Tamar Valley Council talks hault

On Wednesday, West Tamar and George Town councils held special closed council meetings. 

West Tamar councillors voted unanimously to release a KPMG report to the public and to continue with community consultation, if George Town did the same. 

However, seven George Town councillors voted against the motion, councillor Doug Bert was not at the meeting and mayor Bridget Archer was the only person to vote in favour of the consultation. 

“The council has resolved to release the report, but not to enter into community consultation,” councillor Archer said.  

West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl said the decision effectively brought the matter to a close. 

“There will be no further discussions about the merger of the two municipalities,” she said.

The report showed there were some “very beneficial” findings for a merger, with the council to save $1.3 million annually once the merger was completed and would improve the region over 10 years. 

“We believe this merger was going to enhance and strengthen the services that both the councils provide,” Cr Holmdahl said. 

She said the council would not consider any mergers with other councils as George Town was “almost the perfect community of interest”. 

Cr Archer said she did not anticipate George Town would consider other mergers on the back of this decision. 

“And, with a decision not to proceed to community consultation we don’t know what our community believe might be appropriate,” she said. “However, should a proposal come forward, I would imagine it would be debated on its merits.” 

George Town councillor John Glisson said a reason he did not vote for the motion was because “the report itself didn’t reflect the true position of council”. 

“I think before taking anything out to the public … we needed a lot more information,” he said. 

The KPMG report cost $80,000. The cost split 50-50 by the state government, and the two councils.