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Separation anxiety: an empirical evaluation of the Australian Sunshine Coast Regional Council de-amalgamation

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  • Joseph Drew
  • Brian Dollery

Abstract

As part of the broader Queensland local government amalgamation programme, in 2008 Noosa Shire Council, Caloundra City Council and Maroochy Shire Council were compulsorily merged into a new Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Five years on, unyielding public opposition and a new Queensland Government has secured deamalgamation of Noosa Shire from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Given the almost complete absence of empirical literature on municipal de-amalgamation, the Noosa case provides a rare opportunity to empirically assess a de-amalgamation process. Accordingly, this paper provides a critical evaluation of the de-amalgamation analysis prepared by the Queensland Treasury Corporation. Far from placating residents, the de-amalgamation plans are likely to provoke further acrimony due not only to equity problems, but also a lack of democratic representation on key decisionmaking bodies. On a broader level, this case study serves as a template for the theory and practice associated with any municipal de-amalgamation-either in Australia or abroad .

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Drew & Brian Dollery, 2014. "Separation anxiety: an empirical evaluation of the Australian Sunshine Coast Regional Council de-amalgamation," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 213-220, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmmg:v:34:y:2014:i:3:p:213-220
    DOI: 10.1080/09540962.2014.908032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Faulk, Dagney Gail & Hicks, Michael J. & Cebula, Richard J., 2011. "Book Review: Local Government Consolidation in the United States," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-1.
    2. Brian E. Dollery & Joseph Garcea & Edward C. LeSage Jr (ed.), 2008. "Local Government Reform," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12592.
    3. Brian E. Dollery & Lorenzo Robotti (ed.), 2008. "The Theory and Practice of Local Government Reform," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12719.
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    1. Dollery, Brian & Drew, Joseph, 2017. "Paying the piper: A critical examination of ACIL Allen’s (2016) An Economic Assessment of Recasting Council Boundaries in South Australia," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 74-82.

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