Councils turn on ‘toothless’ authority

THE future of the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority in its current form is in doubt with several councils considering withdrawing from the group and one mayor describing it as a “toothless tiger”.

The STCA members are made up from 12 southern Tasmanian councils and the board is made up from the mayors from those councils.

The body aims to help the councils take joint action to address regional development issues, progress sustainable economic, environmental and social outcomes.

But now four of the greater Hobart councils including Brighton, Kingborough, Clarence and Glenorchy have either moved or plan to move a motion to conduct a workshop to consider withdrawing its membership from the STCA.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster described the STCA as a “toothless tiger”, which has never fulfilled its goal.

“I’m not surprised to see the demise of the STCA,” he said

“My view is that it has been a lightweight organisation.”

Hobart alderman Anna Reynolds, who supports the STCA, raised concerns about the lack of leadership at the organisations.

“To leave the only regional planning body we have without a paid staff member for two years was extraordinarily shortsighted,” she said.

STCA chairman Tony Bisdee said two years ago the STCA board decided not replace the outgoing CEO, Brenton West.

Mr Bisdee said since then an officer from Hobart City Council had provided secretariat support to the STCA board.

Clarence alderman James Walker said his concerns with STCA were about its effectiveness, relevance and getting value for money.

Glenorchy Deputy Mayor Matt Stevenson has put forward a similar motion because he felt Glenorchy had been provided little value out of STCA for a number of years.

But Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said there was no motion before the council on this issue and he thought the STCA operated effectively.