Merger hits skids

No vote spurs push for forced amalgamations

THE Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is calling for the State Government to intervene after the Tasman Council torpedoed its proposed merger with the Sorell Council.

The Tasman Council voted against the merger yesterday, a day after the Sorell Council unanimously voted in favour of the amalgamation.

Both councils needed to vote in favour of amalgamation for the merger to go ahead. Tasman Mayor Roseanne Heyward said the council voted 4-3 against the merger.

“Majority rules, and so the merger subject is off now — finished, done,” she said.

Cr Heyward said her personal view was the councils should have amalgamated.

“I voted to support the merger because I fear for the sustainability for the council into the future,” she said.

The two councils indicated last August they wished to investigate a possible amalgamation, following extensive public consultation. The result of that query was a Local Government Board report this month that recommended they do it.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Bailey said it was time for the Government to “step up to the plate and to make some tough decisions”.

“The TCCI believes that it’s time for [Local Government Minister] Peter Gutwein to intervene,” Mr Bailey said.

“The proposed merger between Sorell … and Tasman just made so much sense. The fact that Tasman voted it down today is a disaster for the state.

“For local government reform to happen in Tasmania, the policy of letting local government determine their own future has failed.”

A Sorell and Tasman merger would have been the first voluntary council amalgamation since the Government put the issue back on the agenda in 2014. Mr Gutwein said it was disappointing Tasman voted against the amalgamation.

“However, this is a matter for the two councils involved as the Government’s very clear position has always been that for voluntary amalgamation to work, it must be driven by local communities and their councils,” he said.

“We have been clear that we will not be forcing amalgamations and our position has not changed.”

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent said Tasman’s decision was disappointing for both municipalities. “The long-term sustainability of councils has literally been ignored by just a few,” Cr Vincent said.

Labor local government spokesman David O’Byrne said Tasman’s decision was another blow to Mr Gutwein’s local government agenda.