Local Government - Forced Amalgamations - 2007

LETTER TO THE EDITOR - 28 July 2007

The Editor

Understandably reactions to Friday's local government announcement were mixed. "Jubilation" in some quarters (FCC 28/07/07), tears in others.

There will be winners and losers as the forced amalgamation is implemented both here and across much of the State.

Voters may think the West was spared the slasher's knife. Not so. A quick read of the Reform Commission's Report shows that whilst Beattie's action team left their boundaries intact most western councils will be reduced to just four councillors plus a mayor. Even these people have been robbed of representation.

The reality in Maryborough, Woocoo and Tiaro is just as stark. According to the Report, Hervey Bay will have the potential to outvote the rest of the new council area by 5 to 3 every time.

Clearly the sewing circles will need to be disbanded and a lot of thought given to who has the skills and drive to represent the three smaller teams on the new playing field.

Councillors who thought they could sit in their corner and amalgamations would go away, those who have sat on their hands and been silent while our local hospital has been progressively dismantled, or who have been squabbling over the showgrounds, or building monuments to their own foolishness on the Town Green, should consider their imminent retirement, otherwise there will be 66 million more reasons why ratepayers will rue the day they were dumped into the new Fraser Coast Regional Council.