Mosman's Parish Pump Politics

This week Mosman hit the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald with a silly story about how Deputy Mayor Roy Bendall is promoting local place names in Mosman saying that 'it was crucial it re-establish and preserve their historical place names given the "threat" of amalgamation with North Sydney Council.'

The local community is not entirely in favour Joseph Arena, a local business owner and resident of more than 40 years, says “ludicrous." “I'm struggling to understand why this would happen,” “It will only add confusion and cost to business owners who will have to change their signboards and stationery. “I can't work out who postulated these splits because there's nothing positive that could come out of it."

Perhaps it silly parish pump initiatives like this, on behalf of a small group of Balmoral residents, that is the greater threat to Mosman councils continuing unique existence.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/this-will-create-elitist-enclaves-plan-to-split-mosman-divides-critics-20131030-2wh01.html#ixzz2jRDvZYv1

Meanwhile in the real world the NSW Government has passed new planning laws through the lower house.  The Government is under pressure to streamline development to accommodate the 1.3 million people coming to Sydney by 2031 and this is also one of the drivers for local government boundary reform.

The Independent Local Government Review Panel is due to provide their final report to the Minister.