SIRA
Notice
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE: COUNCIL AMALGAMATION
Dear Community Member,
As you are probably aware, the NSW State Government is reviewing
whether each local Council across NSW is “Fit for the Future”.
In 2012 the Independent Panel appointed by the NSW Government to look
at this issue made an initial recommendation to amalgamate Pittwater,
Warringah and Manly Council into a single Northern Beaches Council.
Each local Council is required in to submit a response to the NSW
Government by June 30. To this end Pittwater Council engaged KPMG to
provide their own independent analysis of the pros and cons of the
three following options:
- Maintain the status quo
- Create two Councils on the Northern Beaches
(Greater Pittwater and Greater Manly)
- Create one single Council
Pittwater Council is encouraging ALL Pittwater residents to
investigate this issue and express their preference and views through
an online (or telephone) survey.
SIRA encourages residents to:
- Visit here: www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/reform
(and be informed)
- Register for and attend the public meeting this
Tuesday, May 19 6:30pm at the Pittwater RSL
- Do the online survey http://app.keysurvey.com/votingmodule/s180/f/859892/56e2
SIRA Position
For SIRA to take a position, as per our decision making process on
major issues that affect our Island community, we would need to conduct
an Island-wide survey to get a clear indication of the majority view.
As time is tight this is not possible. We are aware that our current
form of “participatory democracy” does decrease flexibility, but it
does increase inclusivity.
So we do encourage all residents to individually participate in this
process and to form their own views. We appreciate that there is some
frustration with Council on many issues, however, having worked closely
with Council staff and Councillors on many occasions, there are many
times that they have worked with us, for us and have been a good
partner in assisting with our own local issues.
We encourage all residents to inform themselves, look rationally at the
issues and consider the long term consequences. Pittwater Council has
said that they will be swayed by how the majority of residents respond
in the survey.
Bill Gye
President
SIRA
The
views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the
Scotland Island Residents Association (SIRA), or
the Western
Pittwater Community Association (WPCA)
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