Inner West Council residents will be polled on NSW Local Government election day, 4 December, on whether Inner West Council should de-amalgamate.
Council resolved in June to hold the public poll.
Subsequently, Council voted to commission a cost benefit assessment case, develop a Yes/No case flyer and have the flyer formally fact-checked, it said in a statement today.
The flyer will be distributed to all households. Last night, Council formally endorsed the Yes/No case flyer and the poll question which has been signed off by the NSW Electoral Commission:
‘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?’
“Residents never got the chance to vote on whether they wanted their former Councils of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville forcibly amalgamated into the Inner West Council,” said Inner West Mayor, Rochelle Porteous.
“We want to right this wrong. The citizens of the Inner West should have the opportunity once and for all to have their say.
“What happens after that vote, on Saturday 4 December, will be a matter for the new Council and the Minister for Local Government.
“Residents have a right to have their say on what happens to their local council and I am very pleased that we will finally be able to give them that voice,” said Mayor Porteous.
On Tuesday night, Council formally endorsed the Yes/No case flyer, which they say will be distributed to all residents.
The NSW Government has advised that the costs associated with a de-amalgamation would be fully funded by the state government
For more information on the de-amalgamation poll, go to innerwest.nsw.gov.au/Elections
Inner West de-amalgamation goes to public vote
