The document is about forced council mergers in Queensland that have resulted in expensive failures and rate increases for residents. An investigation found councils have taken on record levels of debt while increasing rates by up to 30%, dissatisfying residents. Dismantling the merged water companies is estimated to cost $300 million. Most ratepayers believe council performance has declined since the mergers.

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EXCLUSIVE: Rates anger over failed mergers
SUPER
THE
MIRREN
EFFECT
U MAGAZINE
FLOPS
Daryl Passmore
and Kelmeny Fraser
THE forced merger of Queens-
land councils has turned out to
be an expensive flop.
A Sunday Mail investigation
hitting residents with rates
increases of up to 30 per cent
since amalgamations three
years ago.
And ratepayers are set to be
smashed again, forced to pick
up an enormous tab to scrap
Councils predict the cost of
implementing Premier Anna
Bligh’s sudden backflip on
water reforms could reach
$300 million.
Most ratepayers believe the
performance of their local
debt tripling to $6 billion.
LNP leader Campbell New-
man says he would consider
allowing Noosa and Port Doug-
las to break away from their
regional councils..
INSIDE
has found councils have racked southeast Queensland’s water council has deteriorated since Mergers under fire
up record levels of debt while retail companies. the mergers, with total council SPECIAL REPORT P9-11
TODAY YOUNG LIVES LOST IN SICKENING CAR CRASH P4-5
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