| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Bronwyn
Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 691
Location: Noosaville
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:21 am Post subject: CM 3/08 |
 |
|
Neil Hickey
August 03, 2007 07:25am
MORE than 3000 protesters have marched through Brisbane to Parliament House in opposition to the plan to merge Noosa with a Sunshine Coast super-council.
Council representatives from Stanthorpe, Redcliffe, Warwick and Murilla also joined the giant demonstration.
Two planeloads of residents from Port Douglas - due to merge with Cairns - also flew in to take part.
Noosa mayor cheered
Noosa Shire Mayor Bob Abbot was given a hero's reception when he addressed the crowd at South Bank.
"They want to take everything away from us and we won't let them," he said.
"We want to protect our place and we will do it.
"This is about democracy about a little community standing up and defending itself."
Serial publicity-seeking pest Peter Hore was not greeted as enthusiastically though.
The mergers are part of the state government's plan to reduce the number of councils statewide from 156 to 72 at next year's local government elections - in line with the recommendations of an independent commission appointed to review council boundaries.
Extreme arrogance
Rally organisers have also prepared a giant Noosa Postcard to present to the government.
Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney yesterday accused the government of trying to rush the changes through state parliament, which will sit next week.
"There's no consultation, just a deadline," he said.
"The level of arrogance is extreme, even by Peter Beattie's extreme standards." |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Bronwyn
Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 691
Location: Noosaville
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
And now for a more accurate summary!
| Quote: | Neil Hickey
August 03, 2007 07:25am
THOUSANDS of protesters swamped city streets today, marching to Parliament House in opposition to the plan to merge Noosa into a Sunshine Coast super-council.
Council representatives from Stanthorpe, Redcliffe, Warwick and Murilla also joined the giant demonstration.
Two planeloads of residents from Port Douglas - due to merge with Cairns - also flew in to take part.
Police estimated the crowd to be in excess of 10,000. At one point marchers stretched up to a kilometre through city streets back to Victoria Bridge.
Noosa mayor cheered
Noosa Shire Mayor Bob Abbot was given a hero's reception when he addressed the crowd at South Bank.
"They want to take everything away from us and we won't let them," he said.
"We want to protect our place and we will do it.
"This is about democracy about a little community standing up and defending itself."
Mr Abbot said Noosa, one of the most financially secure councils in the state, would not be held back by the cost of its campaign to retain its independence.
The mergers are part of the state government's plan to reduce the number of councils statewide from 156 to 72 at next year's local government elections - in line with the recommendations of an independent commission appointed to review council boundaries.
"My community have actually said to me 'spend everything you can to achieve this," Mr Abbot told reporters after the march.
"I had an old guy walk into the Bendigo Bank last week with $250, the last of his savings, 90-years-old, and said 'put it into an account and start a fighting fund for Noosa'.
Passion
"That's the sort of passion there is and that's why ... if there's a one million to one chance of winning this, I cannot refuse to take (that chance)."
A giant postcard filled with signatures and images of Noosa was presented to a representative for Premier Peter Beattie at the entrance to parliament house following the march.
Mr Abbot said he told Mr Beattie he did not expect him to accept the postcard in person but that he expected he would acknowledge the gift, the rally and its message in the media.
Noosa locals today said they feared their beachside and hinterland paradise would be over-run by development under a larger council.
Sustainability
Mark Wedemeyer, a resident of South Peregian, said his town had only been part of Noosa Shire for the past 10 years and he had noticed the difference in that time.
"Noosa is a fantastic place for a whole bunch of reasons. It has to do with the community, it has to do with the environment, it has to do with the resistance to development and the sustainability," he said.
"In sheer practical terms, we don't have the debt level Maroochy has, our rates are half as much, we get service for our community and we have councillors who listen to us."
High profile residents, including Hastings St restaurateur Jim Berardo, former state member Cate Molloy, Steve Irwin's former manager, John Stainton and businessman Bob Ansett were among those who joined the march.
Beautiful asset
Mr Ansett, a long time resident of the shire, warned the 1.7 million tourists who visit the popular holiday spot each year would dissolve if it evolved into another over-developed beach strip.
"Why would you put such a beautiful asset at risk?" he said.
