The Time to be Heard

It has been an extremely busy start to the year for Council. While all our normal services have been continuing through the summer break Council has also been dealing with the Merger Proposal announced by the NSW Government on 6 January.

This Merger Proposal, which proposes the amalgamation of Mosman with Manly and part of Warringah local government areas with a total population of over 150,000 people, has come as quite a surprise and is certainly not something our community has previously had the opportunity to comment on.

Council will obviously be responding to the Merger Proposal and we will have the previously-voiced views of our community regarding amalgamation top-of-mind when we do. What is just as important, however, is that Mosman residents and ratepayers also take this one-and-only chance themselves to respond to the proposal. There will be no further formal opportunity to have your say after the Government’s final deadline for written submissions on Sunday 28 February 2016.

More immediately, there is also the opportunity for interested residents and ratepayers to have their voices heard on the Merger Proposal at a Public Inquiry being held at Manly Golf Club on Tuesday 2 February 2016. The meeting will be held over two sessions – from 1pm-5pm and 7pm-10pm. I urge anyone who values Mosman’s future to consider speaking at the Public Inquiry, or to simply attend in support of others. Free buses will be leaving Mosman to travel to and from both sessions.

Please note that if you wish to attend or speak at the Inquiry you do need to register – for speakers this closes at 12 noon on Friday 29 January.

The Merger Proposal document, together with all details about Public Inquiry registration, bus transportation and making written submissions are on Council’s website.

Let’s ensure that this final chance to be heard does not go to waste.