Tasmania’s Northern Midlands Council has vowed to fight any changes to its present boundaries or mergers with neighbouring councils.
Mayor, Mary Knowles says it is Council’s view that Northern Midlands residents would be severely disadvantaged under all the proposed scenarios presented in the Tasmanian Government’s Local Government Review.
“Local representation would be weakened or lost entirely, and our municipality would lose its identity forever,” Mayor Knowles said.
She said that under all scenarios proposed in the Review, Northern Midlands municipality would cease to exist.
“Rates for all residents would also likely rise following a merger. If we merged with Launceston residential rates would very likely rise to their level.”
“As an example, for a property with a government valuation (capital value) of $600,000.00, a Launceston ratepayer currently pays total rates of $2,004.10 compared to $1,492.19 for a property of the same value in Northern Midlands – a difference of $511.91.”
Mayor Knowles said that if Northern Midlands was merged with Southern Midlands, Central Highlands or Meander Valley it would lose a large part of its industrial and business sectors, putting a greater burden on rural properties as well as residential ratepayers.
“I feel for the residents in the smaller rural towns and the farming community, who would be impacted by a loss of rate base,” she said.
“Council has resolved to fight any attempt to abolish Northern Midlands and to protect the democratic and financial interests of our residents.”
The Mayor said the fight against forced mergers would include a media and social media campaign, posters and banners, community surveys and direct mail to residents to provide information.
“If, despite our efforts, the State Government decides to pursue forced amalgamations, then our Council has resolved to look at a merger of Northern Midlands and Meander Valley in their entirety – that is, with no loss of industrial and business sectors, such as the Launceston Airport TransLink Precinct to Launceston City.”
Mayor Knowles said that of all the neighbouring municipalities, Meander Valley shared the most similar community of interest.
“There are continued opportunities for resource sharing across our two councils and, in this way, all the current assets, strategic plans, corporate knowledge, staff and our strong financial position would be retained,” she said.