Protection
In the past 24 hours Mr Beattie has announced plans for legislation to protect areas of environmental signficance, such as Noosa and Port Douglas, from over development.
But Mr Abbot said such a law represented no insurance and said it would only further divide the community.
"What was put up ... has already driven a real, deep wedge into the Sunshine Coast," he said.<p>
"On local radio on the Sunshine Coast this morning we've had people arguing about why one part should get special treatment and other areas can't.
"So as far as the big councils are concerned, already the divisions are there. The thing (unity) we tried to create has already been split in half."
Extreme arrogance
Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney yesterday accused the government of trying to rush the changes through state parliament, which will sit next week.
"There's no consultation, just a deadline," he said.
"The level of arrogance is extreme, even by Peter Beattie's extreme standards."
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
katie
Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 61
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
Save the Mary was there today also and we were glad to be part of a great turnout of passionate people. Congratulations to the Noosa Shire for such wonderful organisation on short notice. If they can do this so well, they can accomplish anything. Well done!!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougHaigh_JenMercer
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 654
Location: Mary Valley
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:35 am Post subject: ABC 06/08 Noosa friends back legal challenge to merger plan |
|
|
Noosa friends back legal challenge to merger plans
Posted August 6, 2007 10:36:00
• Map: Noosaville 4566
| Quote: | A group of high profile Noosa residents has pledged more than $100,000 to mount a legal challenge to fight the Queensland Government and stop Noosa from being forced to amalgamate with Caloundra and Maroochy councils.
The group, called Friends of Noosa, includes businessman Bob Ansett and other prominent residents.
Mr Ansett says "iconic legislation" proposed by Premier Peter Beattie will not save Noosa from development.
"Beattie won't be around in a few years and he's right, Bob Abbot won't, but as far as Noosa's concerned it's the people that elect the Government here to look after their interests," he said.
"What they're doing is removing that opportunity in a democratic society that is an essential aspect of a democratic society."
Noosa Mayor Bob Abbot says the council is not involved in any way with the legal challenge and he cannot control what other people are doing.
"I've lost control of what's happening behind the scenes now. I can't control what others are doing in the community now," he said.
"I'm trying to stay with the people who have worked so hard to try and achieve this. I know there are groups of people gathering to make a long-term, determined effort on this and I've said to them I can't be involved in that. I really can't control the political fallout any more."
Meanwhile, councillor Abbot is seething over the latest comments by Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser over council amalgamations.
Cr Abbot says Mr Fraser's claims that the State Government had always said it would implement the Local Government Reform Commission's recommendations are untrue.
He says Mr Fraser told Noosa residents that the recommendations were not set in stone and that he would overturn any absurdities.
"He was here two weeks ago and he said to my community quite publicly, 'look, if all the shires in Queensland were like Noosa we wouldn't have to have the reforms'," he said.
"Now he's going back on his word again. He has told them they're good and now he's going to flatten them. He told them he would change it if he thought it was right and now he's not. What really is disappointing to me is he has played games with the people of this community." |
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/06/1997401.htm?site=sunshine |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
arawajo
Joined: 13 May 2006
Posts: 627
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougHaigh_JenMercer
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 654
Location: Mary Valley
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:20 am Post subject: QCL 17/8 Merging Qld councils make no sense: economists |
|
|
Breaking Rural News : AGRIBUSINESS AND GENERAL
Merging Qld councils make no sense: economists
By GABRIELLE DUNLEVY - Australia
Friday, 17 August 2007
| Quote: |
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie should ditch his plans to slash the number of councils from 156 to 72 on economic grounds, according to three experts.
Throughout the controversial process, Mr Beattie has maintained the state needs stronger councils to deal with growth.
Advice received by the government showed that at least 40pc of councils were financially troubled and without a serious overhaul many faced ruin in years to come.
But Queensland University of Technology economics lecturer Dr Mark McGovern said the economic arguments used to justify the agenda are the weakest.
He said "large" did not automatically mean "strong" - and the Beattie government couldn't have picked a worse time for change.
Councils were busy dealing with the ongoing drought, the challenges of population growth and extra responsibilities being imposed on them by government.
