1. 10 NEWS SPECIAL INVESTIGATION thesundaymail.com.au
thesundaymail.com.au
Angry residents
amalgamations
Super mistake EXCLUSIVE POLL: HOW OUR
‘can’t be fixed’ The Sunday Mail asked residents to rate the success of amalgamations
OVERALL SATISFACTION
THE GREAT
MERGER Council Very Good Good Fair Poor Very Poor
■ August 2007: State Moreton Bay 8.7% 22% 39.3% 15.3% 14.7%
Government passes
amalgamation law, reducing 156 Rockhampton 3.3% 22% 34% 20% 20.7%
Daryl Passmore councils to 72 and slashing the
number of mayors and Southern Downs 5.3% 32% 38% 14.7% 10%
TWO-THIRDS of residents councillors by 724. Sunshine Coast 0% 22.7% 57.3% 11.3% 8.7%
want to see Queensland’s
‘‘super councils’’ disbanded as ■ September 2007: Premier Toowoomba 2% 35.3% 32.7% 17.3% 12.7%
anger grows over soaring costs Peter Beattie announces his
Townsville 0.7% 22.7% 46.7% 19.3% 10.7%
and declining services. retirement. Councils hold a
An exclusive Sunday Mail statewide plebiscite on TOTAL 3.3% 26.1% 41.3% 16.3% 12.9%
poll of 900 people in six of the amalgamations, resulting in
major new councils created by a huge ‘‘no’’ vote.
the forced mergers shows Government says it will go
65 per cent of people would ahead anyway. CHANGE SINCE AMALGAMATION WHAT THE MAYORS SAID
vote in a referendum to roll
back amalgamation. ■ March 2008: First elections of
The results show residents new ‘‘super-councils’’. Council Worse No change Better “I accept the criticism and
do not believe the benefits know we have to work very
promised when the Labor ■ March 2012: Next council Moreton Bay 57.3% 37.3% 5.3%
Government ordered the elections due. hard and do better’’
Rockhampton 59.3% 36.7% 4%
amalgamations – in the face of PETER TAYLOR, TOOWOOMBA
angry opposition around the at the time but now says it is Southern Downs 50% 44.7% 5.3%
state – have been delivered. too late to turn back the clock.
Value for money for rates, ‘‘It’s completely useless to be Sunshine Coast 52.7% 42% 5.3% “We did expect a
standards of service, and plan- fighting old fights,’’ LGAQ
ning and management of executive director Greg Toowoomba 52% 44% 4% tumultuous four years. Like
population growth have all Hallam said. ‘‘Everyone in all amalgamated councils,
Townsville 49.3% 44.7% 6%
gone backwards since the new local-government land has
councils were formed, accord- moved on and is trying to TOTAL 53.4% 41.6% 5% the perception of our
ing to a majority of those make the most of the cards service levels has dropped’’
polled. that have been dealt.
The survey, by Market Facts ‘‘We don’t for a moment LES TYRELL, TOWNSVILLE
(Qld) & Morton Consulting believe you can unwind all of
Services, was commissioned the amalgamations. There QUALITY OF SERVICE
by The Sunday Mail and the may be some limited circum- “I think it’s a fair reflection
Local Government Associ- stances where, if the com-
ation of Queensland. munities themselves deter-
of people’s opinions. That’s
Council Worse No change Better
Morton Consulting Services mine that they should de- exactly the feedback I’m
director Alan Morton said: amalgamate, that that could Moreton Bay 67.3% 26% 6.7%
‘‘The level of negativity and occur. But we don’t think that getting’’
the consistency of it across will be widespread.’’ Rockhampton 65.3% 22% 12.7%
council areas was surprising.’’ The survey found the over- RON BELLINGHAM,
Mr Morton said a majority all satisfaction level with coun- Southern Downs 48% 48% 3.3% SOUTHERN DOWNS
of residents in all areas were in cil performance was 58 per
Sunshine Coast 40% 59.3% 0.7%
favour of a return to former cent – the lowest level in the 14
council boundaries. years Mr Morton had been Toowoomba 56.7% 35.3% 6.7%
“The survey shows where
The wish to split is strongest tracking it. the weaknesses are and
on the Sunshine Coast, where ‘‘This is such a big drop, it Townsville 18% 77.3% 4.7%
71 per cent of residents favour should be of concern,’’ he said. we have to address them’’
de-amalgamation – rising to Across the six regions sur- TOTAL 49.2% 44.7% 5.8% BOB ABBOT, SUNSHINE COAST
97 per cent in the old Noosa veyed, six in 10 people say they
council area. are getting less value for
While most mayors ap- money from their rates.
proached by The Sunday Mail As Redcliffe mayor, Allan
Voters may make Labor pay for mergers
accepted that resident dissatis- Sutherland was one of the
faction levels were high, an strongest opponents of amal-
angry Rockhampton mayor gamations, pushing a wheel-
Brad Carter scoffed at the barrow filled with a
results. 22,000-signature petition COMMENT The survey of six of the biggest They don’t see the cost efficiencies
‘‘The release of the infor- more than 30km to Parlia- Daryl Passmore merged councils, commissioned by The and improved services that they were
mation appears to be an ment House. Now, as Moreton Sunday Mail/LGAQ, clearly shows resi- promised.
agenda for the LGAQ to Bay Mayor, he has become a THE forced amalgamation of local dents’ anger over the decision still burns With councils trying to pay off record
support de-amalgamation and vocal advocate of the benefits. councils was one of the final acts of strongly. debt and unable to borrow more for
support the Opposition in But Moreton Bay residents Peter Beattie’s government, just a People are venting their frustration, capital projects, it is difficult to see how
Queensland,’’ Mr Carter said, registered the most negative month before he retired. It was also, feeling they have been stripped of the ratepayer mood will improve in the
adding his council would re- results in the poll for quality of perhaps, the most disgraceful. individual identities that made their foreseeable future.
view its membership of the council service and value for Three years on, the dictatorial and communities distinct. Voters will have to make their
LGAQ. rates. undemocratic mergers are also proving But they also feel ripped off, perceiv- feelings known at the ballot box. It’s
The LGAQ was fiercely to be costly and ineffective. ing they are paying more for less. called democracy.
opposed to the forced mergers passmored@qnp.newsltd.com.au
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