Glen Innes is looking fit for the future in terms of economic sustainability as the deadline for council’s long term financial action plan approaches on June 30.
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Glen Innes Severn Council’s general manager Hein Basson said the Fit for the Future proposal, which has been a returning topic of debate at recent general council meetings is primarily about local government areas across the state demonstrating their long term sustainability.
“Around 2012, all the councils met in Dubbo and the Minister of Local Government at the time was quite clear that it was not an option to remain as we are—that local government as a sector needed change,” he said this week.
Since that time, he said Council has been driven by the recommendations made through the NSW office of local government and numerous independent review panels, to show that Glen Innes Severn can sustainably service the local area as a stand-alone council.
“Financial sustainability is one of the important things that came about,” he said.
“The other thing that we need to be able to demonstrate is that we have the scale and capacity firstly to serve our own community well, secondly to collaborate with our neighbours and within our region and thirdly to collaborate with the state government.
As well, we need to be able to demonstrate that we are able to provide effective and efficient services into the future as well.
- Hein Basson
“As well, we need to be able to demonstrate that we are able to provide effective and efficient services into the future as well.”
Glen Innes Severn has been earmarked for reassessment by 2020, but Mr Basson believed council had compiled a strong application toward financial sustainability, meeting all but one of the independently identified markers in the Fit for the Future plan.
“Our draft proposal that is currently on public display clearly shows to my mind that we are,” Mr Basson said when asked if Glen Innes Severn Council was fit for the future.
“It clearly shows how we will meet six of those seven indicators, our action plan, our long term financial plan over the next 10 years.”
During the reassessment in 2020, independent panels may consider a merger with a surrounding council, however Mr Basson said Council has built a strong case against amalgamation.
“That is not on the cards for us at this point in time,” he said.
Council will submit its detailed proposal on June 30 for reassessment and, for all intents and purpose, Mr Basson said funds injected from the recent special rates variation and Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme (LIRS) loans are looking toward a sustainable future.
