A survey has found strong support in southern Tasmania for council amalgamations, and a single council for the region.
An expert three-person panel commissioned by the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority has surveyed 1200 people, businesses and organisations.
52 per cent of urban people favoured council amalgamations, 28 per cent were against, 41 per cent favoured one southern council, while 38 per cent are happy with the status quo.
The panel chairwoman, former Brisbane City Council chief executive officer Jude Munro, says there is a mood for change.
“Everyone we have spoken to to date, and these include major organisations in southern Tasmania, they have all indicated as have the residents that there is room for improvement and indeed support for change,” she said.
Ms Munro says 83 per cent of people want councils to share resources.
“We believe that there is a compelling case for change, that nature of the change that would be in front of the southern Tasmanian councils is going to be open to plenty of debate and discussion,” she said.
The panel’s preparing an options paper for more public comment later this month, with a recommendation expected by early November.
A Hobart Alderman has warned that smaller, or amalgamated councils, will not bring about better services or representation.
Philip Cocker says recent calls for reduced numbers on councils, or amalgamation, are misguided because they wrongly assume it will bring better governance.
On TT: PHILIP COCKER: Resist kneejerk response on amalgamations
