Councils to foot bill for de-amalgamation under ‘cunning sleight of hand’

The NSW government has introduced legislation that provides a legal pathway for forcibly merged councils to part ways – but there’s a catch.

6 February, 2024

Minister pledges no forced amalgamations in Tasmania

The Tasmanian government says there will be no forced amalgamations of councils after receiving the final report of a two year review.

1 November, 2023

Bigger isn’t always better – why population growth is hurting councils

New research shows that population growth is making councils less financially sustainable.

20 April, 2023

Merged councils ‘more efficient’ but problems linger

NSW’s amalgamated councils have become more efficient but problems remain, according to an audit.

1 May, 2019

Council mergers ‘failed to yield the benefits’

Contrary to typical arguments in favour of local government amalgamation, a new analysis says the changes did not lead to efficiencies. 

4 February, 2019

Tumbarumba amalgamation protests intensify

They’re mad as hell down Tumbarumba way. The Snowy Mountains town best known for John O’Brien’s wonderful poem ‘Up at Tumba-bloody-rumba shootin’ kanga-bloody-roos’ has become the touchstone for renewed opposition to the NSW Government’s disastrous forced council amalgamation strategy. In May 2016 the local council was merged with neighbouring Tumut Shure to form Snowy Valleys […]

18 February, 2018

Woollahra Council loses first round of merger fight, pays costs

Good day for Paul Toole.

20 July, 2016

Amalgamation threat to dominate Local Government NSW conference

Little love in enforced marriages.

7 October, 2014

Forced amalgamation spectre returns for NSW councils

Baird shifts posts on O’Farrell’s promise

11 September, 2014

WA councils demand referendum on Perth boundary changes

The battle between WA councils and the Colin Barnett government has intensified as local governments demand communities be able to vote on proposed mergers if they are “significantly affected”.

7 July, 2014

City of Perth to absorb neighbours under boundary reforms

By Paul Hemsley The City of Perth will swallow up all of the City of Vincent, Kings Park, the new Crown Casino and the new Perth Stadium at Burswood under Premier Colin Barnett’s final proposal to the independent Local Government Advisory Board (LGAB) to rationalise metropolitan boundaries. The ambitious plan by Mr Barnett to create […]

5 November, 2013

Government research finds rate rises more popular than council mergers

By Paul Hemsley New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and his Local Government Minister Don Page have a new electoral headache to deal with in their efforts to sell the controversial idea of council mergers in the state. New polling research commissioned by the Independent Local Government Review Panel in New South Wales has revealed […]

27 September, 2013

Divorced Queensland councils set election date

By Paul Hemsley Queensland ratepayers who eagerly sent forced council mergers packing by voting for de-amalgamation from neighbouring councils will go to the polls on 9 November to elect their new representatives. The state government’s announcement has confirmed that people living in Noosa, Livingstone, Mareeba and Douglas will get new local leaders from 1 January […]

19 September, 2013

Sunshine Coast plans for life without Noosa

By Paul Hemsley Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Council has moved quickly to officially sever ties with its forced-merger bedfellow, Noosa Council, by excluding it from its regional planning scheme after being allowed to decouple by the Campbell Newman government. The previous Noosa council is scheduled to be resurrected in January 2014 after residents in four areas […]

22 March, 2013