Economy
Support for fewer councils: poll
Support for fewer councils: poll
BY ALEX DRUCE
26 Sep, 2011 12:00 AM
A SURVEY has found the majority of Tasmanians support local government mergers in the state.
A EMRS survey, commissioned by the Property Council of Australia, showed 69 per cent of surveyed Tasmanians support council amalgamations.
Property Council executive director Mary Massina said the polling showed people had had enough of 29 councils for a state population of a little more than 500,000.
Ms Massina said the poll confirmed the Deloitte Access Economics report’s findings, which showed if handled properly, efficiencies of up to 35 per cent could be achieved through mergers.
“What this poll shows is that the community wants better services, better infrastructure and less governance,” Ms Massina said. “It also shows cost-of-living issues continue to bite because most would see a move to merge councils as a way to reducing rates.”
The survey showed support for council mergers was strongest in Tasmania’s South, where 73 per cent of the community supported the move. In the North-West, support was at 72 per cent, while 60 per cent in the North and North- East supported further mergers.
Ms Massina said it was worth noting that the North included Launceston City Council – the state’s biggest local government area with 55,000 people.