Shoalhaven : Kiama merger a financial disaster

map from http://www.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Regional%20and%20Sydney%20Merger%20-%20Fact%20Sheets.pdf
 

Kiama / Shoalhaven Amalgamation :

Baird’s Bad Economics don’t add up and cost us democracy and local input.

“What is now absolutely clear to me is that Mikes math makes no sense” said Findley after the meeting of Shoalhaven Council on Monday night.

 “The State Government is like a python, squeezing Council services to death with this year’s proposed rate increase of 1.3% which doesn’t even cover wage increases, running Shoalhaven Council down and then forcing amalgamation on us regardless”.

 “ I asked the General Manager what the Shoalhaven expected to raise from its planned rate rises over the coming 4 years  and was advised that it was expected to net $21 million on current rates.”

“ At the current level of Council operations - Shoalhaven City Council needs to raise $21million to offer the current level of services and infrastructure.” 

“That $21million will not be raised under the State Governments amalgamation plan as they will freeze rates and give Councils $10million as compensation.”

 “Shoalhaven will be effectively in deficit $11million after the amalgamation and Kiama is expected to have similar projections.”

“This amalgamation isn’t about saving the ratepayer money; it’s about centralising power with the Liberal party, making the Liberal party look good because it transferred rate rises to future generations and removing representation from the community”

“With fewer Councillors in the way, we can expect unsustainable development over agricultural land and becoming another suburb of Shellharbour and corporate developers will be championed.”

 “The NSW State Liberal party are looking to get a better return on their Princes Highway investment and this is how they will achieve it – by throwing out Council’s and the respective Councillors that get in their way and developers way.”

“The State Government wants Shoalhaven and Kiama to amalgamate by 2016 /2017 and have promised no rate increases. To achieve no increases the State Government propose a rate freeze. When the freeze is finished we will have fewer services, less infrastructure, more debt and require higher rates than ever before”.

 “If anyone should be sacked it should be the State Government for grossly misleading the community into thinking that its amalgamation plan will save money in the long run when clearly it won’t!”

“The Shoalhaven was declared Fit for the Future on scale and capacity meaning we are already large enough. People already feel like they don’t get effective representation and that will get worse under an amalgamated Council.”

“Kiama ratepayers pay much more than the Shoalhaven and we do not want the rate burden from these ratepayers transferred to our towns and villages that already struggle.”

“The State Government has left the North Coast alone. The North Coast has recently dumped the Liberal party over Coal Seam Gas issue’s and elected The Greens, seems they are concerned about further alienating themselves. ”

“The Shoalhaven is traditionally a strong Liberal area and the State Government is taking this support for granted and expect little kick back from our community keeping their big corporate mates happy.”

"If our community fail to have their say-then Mayor Gash will most likely get behind the proposal as she has not ruled it out".