COUNCILS CASH CRISIS

WITH at least 20 of Tasmania’s 29 councils facing deficits this financial year, it is time for the state government to move on amalgamations, says a greater Hobart mayor.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said with councils in severe financial distress from COVID-19, it was time for the state to intervene.

A BURNIE councillor wants his city to combine services with its western neighbour in a “marriage of convenience” which could result in largerscale projects getting the goahead.

Councillor Ken Dorsey has put forward a motion that Burnie City Mayor Steve Kons work directly with the Waratah-Wynyard Council to establish an inter-council committee to work towards combining services before the next council elections.

“Combining could be considered an arranged marriage of convenience rather than an amalgamation,” Cr Dorsey said.

He said any future “marriage” would need rules and conditions that ensured the needs of each partner were met and that municipal rates did not increase.

“We have been working on the concept of shared services for more than 20 years in an attempt to avoid the dreaded concept of amalgamations,” Cr Dorsey said.

“I believe it is time to change the language from shared to “combined services”. Combining indicates that all assets and personnel have equal ownership councils.

“Combining means no one is worse off, no one loses their job, elected representatives are not singularly focused on smaller areas and can see the opportunities for growth, cost savings and greater asset use.”

He said combining services would also allow rates income to be shared and for projects of scale such as a new indoor sports centre to replace ones in Wynyard, Somerset and Burnie to get off the ground.

“Burnie and Wynyard are 20 minutes apart — this is not a prohibitory distance to travel for anyone. With modern technology, quality roads and vehicles — distances are minimised,” Cr Dorsey said.

“We are now paying regional bodies to establish boards to determine what is best for the ‘region’ rather than the elected representatives. Combining allows us to work together for the area that is important to us.”

Waratah-Wynyard general manager Shane Crawford said the council was unaware of the details of Cr Dorsey’s motion, but “we are comfortable to have a conversation with Burnie City Council at the appropriate time”. helen.kempton@news.com.au between

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE CONCEPT OF SHARED SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE DREADED CONCEPT OF AMALGAMATIONS COUNCILLOR KEN DORSEY