The Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA) has released a final report into the future options for local government in southern Tasmania.

 

“It is widely acknowledged that reform of local government in Southern Tasmania is long overdue. Recent surveys of residents, community consultation, interviews with councillors, local government managers and other stakeholders confirm the desire for reform of local government,” the report reads.

 

The report centres on four options for the future of local governance in southern Tasmania, they include:

 

  1. Maintaining the status quo in relation to the number of local governments and their current boundaries, but seeking to improve performance through a concentration on the formation of stronger regional bodies and shared services.
  2. Option 2 Forming a single local council for the whole of the region, by merging the existing twelve councils
  3. Option 3 Amalgamating all of the urban parts of Hobart into a single Greater Hobart Council, while leaving the rural councils largely untouched.
  4. Option 4 Creating Eastern Shore and Western Shore Councils in Hobart, and merging rural councils into three new local government areas

 

“The STCA Board sees the recommendations in this report as a starting point for a discussion with elected members of the 12 Councils and the community of Southern Tasmania about the future of Local Government in our region.” said Damon Thomas, newly appointed Chair of the STCA.

 

“The Independent Panel’s Report gives us a series of recommendations that challenge us to build a stronger local government, with more accountability and more sustainability, while recognising the critical and complex role that local governments play in our communities.” said Alderman Thomas.

 

The full report can be found here