The
Local Government Act allows councils to undertake polls on specific questions, including at election times, and new amendments set out a process for de-amalgamation. A majority of residents voting to de-amalgamate would not be an automatic trigger, but it would add to the pressure on the NSW government which forced the mergers to take place despite widespread opposition.
Colin Hesse, Greens councilor for Marrickville, told
Green Left he is pleased the motion passed, saying the forced amalgamations of Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt Councils by the NSW government was “undemocratic”.
“The continued refusal by the Labor councillors to support a referendum of residents on the amalgamation demonstrates just how distanced from the community the Labor machine is,” Hesse said.
The
Local Government Act allows councils to undertake polls on specific questions, including at election times, and new amendments set out a process for de-amalgamation. A majority of residents voting to de-amalgamate would not be an automatic trigger but it would add to the pressure on the NSW government which forced the mergers to take place despite widespread opposition.
Colin Hesse, Greens councilor for Marrickville, told
Green Left he was pleased the motion got up, saying the forced amalgamations of Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt Councils by the NSW government was “undemocratic”.
“The continued refusal by the Labor councillors to support a referendum of residents on the amalgamation demonstrates just how distanced from the community the Labor machine is,” Hesse said.
Residents are increasingly angry that services have deteriorated, the new tree policy is environmentally destructive and council assets are being slated for sale or pepper-corn rentals to private corporations.
On top of all this, the “rate harmonisation” plan is about to kick in. Residents in the former council area of Marrickville will be forced to pay a substantial amount more. This, the government says will be “fairer”.
The Local Government Amendment Bill 2021 is set to go to the Legislative Council this session. Its main objective is to make the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) recommendations on new rates lawful. IPART decided last September to set the rate peg for all NSW councils 2021-2022 at 2%, down from 2.6% the previous year.
The council’s community engagement found that 76% of people who filled in the online feedback form on the proposed rate changes opposed the proposed new rates structure. In the former Marrickville council area, where rates are set to rise the highest, some people will be paying up to 50% more.
“People are upset because the forced amalgamation of Marrickville, Leichhardt and Ashfield Councils has brought in a less representative Council, poorer services and now proposed higher rates, especially for residents of the former Marrickville Council area,” Pip Hinman, an organiser of the bicycle ride, told
Green Left.
“The council’s reported $1.03 billion budget blow-out is driving the rate rises,” Hinman continued. “And they are not the only service fee hikes, either. The sale of council property or, rather, our property is theft. The rate rises and outsourcing of council services is the wrong approach.”