Campbelltown, Liverpool get nod to be stand alone councils

Campbelltown Council says it was always confident it was going to be a stand alone council when amalgamations were given the green light by the Baird Government.

“I always knew that was the case with us here in Campbelltown,’’ said mayor Paul Hawker in response to the announcement that the status quo would be maintained across south west Sydney.

“For us it’s business as usual, and now we will prepare a further submission, as required, for the Fit for the Future process.

“Naturally we are happy that we will continue to be a stand alone council but we were always confident that would be the case when the State Government made its final decision,’ Cr Hawker told the South West Voice just after noon today.

Campbelltown and Liverpool, the two most influential councils in south west Sydney, will continue to stand alone into the future following the announcement.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun was ebullient in his response to the decision.

Cr Mannoun said a massive $13 million turnaround in council’s finances and its vision for the future had been major factors in guaranteeing its independence.

“This is a wonderful win for our community because we retain our independence and identity,” he said. “This is a resounding endorsement of our future from the state government,’’ Cr Mannoun said.

Mr Mannoun said that the rebuilding of council finances and its plans for infrastructure to accommodate population growth in the next decade would continue.

“This council has turned an $8.2 million debt into a $4.6 million dollar surplus in the last financial year,” Mayor Mannoun said.

“The turnaround in finances plus the council’s on-going development successes combined with plans for an airport at Badgerys Creek is making Liverpool a showpiece of Sydney’s Great South West.

“It’s been done with hard work, keeping a careful watch on expenditure and building for the future while working to maintain a high standard of services for our residents.

“The State Government’s decision is a vote of confidence in Liverpool Council and in the people of the Liverpool Government Area.

“It recognises that Liverpool is a city of tomorrow being built today.”

Mayor Mannoun says the Government’s decision to maintain Liverpool Council’s independence ended speculation that it might be forced to merge with Fairfield.

More than half of Liverpool residents surveyed by council on the Fit For The Future reform package said they would prefer to remain independent than merge with a neighbouring council.

“I have no doubt that our financial status played a key part in us showing that Liverpool can deliver the essential services to cope with the expected demand in population growth over the next 10-15 years,” he said.

Council’s total income in 2014-15 was $247 million – up from $185 million the previous year.

Mayor Mannoun had led opposition to the idea of a merger, saying there was ample evidence to show Liverpool had the finances, the vision and the professionalism to stand alone.

“Council put its case to the State Government about standing alone, and to their credit Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Paul Toole have listened to us.”

Mayor Mannoun said while he understood the need to reform government at the local level, Liverpool was already well advanced in building important infrastructure projects to cater for its accelerated population growth.

He said council can now focus on delivering developing Liverpool as the gateway to the Great South West and driving strong economic growth for the future.