A NEW tier of local government could address the growing gap between regional cities and smaller shires, the City of Greater Bendigo believes.
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The council floated the idea in a submission to the review of the Local Government Act, suggesting the state consider introducing a regional council layer, and a smaller district council layer.
Under the proposal, the state’s 10 regional city councils – including Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton – would handle key facilities and services for the broader region, while the smaller councils – such as Buloke, Loddon and Strathbogie – would handle local decision-making.
Those smaller councils would sit “within a larger regional area” under the plan.
The submission, signed by mayor Rod Fyffe and endorsed by the council at its December meeting, argued the arrangement could improve services for the state’s smaller councils.
Cr Fyffe said co-ordinating services in a different way could benefit ratepayers.
“We’re trying to find a model for improved co-operation in our region, so that we can achieve better value for money for our ratepayers,” he said.
“The idea hasn’t been fleshed out yet – it’s something that is worthwhile for all players in our region to sort out.
“All councils are grappling with increased service delivery costs, and an increase in the number of services, while revenues are not increasing to meet these costs.”
The submission explains larger regional councils could share services that might not otherwise be available to smaller councils.
The idea was yet to be raised with smaller councils surrounding Bendigo.
Loddon Shire mayor Neil Beattie said he was “wary” of any concept that took autonomy away from regional shires.
Cr Beattie said the region’s councils already worked well together to share services.
“We have done a lot of work in improving the way we share services. Councils already share these services in this way,” he said.
“I thought what we had at the moment worked quite well.
“Without much more detail, I initially would not support the idea.”
Cr Beattie said any ideas that could impact smaller shires should be raised at the Loddon-Campaspe rural meeting, chaired by City of Greater Bendigo mayor Rod Fyffe.
Smaller rural shires have consistently opposed the state government’s plan to cap council rates, fearing a rising asset renewal gap would only be worsened under the proposal.
Launched last year, the review of local government is the first in 25 years. The last review resulted in the amalgamation of councils throughout Victoria, led by the Kennett government.
It is expected to be complete by 2017.
