{"id":254,"date":"2015-05-14T01:56:14","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T01:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/?p=254"},"modified":"2015-05-17T13:10:48","modified_gmt":"2015-05-17T13:10:48","slug":"five-reasons-sydney-council-amalgamations-will-improve-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/five-reasons-sydney-council-amalgamations-will-improve-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Five reasons Sydney Mega Councils might improve your life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With so many councils trying to block the NSW Government&#8217;s push for amalgamation and claiming mega councils will be the end of local democracy, \u00a0we thought we would look at the contrary position. \u00a0Here are five reasons mega councils could improve things for most citizens.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Lower rates\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nConsolidating staff and \u00a0service infrastructure will reduce operating costs which should flow through to lower rates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/imgres-9.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-326\" alt=\"imgres-9\" src=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/imgres-9.jpg\" width=\"299\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Improved service<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mega councils are able to invest in improved systems, more professional management and more skilled specialist staff.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/imgres-10.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-327\" alt=\"imgres-10\" src=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/imgres-10.jpg\" width=\"299\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Breakthroughs in electronic service delivery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mega councils will find it easier to implement up-to-date integrated information and customer service systems. \u00a0The digital revolution removes the need \u00a0to duplicate council administrative offices as \u00a0small customer service branches can be supported remotely from a single administrative hub. \u00a0 Today, there is also less need for face-to-face services as many council functions can be delivered remotely via web interfaces. \u00a0For example, imagine being able instantly to view all current planning applications affecting your property and neighbourhood or being able to search an address and see exactly what development is permitted. \u00a0Not hard to do technically, but too hard for our current small councils.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Better strategic planning<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">Australian cities have to adapt to the faster past of growth and innovation in today&#8217;s society and that demands long term vision and effective execution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">Right now, every small council has its own view of the world and may not wish to collaborate with its neighbours or State Government regarding strategic infrastructure provision and growth planning. This is holding everyone back. Related to this is the opportunity to create more functional administrative boundaries for the new councils.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/images-12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-322\" alt=\"images-12\" src=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/images-12.jpg\" width=\"299\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>5 Better neighbourhoods<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reduction in conflict over strategic planning will enable more effective action at the local neighbourhood level. \u00a0Better cities and better regions are made up of better streets. A well implemented mega council should provide for local precincts and local consultation while having more capability to take a big picture view, \u00a0resolve conflicts and move forward.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_325\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/CA_aTIyUMAAOYdF-1.png\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-325\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-325  \" alt=\"CA_aTIyUMAAOYdF-1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/CA_aTIyUMAAOYdF-1-300x225.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/CA_aTIyUMAAOYdF-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/CA_aTIyUMAAOYdF-1.png 807w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-325\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Vulnerability to transport stress in Sydney in the absence of more efficient infrastructure.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With so many councils trying to block the NSW Government&#8217;s push for amalgamation and claiming mega councils will be the end of local democracy, \u00a0we thought we would look at the contrary position. \u00a0Here are five reasons mega councils could improve things for most citizens. 1. Lower rates\u00a0 Consolidating staff and \u00a0service infrastructure will reduce [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[4,6,5],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.13 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five reasons Sydney Mega Councils might improve your life - Microburbs Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.microburbs.com.au\/blog\/five-reasons-sydney-council-amalgamations-will-improve-your-life\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Five reasons Sydney Mega Councils might improve your life - Microburbs Blog\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"With so many councils trying to block the NSW Government&#8217;s push for amalgamation and claiming mega councils will be the end of local democracy, \u00a0we thought we would look at the contrary position. \u00a0Here are five reasons mega councils could improve things for most citizens. 1. 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