Council merger review begins

THE State Government will establish a board to investigate voluntary amalgamation between the Sorell and Tasman councils.

It comes as the Clarence and Glamorgan Spring Bay councils prepare to start public consultation into a greater south-eastern council within the next fortnight.

Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said Sorell and Tasman indicated last month they wished to further investigate a possible amalgamation following extensive public consultation.

“[The councils] requested that the Government establish a Local Government Board to review the benefits and impacts of a voluntary amalgamation of the two councils,” Mr Gutwein said. “The Government has agreed to their request and a Local Government Board will be established as soon as possible.”

Last year, a KPMG report found the creation of a greater south-eastern council would save $7.6 million a year.

Merging Clarence, Sorell and Tasman would save $6.3 million a year, an amalgamation of Glamorgan Spring Bay, Sorell and Tasman $2.5 million and combining Sorell and Tasman would save $1.2 million.

The Sorell community was the first to come out in support of the proposal last month, with 84 per cent of respondents to a survey in favour of a voluntary merger.

Tasman Mayor Roseanne Heyward said the community also strongly supported the idea, with about 75 per cent of survey respondents voting for some form of merger.

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent said his council wanted to keep the ball rolling on mergers by telling Mr Gutwein of their community support.

“It has the benefit of a more critical mass ... and streamlining resources,” Cr Vincent said.

Cr Heyward said the council would eagerly await the board’s findings before discussing specifics of a merger.

“We haven’t got an option yet, we will wait until all the reports are in,” she said.

Meanwhile, Acting Clarence Mayor Jock Campbell said surveys gauging support for amalgamation would be sent out next week.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Michael Kent said his community would receive surveys within the next 10 working days.

Both councils would then decide whether to join Sorell and Tasman in seeking a Local Government Board review into the proposal.