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Local Government Review – Councils Cold on Amalgamations, State Takeover of Planning
Media release – Nic Street, Minister for Local Government, 19 April 2023
Strengthening local communities for years to come
The Local Government Board has today publicly released its Stage 2 Interim Report on the Future of Local Government Review.
The Report outlines the substantial work the Board has done during stage 2 of the Review, in particular the extensive program of community engagement and research undertaken to identify, develop, and test reform options.
The Report sets the scene for how the Board will approach the development of its final package of reform options, as the Review enters its third and final stage.
From today, through until 21 June 2023, the Board will be accepting submissions from the public in response to the Report.
Minister for Local Government, Nic Street, said later in Stage 3, the Board will be working closely with councils and communities to explore what the future shape of the local government sector could look like, to enhance service delivery and local representation for all Tasmanians.
“What is now clear from the Stage 2 Report is that the Board is seriously and actively considering a suite of structural reform measures which, if implemented, would fundamentally alter the current structure and design of the Tasmanian local government sector,” he said.
“Given this, I am today committing to bringing before the Tasmanian Parliament for its consideration and approval any recommended structural reform package for local government in Tasmania that the Government determines to pursue.
“This would include any proposed consolidation or alteration of existing Tasmanian council boundaries.
“I want to strongly encourage all Tasmanians to get involved, so that we can all build a system of local government that can meet the challenges and seize the opportunities we will face in the decades to come.
“The Board’s reform proposals are highly complex and require substantial further technical analysis and design work during the third and final stage.
“In response to requests from both the Board and the Local Government Association of Tasmania, I have agreed to extend the Review’s final reporting date by three months, to 30 September 2023. This will provide the necessary time for the community and the sector to be able to meaningfully engage on reform proposals.
“I have also decided that the complex matter of councils’ role in the assessment of development applications under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 is more appropriately deferred while the Board concentrates on the structural reforms it has identified during Stage 2.
“Reforms to support and strengthen councils’ critical broader roles and functions within the planning system, including strategic land use planning, will remain within scope.
“Along with other reforms the Government has underway, the work of the Board is central to strengthening and supporting the local government sector and, by extension, our local communities.”
To read the report, go to www.engage.futurelocal.tas.gov.au
Media release – Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT), 19 April 2023
Close to one half of all councils are opposed to amalgamation and almost no support from councils for the state government to take over planning
Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT) and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) today called on the state government to respond to the recent council submissions to the Future of Local Government Review and rule out forced amalgamations and major changes to planning.
The Minister for Local Government Nick Street today released the Local Government Board’s final report on the Future of Local Government Review and announced a period of public comment.
The TCT stated that the council submissions made in January and February this year to the review (which were not released by the Local Government Board until today but obtained directly from councils by the TCT) show:
- that close to a half of all councils (14) are opposed to amalgamation
- one quarter supportive (8)
- another quarter undecided (7)
TCT CEO Peter McGlone stated that “councils have made it clear that there is strong opposition to amalgamations and the Minister needs to rule out forcing unwanted changes on councils”.
“It is the TCT’s view that the state government has not made these submissions public before today because they express views on amalgamations and planning that clash with the government’s.”
In regard to planning, the submissions reveal that only one council is supportive of planning being taken away from it and done by the state government. With planning the general pattern is to support the status quo with minor changes.
Sophie Underwood, State Coordinator, Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania said “PMAT believes that planning should stay with councils. Only one council out of 29 wants planning taken off them. We don’t want to see the State Government takeover of planning and with it the loss of local representation, transparency and integrity in decision making.”
The TCT and PMAT have the view that if amalgamations are to take place then it should be voluntary and only occur after a majority of people living in an effected municipality vote in support through a poll undertaken by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
PMAT is keen that the community is involved in this final stage of consultation on the future of local government and has organised a series of public meetings to stimulate community awareness and encourage submissions. PMAT has local community meetings planned for Bruny Island, Bothwell, Ouse and more. See PMAT’s website for details. PMAT has already held well attended public meetings on Flinders Island and in Clarence.
Amalgamations – results based on council submissions
The TCT has read all submissions made by councils (27 of the 29 councils have made at least one submission since the review started in early 2022) and determined their position on amalgamations. In conclusion:
- 13 councils oppose amalgamation: 8 responded no to amalgamation and 5 responded no-leaning.
- 8 councils support amalgamation: 3 responded yes to amalgamation and 5 responded yes-leaning.
- 8 councils did not state a position on amalgamation: 6 responded but provided no position and 2 provided no submission.Note: one council listed above, as having no position, has made its opposition to amalgamations very clear but has not made a submission.Note: The Local Government Board is now at Stage 3 of the Review: Stage 3 – April to September 2023. This stage will present recommended solutions and the publication of the final report of the Local Government Board. For details visit here: https://engage.futurelocal.tas.gov.au/.
Media release – Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Local Government & Planning, 19 April 2023
Under-pressure Street caves in on stealth forced amalgamations
Labor welcomes Minister for Local Government Nic Street caving in on his threats to amalgamate councils by stealth using section 214E of the Local Government Act.
Labor has been pressing Mr Street about using the Local Government Act to force mergers for months, and have only been met with insults and non-answers
Mr Street has sat on this report for 19 days, and has now come out with his tail between his legs. It’s almost like a different Minister has taken over.
Today is a win for Labor and a win for councils, communities and workers but we still have concerns as forced amalgamations are clearly still on the cards.
Labor understands there are issues with local government, such as service delivery and workforce retention. But the Liberals’ plans do not show how they’ll fix these issues or keep a lid on skyrocketing rates.
