Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (Part)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Michael BuIlen Delegate 6 April 2016 Mr Bob Sendt Chairperson Boundaries Commission GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001 Dear Mr Sendt COUNCIL BOUNDARY REVIEW Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part) Please find attached my examination report for the above merger. Yours sincerely Delegate cc. The Hon Paul Toole Minister for Local Government GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001 Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. COUNCIL BOUNDARY REVIEW EXAMINATION REPORT Merger Proposal: Manly Council Mosman Municipal Council Warringah Council (part) April 2016 Michael u en - Delegate appointed ,fr:c 0207‘ Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. Table of Contents COUNCIL BOUNDARY REVIEW 1 EXAMINATION REPORT 1 1. Executive Summary 3 2 Background 4 3 Description of the proposal 4 4 The examination process 6 4.1 Submissions 8 5 Examination of the proposal —consideration of the factors 11 5.1 Financial factors 11 5.2 Community of Interest and Geographic Cohesion 15 5.3 Historical and traditional values 18 5.4 Attitudes of residents and ratepayers 21 5.5 Elected representation 22 5.6 Service delivery and facilities 25 5.7 Employment impacts for staff 27 5.8 Rural impacts 28 5.9 Wards 29 5.10 Opinions of diverse communities 30 5.11 Other matters 33 6 Recommendation 34 Appendix A Proposal Document 36 Appendix B Delegation Instrument 37 Appendix C Map of proposal boundaries 39 Appendix D Maps of Councils proposed boundary adjustments 40 Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. 1. Executive Summary A review has been undertaken of the proposed merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal and southern area of Warringah local government areas with regard to a number of specific factors as listed under section 263 (3) of the Local Government Act. The Delegate has reviewed and considered all relevant information received regarding this proposal. Written submissions and transcripts of the verbal submissions from public inquiries will be made public in due course. The Delegate's recommendation is that the proposed merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal and southern area of Warringah local government areas could proceed as the resulting new council would be stronger financially than the current council arrangements. It is noted however, the strong community attitudes around a single northern beaches council and that Mosman more closely aligns with North Sydney. The Delegate is aware that a merger proposal has been made by Warringah Council to the Minister for Local Government for a Northern Beaches Council comprising Manly, Warringah and Pittwater Councils which the Minister has referred to the Office of Local Government for examination and report; and that as a consequence of this, the Minister has made a merger proposal for the merger of Mosman Municipal Council with North Sydney and Willoughby City Councils and has referred this to the Office of Local Government for examination and report. In examining the proposal, submissions and other information, a number of conclusions have been reached with regard to the specific factors that support the Delegate's recommendation. The Delegate can put forward a number of conclusions and recommendations as follows: • A decision should not be taken on the merger proposal described in the NSW Government document; Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part) (Appendix A and outlined as a map in Appendix C) until after the merger proposal for the creation of a Northern Beaches Council by merging Pittwater, Warringah and Manly Councils, and the proposal to merge Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby Councils have been considered. • A Northern Beaches Council and a council formed from Mosman merging with North Sydney and Willoughby would be financially stronger than a council created under the current proposed merger. • There was strong community attitude supportive of a single Northern Beaches Council with recognition of Mosman as a separate identity, more appropriately aligned with North Sydney/ North Shore. • The factors most commonly addressed in submissions were the attitudes of residents and ratepayers, the community of interest and geographic cohesion factor, and financial factors. • Several strong themes presented in submissions and analysis showed support for the creation of a "One Northern Beaches Council", strong opposition to the splitting of the Warringah Council, Mosman being a separate identity and geographic cohesion. Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. • Should the proposed merger be approved, the Council should have 9 Councillors, including the Mayor, and not be divided into wards. • Should the proposed merger be approved, consideration should be given to the minor boundary adjustments put forward by Warringah Council as outlined in section 5.11 of this report. • Should the proposed merger be approved, it is recommended that how high value assets that are utilised by residents across the northern beaches such as Brookvale Oval are allocated, is the subject of detailed discussions between the new merged council and the adjoining council. 