Hard to argue with the figures
COUNCIL AMALGAMATION
SOUTHERN Tasmania has 13 councils, comprising 112 councillors, 13 general managers, 13 assistant general managers and numerous executive and middle managers to look after the ratepayers’ interest. Geelong, a city with about the same population as southern Tasmania, 244,000, has 11 councillors, one general manager, one assistant general manager, etc, etc. All the above are getting remuneration and allowances at the ratepayers’ expense. If this comparison is not a reason for amalgamation, I don’t know what is.
City Deal hopes
HOBART wanting a city deal ahead of Darwin? No hope. They have one council, not 29. If amalgamation with Clarence, Kingborough and Glenorchy happened they might have a chance. Editorial should be commended for saying that the views of ratepayers are paramount, it focused too much on the financial pros and cons of amalgamation. The risk to local representation of amalgamation was not mentioned.
Efficiency over titles
IT is good to note that our locally elected members have raised the most important issue facing them: whether or not they should be termed aldermen or councillors. Never mind that for a population of just over 500,000 we have 29 local councils and in excess of 300 local council politicians.
It would be better if our locally elected members considered the question of how to deliver better and more efficient local government with fewer councils. Maybe three?
Hardly a saving
YOUR article refers to the 2107 SGS Economics report on greater Hobart council amalgamations (“Mayor cool on merger,” Mercury, November 19). In that report, the $294 million saving breaks down as $206.2 million transport cost savings, $51.0 million tourism yield improvements, $22.9 million infrastructure cost savings, $9 million active transport health, $5.8 million environmental saving, $-0.2 million agglomeration economies.
The report projects increased costs for councils and that rates would most likely rise following any amalgamation. The sav- A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. ings rely upon growth in population and jobs being concentrated into central Hobart away from Clarence and Kingborough. The transport costs savings assume that in 20 years we will on average be travelling 100m less per day and saving 0.8 minutes as average travel speeds increase by 2.1km per hour. These projections make some very dubious assumptions.
In brief, the report projects that if Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence and Kingborough were to merge then rates would rise, the inner city would benefit and the outer city would suffer. Don’t be fooled.
Too clever
THE turmoil over Brexit makes me value the two-thirds majority rule in our constitution. Almost everyone seems to forget that the Yes vote for Brexit only just squeaked in with a slim majority. In Australia, a similarly dumb proposal would have failed convincingly. Obviously, the British need to find their own solutions to their own problems, but when we consider dramatic gestures like changing our electoral system, maybe we should be cautious. I’d like to reduce the number of councils we have, but only if lots of others agree with me; similarly for increasing the size of the Lower House from 25 to 35. By most measures, we are doing rather well. We might not be in the top five of anything, but we are in the top 10 of nearly everything. With over 160 countries in the world, clever ideas have a chance of about 10 in 160 of being improvements, and of about 150 in 160 of becoming our Brexit.
Penny-pinchers
SUCH a pity this wealthy country of ours can be so pennypinching when it comes to financing community food charities. Our erstwhile leaders will waste money on pet ideas of theirs. The money will be better spent supporting those many people doing it really tough.
No job too big
ONE thing convicts in prison for embezzlement and such like have learned from the Banking Royal Commission, so far, is that they didn’t pinch enough. When they get out they will probably aim higher — or apply for a job creatively thinking for financial institutions.
Sewerage sale
ELIZABETH Street Pier is a Hobart waterfront icon which should not be sold to finance a new sewerage treatment plant. It is obvious the financial affairs of the State Government are not what they have us believe. If sold, hopefully it will remain in Tasmanian hands, rather than interstate or international.
Continental sauce
Jim Heys South nipaluna/Hobart REFERRING to Michael McCall regarding a full English breakfast (Letters, November 17). It is worth noting that the traditional HP Sauce that goes with it (one on every cafe table at “eafrow ” airport) is now made in the EU: The Netherlands!