PEOPLE POWER
Ratepayers push for say on merger
A CITIZENS’ jury should be set up to look at the pros and cons of Huon Valley Council amalgamating with Kingborough in the absence of elected members, residents say.
The Huon Valley Residents and Ratepayers’ Association says a jury should be convened to explore the issue and prepare a report for the council and to circulate within the community.
“We feel that at the next election the issue of amalga- mation with the Kingborough Council will be a live issue,” association member Pat Synge said.
“There will be some selfinterested candidates who will use the issue for their own benefits.”
Local Government Minis- ter Peter Gutwein, right, sacked the Huon Valley councillors in October last year and has maintained that only councils with elected representatives can discuss amalgamation.
“[Mr Gutwein] has said that [Huon Valley Commissioner] Adriana Taylor cannot investigate it. We have no view one way or another on it but we feel that we need the information on the pros and cons of it,’’ Mr Synge said.
“So we feel that if there are no elected members to look at it, then the people should, and a citizens’ jury is the right format to do so.”
Elections for new Huon Valley councillors will be held in October next year — when the local government elections are held across Tasmania.
Despite this, Kingborough Council has called on Mr Gutwein to allow Ms Taylor to discuss any possible amalgamation between the two.
Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass said the council was yet to receive a formal reply from Mr Gutwein regarding its request.
Mr Synge said residents could fill the void, using a model which had been effective interstate.
Made up of randomly selected people, citizens’ juries have been used in NSW, Queens- land, Western Australia and Victoria, where the City of Melbourne used one to advise the council on a 10-year financial plan for the city.
The Huon Valley Residents and Ratepayers’ Association proposed the citizens’ jury be made up of 20 people and take at least six months to do its report into the advantages and disadvantages of amalgamation for the council.
At a recent council meeting, Ms Taylor took the question on notice from the association on whether she would consider the proposal but said it could be difficult for the council to establish such a body
“This is not a simple matter. We will take this into further consideration,” she said.
A Government spokesman said discussion regarding amalgamations for the Huon Valley was a job for the new council when it was elected.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that a new council is elected in October next year,” he said.
“It will be a matter for the new council to discuss amalgamation with the local community.”