Inner West to vote whether or not to de-amalgamate

Thursday 14 October 2021

Inner West residents will be polled on NSW Local Government election day 4 December 2021 on whether Inner West Council should de-amalgamate.

Council resolved in June to hold the poll.

Subsequently, Council voted to commission a cost benefit assessment case, develop a Yes No case flyer and have the flyer formally fact-checked.

The flyer will be distributed to all households. Last night, Council formally endorsed the Yes and No case flyer and the poll question which has been signed off by the NSW Electoral Commission:

“In May 2016, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils were amalgamated into one local government area by the State Government. Do you support the Inner West local government area being de-amalgamated, so as to restore the former local government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville?”

“Residents never got the chance to vote on whether they wanted their former Councils of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville forcibly amalgamated into the Inner West Council,” said Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous.

“We want to right this wrong. The citizens of the Inner West should have the opportunity once and for all to have their say.

“What happens after that vote, on Saturday 4 December, will be a matter for the new Council and the Minister for Local Government.

“Residents have a right to have their say on what happens to their local council and I am very pleased that we will finally be able to give them that voice,” said Mayor Porteous.

On Tuesday night, Council formally endorsed the Yes and No case flyer which will be distributed to all residents.

The NSW Government has said that the costs associated with a de-amalgamation would be fully funded by the NSW State Government

For more information on the de-amalgamation poll, go to innerwest.nsw.gov.au/Elections

For media enquiries, contact Name  on Elizabeth Heath, Media and Communications Coordinator, 9392 5334 or Elizabeth.Heath@innerwest.nsw.gov.au