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Local Government Board

The Board is a statutory body established under the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act).

The Act provides that the role of the Board is:

  • to conduct a general review of each council at least once every eight years
  • to conduct supplementary and specific reviews of councils that concentrate on a specific topic or topics at the request of the Minister for Local Government
  • to carry out reviews of single and joint authorities
  • to provided general advice to the Minister at his or her request.

Under Section 210(2) of the Act, the Board consists of:

  • the chairperson
  • one person nominated by the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT)
  • one person nominated by the Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) (Tasmanian Branch)
  • one person with experience in local government
  • the Director of Local Government or his or her nominee.

Further details of the current Board are available on the Board Members page.

During 2008-09 the operations and functions of the Board were reviewed as part of the Stronger Councils Better Services initiative overseen by the Premier's Local Government Council. As a result, amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 were prepared, aiming to make the Board more strategic and expertise-based. Both houses of Parliament passed the amendments in early 2009. It is intended that the amendments to the Act will be commenced by proclamation in the first half of 2010 once the current Board has completed its work.

Current work program of the Board

Voluntary mergers of Tasmanian councils: consultation on guiding principles

The Local Government Board has been asked by the Minister to recommend principles to provide guidance for voluntary mergers of Tasmanian councils. These will include principles in respect to the transitional process for mergers and other measures to enhance council sustainability and the delivery of services.

The Board is seeking public input and has prepared a consultation paper to inform submissions.

Review into a potential voluntary merger between Break O'Day and Glamorgan-Spring Bay councils

In May 2009, the Minister for Local Government requested that the Board investigate the benefits and impacts of a voluntary merger between the Break O'Day and Glamorgan-Spring Bay Councils under the Local Government Act 1993. This review commenced on 3 July 2009. The Board provided its draft report to the Minister on 29 October 2009. The Minister also requested that the Board consider guiding principles to provide insight for future voluntary mergers of other councils.

What was the review about?

The Board examined the social, economic and environmental benefits and impacts of the potential merger, community representation, costs associated with the potential merger, transitional arrangements and other measures to enhance council sustainability and the delivery of council services. Submissions to the review closed Friday 31 July 2009.

Find out more about the recent review

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