As mentioned previously in these monthly reports, September is the time that the Tasman,
Sorell, Clarence and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council’s will receive the final report from KPMG
on the investigations of the possibility of merging the four Councils. The Minister set out
four principals that must be applied when considering all the options, these are:
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be in the best interests of ratepayers;
improve the level of services for communities;
preserve and maintain local representation; and
ensure that the financial status of the entities is strengthened.
It’s been a while since I mentioned the merger options, in case you have forgotten they are:
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a merger of all four Councils;
merger of Clarence, Sorell and Tasman;
merger of Sorell and Tasman; or
merger of Sorell, Tasman and Glamorgan Spring Bay.
Shared services forms part of the consultants scope and is also being considered as another
option. Tasman has been involved with numerous Councils for many years providing and
receiving services on commercial terms ie: that take into account employee costs, on-costs
and a profit margin tied to function levels and length of engagement.
When the KPMG report is received and absorbed by the respective Council’s, the next step
of how we collectively proceed with the community consultation will be determined and
progressed. I am not sure yet when this will happen given Clarence are also engaged in a
separate merger modelling project with Hobart, Glenorcy and Kingborough utilising
different consultants. The timing and method of consultation will be determined over the
next few weeks and I expect it will occur before the end of the year – you can be assured
you will have an opportunity to have your say.
Tasman Councillors received an update from Lucy Burke-Smith and Dr Jane Harrington from
PASHMA on the progress of the re-design/extension of the Visitor Centre at the Historic
Site. Tasman Council has received the development application and the Site is hoping, when
all approvals are received, that the Visitor Centre will be completed and open by Christmas
2017.
There is a real increase in activity, focus and positivity across the municipality that is
wonderful to be part of. Council are responding in due course with our advocacy and
engagement at the state and federal political level to ensure where we can that current
projects continue to receive the required support and awareness and future projects and
opportunities are not missed. With the success of the 3CT and further PWS investment in
Cape Raoul / Shipsterns Bluff, Federal hotels redevelopment of the Comfort Inn, continued
investment by PAHSMA and Tassal, strategically significant property transactions, Huon
Regional Services (Eldercare) taking over management of the THCS (MPS), renewed focus on
the Remarkable Lodge development being completed at Safety Cove, further development
and expansion of private tourism operations, we have a lot to look forward to but also need
to be sure we are managing this level of activity appropriately.
Our dealings at the Federal level have largely been focused on working out the machinations
of a Liberal Coalition government and Lyons Labor member and how their various election
commitments are going to be honoured and rolled out when the relevant Federal agencies
are also still determining their operational focus.
Councillor Dave MacDonald surprised us all by resigning from Council on the 24th August at
our monthly workshop and accordingly excused himself from attending the following
Council meeting that afternoon. Dave stated that his business commitments did not give
him the time to dedicate to Council to carry out his duties to the full extent he considers
appropriate. We would like to wish Dave all the best and thank him for his two years as a
Councillor.
The Council has informed the Tasmanian Electoral Commission of the
resignation and they will, in due course, follow their process to fill the vacant position.