20 October 2015

Alex Greenwich, the Independent Member for Sydney, has expressed great concern with the NSW Government initiated IPART report on "Fit for the Future" councils.

Mr Greenwich said: 

“The IPART report confirms that the City of Sydney is ‘fit for the future’ under all vital criteria including financial sustainability, partnering with government, and investing in infrastructure.”

“But the government imposed an arbitrary population minimum which most councils, including the City, cannot meet, forcing IPART to deliver an ‘unfit’ stamp. This is ridiculous.

 “Local democracy, delivery of services, community support, support for small business and social outcomes have been ignored.

“The government wants centralised power within politically favourable boundaries – particularly in economically strong areas like the City – over community and business outcomes.

“This highly political process has drowned out community and business voices which overwhelmingly support councils remaining standalone, while disregarding other reforms that the review panel proposed to make councils economically viable in the future.

For further comment Mr Greenwich can be contacted on 9360 3053.