Local Government Amalgamations

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-100904

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Local Government Amalgamations

Mr RON HOENIG (Heffron) (17:10:11):

I draw to the attention of the House the impact of the merger of Rockdale City Council and Botany Bay City Council on Mascot, East Lakes and Rosebery in my electorate. It is a case study of the failure of the amalgamation process. For a number of years I warned this House about the folly of council amalgamations. I said that despite the Government anticipating savings, the administrator reported that the cost of the merger of those councils would be $18 million at the end of the first year. I repeatedly warned the Government of the day that there is no political return on amalgamations and it would pay a heavy price. I have been shown to be right in that respect.

The biggest problem with the amalgamation process is the direct impact felt by my constituents when two disparate councils are merged. My area is represented by very able councillors in Christina Curry and Scott Morrissey, a very able mayor in Bill Saravinovski and an immensely capable general manager who yesterday was highly commended at the Minister's local government awards. They are working hard and endeavouring to bring the councils together. Despite this, the fact of the matter is that the quality of service by the merged council is nothing short of dreadful. The merger is impacting council services because the two organisations have different cultures. It is also impacting local business owners who are no longer able to rely on their council for services and the jobs they create. Day in and day out my office staff and I receive a stream of complaints from community groups and individuals who are not being serviced to the standard that they should be.

I left Botany Bay City Council in 2012 and upon leaving decided that I would not interfere with or be involved in its decision-making process unless I was asked. They never thought that I was a fit and proper person to seek advice from. Nevertheless, even under the stewardship of councillors at the time the quality of service was often outstanding. Community groups attending council functions are now being provided with poor-quality catering services. The exceptional caterers that Randwick City Council and others use are either not asked to give a quote or refuse to provide one because of predetermined decisions, when electricians, who for decades performed outsourced council work tendered at cost to Bayside Council and could not have been beaten in the tender process, did not receive the work.

The council is trying to address this problem, but it never will because it does not know what quality of service has been provided to the people of Heffron. It will take a number of years for the council to improve the quality of service it provides or, alternatively, the community will have to get used to the poor-quality service it receives. I am told by the people of Rockdale—but maybe the member for Oatley knows better—that the quality of service in Rockdale was far better when the council stood on its own. Anecdotal complaints about the quality of service received or seen are somewhat overwhelming. I have written hundreds of letters to Bayside Council on behalf of constituents and some of that correspondence has not been answered for almost a year. It is a case study on what not to do with amalgamations.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:15:22):Southern Courier

I refer the member for Heffron to an article by Ben James in the on 16 February 2018 entitled "Bayside Council: We're saving thousands through merger". The article states:

Bayside Council bosses have hit back at critics, saying they are saving thousands of dollars on events since the merger.

Bayside Council has come under fire in recent weeks following some residents' claims that it is ignoring the former Botany council area, which merged with Rockdale to form Bayside.

But mayor Bill Saravinovski said the newly formed council was producing huge savings—often hidden to ratepayers. "We have our own in-house events department, who plan and operate all council events, saving us from having to pay for contractors," Cr Saravinovski said, referring to Botany’s former practices.

"I am proud to host community events but equally proud to see new community infrastructure changing the look and feel of our valuable playing spaces and putting a smile on people’s faces."

I urge the member for Heffron to refer to this article, which details what money is being saved by Bayside Council.