Councils are in union talks

TWO of Sydney's biggest councils are investigating whether an amalgamation would be cost-effective and beneficial for their more than 320,000 residents.

The Hills, covering 400sq km, and Hornsby, covering more than 462sq km, in Sydney's northwest, and both with more than 160,000 residents, have engaged an independent auditor to examine their finances. The first figures are due within a week.

The two would have a larger population than the combined inner Sydney councils of Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Strathfield, Burwood, Ashfield, Leichhardt, Botany Bay and Marrickville.

Hills Shire mayor Michelle Byrne said, in anticipation of the Independent Local Government Review Panel's report, the audit would explore the opportunities and risks of amalgamation: "While NSW Local Government Minister Don Page has said there will be no forced amalgamations, he has also called on councils to do their homework and that's what we're doing. We need to put aside our political self-interest and have an open mind on the issue. The residents are our top priority.

"No decisions have been made at this stage, but we are being proactive and exploring what voluntary amalgamation between the two councils could look like. We are conducting this study to see whether or not amalgamations would improve services and get a better outcome for residents and ratepayers."

Hornsby mayor Steve Russell said councils should be looking for efficiencies rather than fighting change.

"We want to do what's best for our ratepayers, which is looking at efficiencies, and other councils should be to," Mr Russell said. "We are elected to represent the community. We should be looking for a better mousetrap in business. You are always looking for a better way to do things."

Small councils such as Strathfield, Burwood and Hunters Hill have led the charge against amalgamation, with Strathfield creating up a $50,000 ratepayer-funded fighting fund, and Burwood calling on Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils to put up $5000 for a consultant to find an alternative.

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