"Most acquisitions and mergers in business fail," Dr McGovern said.
"That doesn't bode well for effective (council) amalgamations, especially in periods when they are trying to do a lot of work.
"If you wanted to time it well, there wasn't a worse time to do it.
"You couldn't choose a time when you could be more likely to make big mistakes - the question is, why risk it?"
Dr McGovern said many local government tasks would be better achieved by smaller councils, or resource sharing - a theme picked up by Federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd in recent weeks as he called for any mergers to be voluntary and backed by a majority local vote.
"In service industries, it's difficult to achieve economies of scale," Dr McGovern said.
"It's like saying, If you put all of the hairdressers in Brisbane together, you'll get economies of scale.
"There are good reasons why professionals practise in various locations, when you lose contact ... costs rise."
University of New England economics lecturer, Professor Brian Dollery, says the amalgamation process will cost money.
The Director of the Centre of Local Government said mergers increased responsibility for staff, and typically, wages rise in line with that, imposing costs on new councils.
"Growth isn't uniform across Queensland, but he's applying this formula uniformly," he said.
"Brisbane is the biggest council in all of Australia - how cheap are services there and how cost-effective is it?
"It's not a startling example of efficiency."
Using interstate and overseas examples as a guide, Prof Dollery said the economic benefits of amalgamation would be limited.
Councils around the world, from Victoria and South Australia to Toronto, Canada, were "de-amalgamated" or "divorced" after waves of mergers failed to cut costs.
Prof Dollery's colleague, Joel Byrnes, said the possibility of a costly legal battle should be a cue for the premier.
"We know one thing about amalgamations, and that is they cost money to implement," he said.
"The Beattie government probably needs to step back, and take a deep breath, and slow down.
"Good reform takes time, and if this is good reform, they shouldn't be afraid to take time and consider the issues."
SOURCE: AAP |
http://www.farmonline.com.au/news_daily.asp?ag_id=44680 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougHaigh_JenMercer
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 654
Location: Mary Valley
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject: CM 23/08 Dam takeover to hit councils |
|
|
Dam takeover to hit councils
Article from:
By Des Houghton
August 23, 2007 12:00am
| Quote: | A CONFIDENTIAL report warns that the State Government's takeover of dams will be a risky venture that robs councils of revenue and sends rates soaring.
The report, by PricewaterhouseCoopers, says the revenues of Brisbane, Caloundra, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Caboolture councils will be hard hit.
It says a water grab will jeopardise the financial sustainability of some councils and create a legal minefield if they challenge the takeover in the courts.
"The information provided to us implies that 93 per cent of the Gold Coast City Council's net operating result was contributed by Gold Coast Water," the report said.
It says Caloundra relied on water and wastewater services to provide 60 per cent of its net operating result.
Beaudesert would have recorded a net operating loss in 2004-05 had it not been for revenue from water and wastewater business.
The takeover involves 22 major dams and weirs owned by 12 separate councils, authorities, state-council joint-owned companies and a government-owned corporation. Up for grabs are $11 billion worth of water assets.
The report said the value of the assets would jump to $18 billion by 2008 when the water grid was completed.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers study, commissioned by the State Government and used by the Queensland Water Commission to develop a "reform" plan, undermines some of the political reasons given for the takeover.
The Government has pledged to compensate councils but the report points to difficulties into calculating how much.
Liberal leader Dr Bruce Flegg said it was clear councils would have to raise rates to cover revenue shortfalls.
"The takeover is all about money," he said. "The report points out it was not about securing water supplies. It was about raiding councils' assets.
"It also points out that the restructuring of the existing water system is a high-risk game."
Initially, the State Government proposed a single business entity to own and operate dams and water distribution which would have become Queensland's largest government-owned enterprise.
It is now proposed to create several enterprises responsible for bulk water, distribution and retail sales.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the report showed councils had acted responsibly in managing water.
"This report was supposed to be the smoking gun that identified councils as somehow responsible for the lack of water but it clearly finds no wrongdoing on the part of local government," he said.
He said the takeover raised complex compensation issues.
"Many councils use the revenue from water to re-invest in vital infrastructure for the good of the community," he said.
