Sensational-Adelaide.com

Lord Mayor Harbison suggests three 'super councils' to boost economy
July 20, 2008 12:30am
LORD Mayor Michael Harbison has suggested the creation of three "super councils" across Adelaide.

Mr Harbison labelled the existing system of 19 separate metropolitan municipalities as a hindrance to South Australia's progress.
He said three separate councils could represent north, south and central zones to boost the economy, aid planning and increase efficiency.


The State Government indicated it would examine any proposal as long as it had overwhelming community support and would deliver benefits.

Harbison's plan: Three council map

Comment: Bigger is better for all SA

Mr Harbison, 55, this week said the pace of change had been the most frustrating issue for him during his five years in office."Everything takes three times as long as you wish it," he said.

Mr Harbison said councillors from Christchurch visiting Adelaide last year were amazed it had 19 councils.

"They said, `We can't believe you get anything done'.

"And they're right - you can't."

Mr Harbison said the dramatic revamp would give SA a crucial competitive edge.

"We are a small city in a small state. We have to do better than most other places," he said.

He said the councils could be in the north (loosely covering Playford, Salisbury and Gawler), central Adelaide (including Unley, Adelaide, West Torrens and Port Adelaide), and in the south, based on Onkaparinga.

Under his idea, they would be created from scratch rather than one body taking over another.

Mr Harbison acknowledged there would be challenges, such as finding a way to maintain local democracy and how to run the CBD.

He said a solution to the CBD issue would be to manage a separate department within the central council, with sole responsibility for city development. Mr Harbison's concept, based on an idea by 2003 Adelaide thinker in residence Charles Landry, received strong support from Business SA.

Chief executive Peter Vaughan said that "we have held the long-term belief that all metropolitan councils should be amalgamated". "It would reduce duplication of services and improve consistency of planning and other decision-making processes in similar areas," he said.

The State Government said any changes would not be imposed on communities against their will.

Local Government Minister Jennifer Rankine said it was only a couple of weeks ago that an amalgamation between the Adelaide City Council and West Torrens Council "was being proposed without any consultation".

"The Government has maintained a consistent position of no forced local government amalgamations, however we are happy to look at any proposals that have the overwhelming support of the community, as well as delivering significant benefits," she said.

The Opposition took a similar line, local government spokesman Michael Pengelly saying amalgamating councils or creating super councils "should be encouraged by the State Government", but should not be imposed.

"I can see already a number of councils are happy with their lot, ratepayers included, who would say no," he said.

The Local Government Association said there was no evidence big councils were better than small ones.

"Communities are in charge and if communities want to restructure, there is an opportunity to talk to their local councillors," executive director Wendy Campana said.

The control of power in Adelaide has been under scrutiny since the Government this week removed from the city council planning approval powers for projects costing $10 million or more. Describing that decision as "unfortunate", Mr Harbison praised the Government for picking up the pace of state projects.

"The tram project was delivered quickly, but in government things just take forever; that's my biggest frustration," he said.

Shuz wrote:I'm suprised the State Government is maintaining a 'encouragement' policy towards the issue, given that it sort of contradicts their view on transferring planning powers from the ACC to the DAC. If the move has been positive, I see absolutely no reason why they shouldn't force the abolishment of the council system and introduce the 3-councils idea - a good government should maintain the same stance on similar issues, and it would also help in sync with the planning reforms and the ACC development powers transfer.

I should also point out that a lot of ideas 'touted' of late have actually come to fruitition. Here's hoping this follows suit.

Wayno wrote:Merging suburban councils, on the other hand, will put fear into the heart of too many voters. It makes sense and may happen, but not before the next election.

Wayno wrote:i'd like Unley, Mitcham, & Burnside to be merged. So silly to have multiple councils for such a mature area of suburbia.