THERE’S a move on in Tenterfield Shire Council to abolish its ward system, but opponents have described the proposal as “a hijacking”.
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Councillors discussed the bold proposal at their last meeting, with six agreeing to back a plan for a referendum on the issue.
Cr Don Forbes tabled the plan to “dispense with” the current ward system, which divides the shire into five areas that each elect two councillors.
The abolition of wards would mean shire voters would elect all their councillors in local government elections from 2020.
Cr Forbes flagged his referendum proposal during discussions on a report into ward boundary changes, catching his fellow councillors by surprise.
He suggested councillors should be “councillors for the whole shire” but Cr Blair Maxwell called the plan a “hijacking of council”.
“I’m a little upset I have to make a decision on the spot; I would have liked to discuss it at greater length,” Cr Maxwell said.
“I’d hate to see councillors from Tenterfield town run things and not be inclusive of the rest of the shire.”
Cr Mary Leahy said having a town-centric council would be a “weakness”.
Cr Forbes said he had “a great deal of faith” in the public making the right decision.
Figures were thrown around about the potential cost of holding a referendum, with Cr Maxwell suggesting it could cost upwards of $100,000.
Those figures were refuted by general manager Lotta Jackson, who said a referendum run in conjunction with an election would cost between $5000 and $10,000.
One held prior to an election could be in the vicinity of $35,000 and $40,000.
Ms Jackson told council that abolishing wards was a “progressive” move, with a number of neighbouring shires having already done away with the practice.
The discussion may be over before it really begins, though, with Cr Maxwell foreshadowing a rescission motion on the referendum plan.