City of Launceston has yet to make a public decision on the matter of the state government’s proposal to take over council-owned TasWater.
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The council abstained from voting on the matter at a recent special meeting of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT).
The meeting was held in Launceston on May 11 with representatives from all councils attending. A motion to oppose the state government’s proposal to take over TasWater in 2018 passed at the closed meeting.
City of Launceston and George Town abstained from voting while four councils voted against the motion.
Acting Mayor Rob Soward said the council was concerned local government was being “reactive rather than considered” on the matter.
"The Treasurer is proposing that the transfer of TasWater to the state government occur from 1 July 2018. This is over a year away,” he said.
"The emotion and personalities should be removed from the discussions so we can focus on what is best for our community.”
City of Launceston is the largest shareholder in TasWater and Ald Soward said it also had the challenge of working with state and federal governments to improve the health of the Tamar River.
"We believe that the City of Launceston has the most to gain, and conversely the most to lose in these discussions,” he said.
"We are keen to see the details of the state government's proposal, particularly in relation to addressing the challenges of the combined system and the Tamar estuary.”
Ald Soward said it would be “extremely premature” and irresponsible of the council for it to make any decision until the full details of the plan have been released.
It’s expected more detail about the state government’s proposal will be released in this week’s state budget.
George Town council also abstained from voting on the issue despite attending the meeting this month.
Mayor Bridget Archer said the council had been unable to debate the matter before to the LGAT meeting.
”With the timing of the [LGAT] meeting we still hadn’t been able to resolve the matter as a council,” she said.
She said she didn’t believe the council would make a formal declaration on the subject, describing it as “a bit of a moot point” now the motion had been passed.
“The motion [to oppose] has already passed,” she said.
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