2 Background The NSW Government has been working on a review of local government since 2011. As part of this review, in January 2016, the Minister for Local Government put forward a proposal under section 218 E(1) of the Local Government Act (1993) - (the Act) - for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal and southern area of Warringah local government areas. The Minister referred the proposal to the Acting Chief Executive of the Office of Local Government. In January 2016, the Acting Chief Executive of the Office of Local Government, delegated to Mr Michael Bullen (the Delegate), the function of examining and reporting on the proposal to merge the local government areas of Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council and Warringah Council (part). A copy of the instrument of delegation is shown at Appendix B. This report has been prepared by Mr Bullen, as Delegate to the Chief Executive of the Local Government and is provided to the Minister for Local Government and to the Boundaries Commission. 3 Description of the proposal The proposal is described in a document titled "Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part)", and is dated January 2016. A copy of the proposal is attached in Appendix A and a detailed map is shown in Appendix C. The proposal is one of a number of proposals within the broader Local Government reform process being undertaken by the NSW Government. The NSW Government has been working with local councils and communities since 2011 to strengthen council performance and ensure local government is well placed to meet future community needs. The proposed new council would be responsible for infrastructure and service delivery to more than 153,000 residents across the Manly, Mosman and Warringah area of Sydney.1 1 NSW Government Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part), January 2016, p7. 41 i Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. ' The proposed boundary for the part of the Warringah area is the eastern edge bordering the Tasman Sea and the southern edge bordering Sydney Harbour. The western boundary follows the western edge of Beacon Hill and the Manly-Warringah War Memorial Park, and the northern edge follows the suburb boundaries of Allambie Heights, Beacon Hill, Narraweena and Dee Why.2 The maps below show the existing council boundaries of the councils impacted by,the merger proposal (left hand side) and the proposed council boundary (right hand side).3 Whale Beach Whale Beach Kt,- Ring - Gm I. T#(u-Ring Gai • Serowra Chase Berowra,.• Chase National Park National Park Avalon Beach Ayafen Beach Mount ;4er:bort Kuring-gai Duttys Forest Duffys Forest Mona Vale Mon: Terrey H Terrey Hills Warriewoc War rievi, 1111 roonga roonga St Ives St /yes Pyrnble Pyrnble Dee v4 Brookvaie cguarie guarte ,,ark ark Vreshv. LEI LEI Chatswood Chatswod Ayaley Sydney E.1.1 ltiturno Ultimor The NSW Government has identified a number of regional priorities that are directly relevant to the proposed new council. For example:4: • working with councils to retain a commercial core in Brookvale-Dee Why for long term employment growth, to develop additional mixed-use development and to improving walking and cycling connections between Warringah Mall, Brookvale and Dee Why; • working with councils to identify suitable locations for housing and employment growth, which are coordinated with infrastructure delivery and transport services; and • protecting the natural environment and promoting its sustainability and resilience, with a focus on improving the health and resilience of the marine estate including the foreshore, tributaries and aquatic habitats of Middle Harbour. 2 NSW Government Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part), January 2016, p4. 3https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/proposals/manly-mosman-municipal-and-warringah-councils/ Source: Google Maps 4 NSW Government Merger Proposal: Manly Council, Mosman Municipal Council, Warringah Council (part), January 2016, p7 5 Examination of the proposal for the merger of the Manly, Mosman Municipal 2016 and (part) Warringah local government areas. 4 The examination process The proposal underwent an extensive public discussion and consultation process. On 7 January 2016 the Delegate wrote to all affected councils advising the amalgamation merger proposal would be examined having regard to the factors contained in section 263(3) of the Act. The letter invited representatives of the councils to meet with the Delegate to discuss the proposal, invited the Council to provide a submission on the proposal, and invited representatives of the Council to speak at the public inquiry held as part of the examination process.