Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has decided in favour of having a seat at the table of a joint organisation.
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Councillors added a number of safeguards to their decision.
The council’s decision to participate in a joint organisation will be reviewed against the goals of additional investment to the region and substantial benefit and significant cost savings to councils.
That will occur within 24 months of the joint organisation’s commencement.
The vote was carried 7/2 with Cr Mike Cusato and Cr Geoff Hawkins voting against.
Joint organisations will focus on strategic planning and priority setting, intergovernmental collaboration, and regional leadership and advocacy.
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said she was reluctant to go into this process but the motion safeguarded the council’s position and still allowed the council to put its toe in the water.
“We would be remiss in our responsibility, I believe, if we did not put the provisos in there that we have included,” she said.
Cr Mike Cusato spoke against joining a joint organisation.
“I have no idea how this is going to help our community,” he said.
“It just, in layman’s terms, is not going to work.
“Our local government area is not Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, the Clarence or Nambucca.
“We don’t live there, we live here.”
Cr Justin Levido said he believed that being involved and present at the birth, the council could bring its expertise to assist a joint organisation to be the best for the region, and in a roundabout way, the best for the Port Macquarie-Hastings.
“I do believe we need to put some very clear guidelines on it,” he said.
Cr Geoff Hawkins said collaboration was good but he raised concerns about the council not being in control of exiting the joint organisation, if needed, and lack of details around the initiative.
Cr Hawkins said he could not support a move to join the joint organisation.
Mayor Peta Pinson spoke in favour of joining a joint organisation.
“If we don’t come to the table, we may not get fed,” she said.
“I support joining the joint organisation for that reason.”
Cr Peter Alley said he believed there were sufficient boundaries to protect the council and he believed the council would benefit from being part of a joint organisation.
Cr Rob Turner said points five to nine in the motion were an attempt to mitigate the downsides.
Joint organisations are a state government initiative.
Councils across the state have until March 23 to submit nominations to be part of a joint organisation.
Membership is voluntary.