Councils Explore Regional Strategic Alliance

None of the three Councils have been targeted for amalgamation under the NSW Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ reform package, but each Council is required to demonstrate that it has the scale and capacity to be financially sustainable and can deliver efficient and effective services in the long term.

Penrith Mayor Councillor Ross Fowler OAM said, “Through this proposed Regional Strategic Alliance the three Councils can look to do things together more effectively to save money and improve services for their respective communities.”

Hawkesbury Mayor Councillor Kim Ford believes the development of a strategic alliance would give the Councils a stronger voice to advocate for major regional initiatives such as economic development, tourism, waste management, environmental protection, urban development, recreation, infrastructure and procurement.

Blue Mountains Mayor Councillor Mark Greenhill said, “A regional alliance is worth exploring as one way to improve the outcomes for our respective communities. It could offer opportunities for participating Councils to be more competitive in securing funding and to work in partnership on projects that are beyond the capacity of individual councils, for the benefit of all three local government areas”.

All councils in NSW are required to make a submission to the Office of Local Government by 30 June 2015 to demonstrate how they plan to be Fit for the Future.

This proposed strategic alliance shows that all three Councils are aligned with the NSW Government model for regional Joint Organisations announced in the Fit for the Future reform package.

The Councils have agreed to explore the benefits of regional cooperation and a process to assess the findings of this investigation. If there is a regional cooperation model that emerges from the formation of the alliance, it will be subject to community consultation.

The objective of Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Penrith City Councils is to retain their local identity and independence, while collaborating more closely for the benefit of all our communities

Additional information

Background: NSW Government Fit for the Future Program

• On 10 September 2014 the NSW Government announced the Fit for the Future Local Government reform program. The reform package is the NSW Government’s response to the findings of a comprehensive three-year independent review of local government.
• The package includes up to $1 billion in funding for local government in NSW, largely to assist voluntary amalgamations of neighbouring councils or new regional Joint Organisations, with a view to strengthen communities and support councils to become Fit for the Future.
• The Government also announced other changes to the system of local government, including a review of the Local Government Act
• The Fit for the Future reform proposes each council assess their current position and submit a proposal by 30 June 2015 on how they plan to be Fit for the Future.
• NSW Government www.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au

For more information visit Hawkesbury City Council