Mayor's Weekly Message

Balgowlah Boys Campus MAD 2014

29 Aug 2014

On Tuesday night this week, I attended the Balgowlah Boys Campus MAD 2014.  MAD (music, art and dance) was nothing short of spectacular.  The performances from the students in Years 7 – 12 entertained the large audience.  The quality of the performances is to be commended.  It was a fantastic concert and my congratulations go to all involved, especially the students who displayed such professionalism.  I won’t be surprised to see any of them following a career in their particular art.  As well as the stage performances, the Art Exhibition was equally remarkable.

 Not only are bigger Councils not better, they’re costlier, too!

The push is on again by Warringah Council to absorb Pittwater and Manly Councils, despite recent research commissioned by the Independent Local Government Review Panel in New South Wales showing that residents across the greater Sydney metropolitan region largely recoil at the notion of Council amalgamations.

Additionally, research by the director of the Centre for Local Government at the University of New England, Professor Brian Dollery, has found that proposals to amalgamate Manly and Pittwater Councils with Warringah Council could cost ‘tens of millions of dollars’ creating ‘a new and entirely unnecessary layer of local government that duplicates existing arrangements in many respects.’

Increasingly, it is clear that larger Councils are not necessarily better for residents and ratepayers - and that forced amalgamations in particular do not improve financial sustainability or customer experience.

Smaller councils are more responsive and less bureaucratic, and the NSW Local Government Act already allows for effective co-governance structures.

Both Manly and Pittwater Councils intend continuing to save residents costs through SHOROC and other such structures. 

Spring fun is in the air

Monday officially marks the start of Spring 2014! Already, the Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Swim Centre is open for the new season, and planning for the popular Manly Arts Festival, Manly Jazz , Retro Ride and other major Spring events is well advanced.

Keep an eye out for Council’s ‘Dream Inspire Grow Manly’ interactive environment education programs, too!

For details, see Council’s website

Jean Hay AM

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