Support for City of Ryde to Stand Alone

The Director
General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6
Parliament House
Macquarie St
Sydney NSW 2000
Fax: (02) 9230 2981

Dear Madam/Sir

Parliamentary Inquiry into the State Government’s Fit for the Future Local Government Reform Agenda-

In my local government area of Ryde the State Government is proposing:

  1. That Ryde be split with one third going to Parramatta, Auburn and Holroyd to make a mega Council for reasons including:
  • The new Council will have a projected 2031 population of 558,500;
  • Close functional interaction and economic/social links between these councils;
  • Need for stronger unified local government to develop Parramatta as the second CBD;
  • Parramatta’s northern boundary is very close to its CBD; relocation to M2 would facilitate planning and improve socio-economic mix and community linkages; and
  • Incorporating part of Ryde would strengthen link between Parramatta and ‘Global Sydney Corridor’ and improve scope for integrated planning around Epping station.
  1. Amalgamation of the remaining two thirds of Ryde with Hunter’s Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby Councils for reasons including:
  • The new Council will have a projected 2031 population of365,400;
  • Close functional interaction and economic/social links between these Councils;
  • Need for integrated planning for major centres, Sydney Harbour foreshores, etc ; and
  • 3 of these Councils are projected to have fewer than 50,000 people in 2031.

As someone who runs a business locally I disagree with the State Government’s approach offorced amalgamations and to split the City of Rydefor these reasons:

  • Amalgamations cost a lot of money, and it is the ratepayerswho will have to pay;
  • Amalgamations will be confusing and distracting and have potential to undermine business confidence and investment andhas not provided any evidence that amalgamations will benefit communities or local businesses;
  • The Government’s proposed split will dissect Macquarie Park, NSW’s second largest commercial centre that continues to grow in economic output and jobs growth for Sydney and NSW. The City of Ryde has carefully planned this commercial centre and this will be jeopardised if it is divided between two mega Councils. The proposed splitting of Ryde seriously puts into question the continuation of the sustained and planned growth that has been achieved under the City Ryde’s stewardship of Macquarie Park;
  • Splitting the City of Ryde will create significant and immediate uncertainty for businesses operating in Ryde and potential investors
  • Existing commercial centres that have been split between two Councils have suffered. Bondi Junction, Epping and Newtown are prime examples, where lack of coordination and strategic focus has impeded development of these Centres;
  • City of Ryde under the leadership of the Council has prospered, the City as a whole, has over 10,000 businesses providing employment for more than 90,000 people, and a Gross Regional Product (GRP), of over $14 billion per annum. In the decade to 2013 Ryde’s GRP grew at an average of 4.35% per annum, compared to the state average of 2.17% over the same period;
  • The Council continues to be efficient and deliver the type of services and infrastructure that the local community and businesses need as demonstrated by the following;
  • $2.5m of efficiency gains being achieved annually
  • $5.9m increase in project expenditure
  • $3.9m increase in asset renewal
  • $1.0m reduction in debt balance
  • $5.6m increase in revenue
  • Total of $8,963,000 on New Projects in 2015/2016
  • The Council approved $441 million worth of developments in 2013-14. And annually assesses over 700 development applications.
  • City of Ryde is a unique blend of five town centres, major three educational facilities, two hospitals, potentially the 4th biggest CBD in Australia, a National Park andis a mix of synergies and diversity that blend together to create a safe, vibrant and balanced community;
  • The State Government’s proposal of dividing Ryde into two, will undo years of collaboration between the Council, the business community and the community at large; and
  • It is not in the public interest to destroy something that is working. City of Ryde has focus, a plan for the future and sound governance to deliver results that the community wants.

State Government’s one size fits-all solution of amalgamations is short sighted, a regressive solution that is inconsistent with its own objective of making NSW number one.

I urge the Committee to give these matters close consideration during its deliberations.

Regards