on the Sydney Metro Strategy and the other on the Planning White Paper.  These are not on Mosman Council main webpage but on a seperate web http://mosmanplanning.net/.

• Mosman Council submission on draft Sydney Metropolitan Strategy
• Mosman Council submission on Planning White Paper

The Council submission on the draft Sydney Metro Strategy is informative and makes a good case to retain the existing subregions.  The subregions are important parts of the metro plan as they have to  draw up delivery plans in partnership with communities and groups of councils. The Subregional Delivery Plans will decide where jobs and homes will go, and the improvements to infrastructure that need to be delivered, ie transport, housing, schools, health, community facilities.  (See more on the Metro Stategy in the tab above)

These are Mosman Councils well concidered arguments, which in another context might be considered good reasons to form a high capacity council for the Inner North, indeed there is a bit of a teaser in their conclusion   "more adaptable to any potential future changes in the form of local government."

Extract from Mosman Council Submission
"Council considers a significantly more effective arrangement is to establish a new Inner-North Subregion which includes Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill councils. Key reasons are:

It would create aconsiderably better opportunity for stronger integration of land-use and
transport planning, a key priority of the Metropolitan Strategy, and greater flexibility to plan
employment and housing growth along priority transport corridors and major centres across
northern Sydney to improve containment.

It would enable the Inner-north and North Subregions to collaborate to integrate planning
land-use, transport, health, education and other services on a broader scale, which would
be very difficult if the inner-north councils were included in the Central Subregion. The
potential creation of a ROC covering both these Subregions would also enable this ROC to
facilitate or lead this coordination process.

It would increase capacity for much stronger integration with other NSW Government service delivery and infrastructure planning, including alignment with NSW Health, NSW Education, and NSW2021 Regional Action Plan boundaries.

It would provide clear connections and communities of interest, making consultation more feasible. The North Shore and Northern Beaches, while distinct communities (and sub- communities) are strongly connected in regard to employment, housing, sport, recreation, education, health, and other aspects of people’s daily lives. This increases significantly the likelihood of meaningful engagement for the significant consultation planned on a Sub- regional level.

It would utilise good existing working relationships between the councils and bodies such as SHOROC and NSROC to facilitate collaboration and coordinate sub-regional planning. Also more adaptable to any potential future changes in the form of local government. "

Interesting Maps

ILGRP proposed council amalgamations Mosman, North Sydney, parts of Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill

Mosman Council argues to retain existing subregion - Mosman, North Sydney, Ryde, Willoughby, Lane Cove and Hunters Hill