Merging NSW local councils adopt transition tool

Three of the 19 new merging NSW local councils have agreed to use a merger transition tool developed by CAMMS for Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW.

The tool is designed to allow for merger planning, risk management assessments and the ability to model different options, while highlighting gaps in capacity and future needs. It is also designed to provide an understanding of the skills and capacities of the local government workforce.

Business intelligence company CAMMS worked with Local Government Professionals, NSW to ensure the services are tailor made for the merger transition process.

So far the recently merged Queanbeyan-Palerang Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council and Western Plains Regional Council have adopted the tool.

Local Government Professionals Australia, NSW CEO Annalisa Haskell said that because the government’s merger timeline for local councils calls for all service reviews to be completed by September, more merged councils are expected to follow suit.

“As we know, bringing different organisations together is exceptionally complex and it’s hard to do well,” she said.

“Together with business intelligence firm CAMMS, we have been able to utilise our grass roots understanding of the sector to deliver a tool with analytical rigour not seen before.”

Local Government Professionals is a national federation of associations representing all local government professionals.