Minister for Local Government, Nic Street, welcomed the release by the Local Government Board of detailed information packs to support consultation on a range of local government structural reform options.
The packs include a range of data and insights into each of the nine community catchments the Board identified in its Stage 2 Interim Report and puts forward several different scenarios for local government boundaries and service delivery models.
“The information the Board has released today provides the basis for a really good, informed, and mature discussion among councils and communities about where, as a State, we want and need to take our system of local government in the future,” Minister Street said.
He said the information packs include a wealth of data and insights into how Tasmanians live, work, and connect within and outside their local communities.
“The scenarios the Board is putting out there for discussion I’m sure will provoke a lot of discussion and I will be keen to see how councils and communities respond,” Minister Street said.
“I have personally been very impressed by the way the Board has sought to engage with councils and communities all the way through this Review, and I am pleased to hear again they are treating this process as a genuine collaborative design opportunity.
“There is no doubt the Review is contemplating some very important and complex reform proposals as we get to the ‘pointy end’ of the process.
“That is why the Rockliff Liberal Government is supporting the sector’s request for more time and additional support for further, targeted engagement with the council elected members and staff.
“I recently asked the Board to extend its engagement timeframe on the community catchment scenarios by six weeks to 2 August 2023. I have also agreed to provide funding support to LGAT for it to facilitate separate engagement sessions for General Managers, Mayors, elected representatives, and staff. These will be open to all 29 councils within each of the nine community catchments.
“I am confident this process – as well as the range of other broader engagement activities the Board itself is undertaking in parallel – will ensure communities, councils and staff have every opportunity to provide their views on the best solutions for the future of local government in Tasmania. And I would strongly encourage them to do just that.”
Minister Street said he would be carefully considering the Board’s final recommendations when they are provided to him at the end of October 2023 and re-affirmed his earlier commitment to bring any Government reform proposal developed in response to the Board’s recommendations before the Tasmanian Parliament.
“Major local government reform will only succeed if there is broad community support for any proposed changes, and it is my belief that Parliamentary support for any package will be essential in delivering that support,” he said.