Labor is focused on cost of living and there is very little evidence that forced mergers will save ratepayers a cent, while putting local jobs and services at risk.
Media – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Local Government spokesperson, 19 April 2023
Communities Must Have Real Say on Council Reforms
The Tasmanian community must have a genuine say in local government reform, and not be ignored for the sake of the Liberals’ development agenda.
The release of today’s Stage 2 Interim Report on the local government reform process has given further clarity to the government’s plans. The report flags the potential for widespread, significant changes to Tasmania’s council map.
The State Government is clearly enthusiastic about undertaking major reform to councils. The onus is on Minister Street to ensure meaningful engagement occurs at a local level about proposed changes. Any changes must reflect the best interests of our state and its people.
We are pleased the Minister has committed to bring any recommended structural reform changes to Parliament for its consideration, rather than going straight to the Governor and bypassing this essential democratic process.
However, we are very concerned the Interim Report flags a last minute intervention by Planning Minister Michael Ferguson to take the issue of councils’ role as a planning authority out of the local government review process.
This is yet another example of the Liberal Government’s ongoing centralisation of development decision-making and removal of local communities having a real say.
Clearly, the open-ended reform options proposed in the Interim Report – which included just minor improvements on the existing model – were not acceptable to planning overlord Michael Ferguson.
This follows Minister Ferguson display of contempt for councils and local communities in his recent efforts to overturn Clarence Council’s planning decisions about Kangaroo Bay and Droughty Point.
The Liberal Government has form in advancing the interests of private developers against local communities’ wishes – such as Chambroad at Kangaroo Bay and a cable car on kunanyi – by appealing council planning decisions and creating legislative work arounds.
Minister Ferguson clearly has no respect for the crucial role local government plays in Tasmania. The Planning Minister’s arrogant approach to his portfolio has recently seen one council pass a vote of no confidence in him.
We hope Local Government Minister Nic Street recognises the damage his Cabinet colleague could do to local democracy and impacted communities if given the chance. We urge him to intervene and make sure the role of councils as planning authorities remains a part of the local government reform process.
Media release – Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), 20 April 2023
Local Government Association looks forward to collaboration with State Government on review process
The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) welcomes the release of the Stage 2 Interim Report of the Future of Local Government Review. We are pleased to see recognition of the challenges that today’s local government sector faces, including how and where services are delivered.
Our submission to the Local Government Review Board highlighted that the role of councils has changed over the years and they are lacking the right tools, support and funding models to deliver on the expectations that have been placed on them.
LGAT President and West Tamar Mayor, Christina Holmdahl, said that “the report reflects the principles that LGAT and councils have put forward, such as retaining jobs and services locally, fairer and more sustainable funding models and ensuring preservation of a local voice.”
“Navigating and designing new boundaries, where appropriate, and shared services, will be a huge challenge for councils moving forward.
“We recognise that it is communities that will inform what is the best and right fit for them – not the Board or the State Government,” she said.
The Local Government Board has indicated that it will work with LGAT to develop an approach that supports councils to engage with their communities on boundary changes and shared services. This is an important step to make sure that reform is grounded in community needs. The broader commitment from the State Government to implement reform is welcomed.
We also acknowledge the shift of the consideration of the development application role to the Minister for Planning. This will require additional resources to ensure prompt and thorough consideration, rather than slowing the important planning reforms under way.
We look forward to supporting Tasmanian councils as they navigate this process and welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the State Government to get this right.
Media release – Local Government Professionals Tasmania (LG Pro), 19 April 2023
Future of Local Government Review Board Stage Two Interim Report Response
Local Government Professionals Tasmania (LG Pro) welcomes the release of the Future of Local Government Review Board Stage Two Interim Report. LG Pro has actively participated in the review to date and looks forward to continuing positive engagement with the Local Government Review Board in the coming weeks.
LG Pro is mindful that an unintended consequence of the release of the Stage Two Interim Report sees the future of more than 4000 Local Government professionals working in councils thrown into uncertainty.
It is clear that the Board believes major structural reform should occur in Local Government in Tasmania
– what is still unclear is what this will look like for those who work in the sector.
LG Pro calls on the Tasmanian Government to ensure that it provides professionals working in the Local Government sector with support whilst the Future of Local Government is determined. There are thousands of Local Government workers who go home tonight not knowing what their working futures will look like. Whilst we understand that this reform is not about job cuts, the uncertainty of what the structure of councils will be can and will cause a level of uncertainty for council officers. It will also make it significantly more difficult to both attract and retain current and new staff to the sector.
To date there has been little acknowledgement of the impact that this public restructure process is having on those most critical to the delivery of high-quality local services that communities rely on. With the current cost of living issues facing all Tasmanians, it is critical that the Government support council officers through the reform process.
“Tonight, council officers do not know how many councils there will be into the future and those that see the Community Catchments can clearly see that this will have a direct impact on their jobs whether it be who they work for or where they work.” Kristen Desmond LG Pro President said.
“Council officers should be recognised for the work that they do and all sides involving themselves in public discussion on how many councils Tasmania should have, and whether forced boundary alignments should or shouldn’t occur, need to be respectful to those staff going to work everyday to deliver the services that the Community relies on.”
LG Pro call on the Minister to actively engage with it and council staff to ensure that Local Government professionals are supported throughout this transition and debate, not just when any recommended model has passed through Parliament.
LG Pro President Kristen Desmond said:
“The toll that public debate on the future of Local Government takes, is real. Council officers now face an enormous amount of uncertainty about what their roles will entail into the future and both the Local Government Review Board, and the Minister for Local Government need to ensure that council staff are supported through this very public reform process”.