But Water Commission chairwoman Elizabeth Nosworthy said in a statement that the present system of water delivery lacked proper accountability, was unwieldy, cumbersome and long overdue for reform. |
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22290994-3102,00.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougHaigh_JenMercer
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 654
Location: Mary Valley
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:37 pm Post subject: SCD 24/9 Bligh queries merger decision |
|
|
Bligh queries merger decision
12:00a.m. 24 September 2007
| Quote: | Holding plebiscites on forced council mergers in areas not affected by local government reforms would be a stupid waste of money, Queensland premier Anna Bligh said yesterday.
The Local Government Association of Queensland yesterday said 87 councils had said they wanted residents to have a say on the state government’s mergers after prime minister John Howard promised to pay for the polls.
The plebiscites will be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and could be held on October 27.
Ms Bligh said the LGAQ figures showed “a number” of councils who were not affected by the mergers would still go ahead with plebiscites.
“It would appear that there are at least some councils who are unaffected by amalgamations that may be holding plebiscites,” she said.
“Frankly, I think that’s a stupid waste of money and their ratepayers should be punishing them for that.”
LGAQ president Paul Bell said 37 councils were not affected by the mergers.
“I don’t know of any of that 37 who aren’t being amalgamated who are actually holding a poll,” he said.
“As far as we are aware, there are no outstanding issues preventing the plebiscite process starting almost immediately.”
Ms Bligh said the results of the plebiscites would not affect the amalgamation legislation which had already been passed to pave the way for mergers to occur at the March 15 council elections.
As the debate continued to rage, Caloundra City Council reluctantly agreed to accept the Queensland Electoral Commission’s decision on the divisional boundaries for the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
But mayor Don Aldous has been left wondering why councils were asked for their input in the first place.
The Coast’s three councils had worked closely together to provide a submission to the commission but the outcome was vastly different, he said. “We obviously have to accept the commission’s decision but it certainly in no way reflects the submission we jointly submitted.
“I am disappointed because our submissions were made with the knowledge of our community’s own wishes in relation to representation on the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
“Our only input now is to decide whether we accept the divisions and quotas determined by the electoral commission, or whether we go back to an undivided council option.
“And that is not going to happen as we have been asked to reach unanimous agreement by this Wednesday, the 26th of September.” |
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2007/sep/24/bligh-queries-merger-decision/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Darren E
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2075
Location: Dagun, Qld
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:32 am Post subject: Three-quarters reject council mergers |
|
|
The Courier Mail
December 19, 2007
| Quote: | Three-quarters reject council mergers
QUEENSLANDERS have made their opposition to council amalgamations clear, with plebiscites showing over three-quarters are against the reforms.
The polls, in which 77 per cent of voters rejected the mergers, were held after former prime minister John Howard described the forced mergers as "jackboot" and promised to gauge local views on the controversial issue.
But they will not stop the State Government going ahead with the amalgamations, which more than halve the number of councils at next year's elections.
While voting was voluntary, in some shires almost 80 per cent of eligible residents returned their ballot papers.
The strongest "no" vote came from Ilfracombe shire in central-west Queensland, where 99 per cent of voters were opposed to a pending amalgamation with Isisford and Longreach.
Only one shire voted in favour of amalgamation, Burnett in central Queensland, which along with two other areas, will be absorbed by Bundaberg council.
Local Government Association of Queensland executive director Greg Hallam said he was impressed by the support shown for the polls.
"We were fearful that the numbers would be lower because of a six-week (federal) election campaign and the government trying to talk people out of it with the tactic of 'don't bother to vote, it won't mean anything'," Mr Hallam said.
"The communities have clearly spoken, they don't want it.
"It looks like the Government are going to go ahead with it, but it will be at their peril."
Opposition local government spokesman Howard Hobbs said the Government would be "arrogant and out of touch" to ignore the result.
"The State Labor Government must now go back to the drawing board and ensure communities are properly consulted and genuinely involved in deciding the future direction of their local governments," he said.
Premier Anna Bligh has urged communities to accept the changes. |
_________________
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything" - anon.
"There can be no liberty for a community which lacks the means by which to detect lies" - Walter Lippman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
