The Inner West votes to Deamalgamate

On December 4, the Inner West Council put a Poll question to the electorate alongside the election of new councillors. Though the vote is not binding on council the result was a clear message.

The Poll Question:								In May 2016, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils were amalgamated into one local government area by the State Government. Do you support the Inner West local government area being de-amalgamated, so as to restore the former local government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville?

Voter Turnout: 80.73% Informal Rate: 2.55%

Results are available at https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2101/inner-west/results

A cost benefit analysis was prepared and a yes and no case were distributed to every voter and translated into various languages.

From Council Website:

At the election, Inner West citizens will also be asked:

“In May 2016, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils were amalgamated into one local government area by the State Government.

Do you support the Inner West local government area being de-amalgamated, so as to restore the former local government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville?”

On 8 June 2021, Council resolved to conduct the poll. The new elected Council will receive the results and determine how to proceed.

Inner West Council commissioned Morrison Low to undertake a high-level cost benefit assessment case, to identify the benefits and costs of a potential de-amalgamation of the Inner West Council into its former councils of Ashfield Council, Leichhardt Council and Marrickville Council.

Cost benefit report

• Read the Full de-amalgamation cost benefit report (PDF 1.5MB) here
• Read the Summary de-amalgamation cost benefit report (PDF 154.8KB)

Letter from NSW Coordinator General, Planning Delivery and Local Government

• Read the letter from Kiersten Fishburn, Coordinator General, Planning Delivery and Local Government to Peter Gainsford, General Manager, Inner West Council (PDF 60.7KB)

Translated information in community languages

• Chinese Simplified – 简体中文 (PDF 179.7KB)
• Chinese Traditional – 繁体中文 (PDF 195.1KB)
• Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt (PDF 73.4KB)
• Greek (PDF 69.2KB) 
• Italian (PDF 69.7KB)

 Source: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/the-council/council-elections

Yes and No votes at each polling place including iVotes and Postal

 

 

Background

The amalgamation has been expensive and hasn't worked. https://www.governmentnews.com.au/research-reveals-true-cost-of-amalgamation/

 

May 2019: Workforce reform in three amalgamated councils https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/workforce-reform-in-three-amalgamated-councils