Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Parramatta's grand plan to form a new mega council has triggered a neighbourhood feud in western Sydney.
Four of the councils that would be engulfed under the sweeping proposal are digging their heels in and shouting across the back fence: "No dice."
Ryde mayor Bill Pickering did not mince words denouncing the plan as that of a "megalomaniac on steroids. They are like parasites attempting to suck the life-blood out of Ryde".
The bold plan would see the Parramatta local government area expand to take in all of Holroyd, a significant part of Auburn, half of Ryde and some of The Hills and Hornsby.
It would also swallow key economic assets, such as Sydney Olympic Park, Macquarie Business Park and Epping town centre.
The plan will be submitted to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, which is judging whether councils should merge under a state government program to reduce the number of NSW councils.
Holroyd mayor Greg Cummings said he was "staggered" by his much bigger neighbour's plan and the intention was to "wipe Holroyd off the map".
"This proposal breathes of contempt," he said. "We thought we had an understanding with Parramatta. Pick up the phone, give me a call, tell me what you are thinking."
Auburn said the proposal would be "forcefully opposed" and The Hills said it was a case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
Parramatta might yet find a friend in Hornsby Council. Hornsby, which has been dubbed "desperate and dateless" by opponents in its quest to find a merger match, said it is open to discussing the plans.
The NSW government wants Parramatta to be Sydney's second CBD, and the council says the proposal would give it the scale and capacity to drive growth and development in the region. Parramatta would nearly treble its operating revenue and population under the proposed new council area.
"We believe the current scale and capacity of our council makes it difficult to maximise Parramatta's potential as Sydney's dual CBD, and an expanded council should be created with a strong revenue base and improved resources," Parramatta lord mayor Scott Lloyd said.
The plan also calls for the proposed new council to be given legislative powers similar to those of the City of Sydney, so it could have greater control over planning, transport and traffic management.
David Borger, the western sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber, said it was logical to have key economic assets under one authority but did not endorse the specific boundary changes proposed.
Councils must make their submissions on their "fitness for the future" by June 30, with the tribunal due to hand its determination to the state government in October.
