What your ‘yes’ vote will mean after new chance in 2014
IF NOOSA votes "yes" in the March de-amalgamation referendum there will be a nine month phase-in run by an appointed CEO, who would organise new council elections later in 2013.
The new Noosa mayor and councillors would take back the reins of power on January 1, 2014.
This was the schedule outlined last week by Local Government Minister David Crisafulli, if there were to be a new Noosa Council.
"I have tried to give every opportunity to make this work," Mr Crisafulli said.
"IT'S my intention to take this to a vote in March.
"I believe that 50% plus one is a majority, but I'd make it very, very clear that it will be a compulsory vote. We want people to understand that this is not the local meat tray raffle.
"This is the real deal - this is a huge decision and I want to make sure that everyone turns up and casts their vote."
The minister said a "yes" vote would trigger "a transition period".
"A new council would start on January 1 and I think that's a clean break. It's the middle of the financial year.
"There'd be a transition period of about nine months, in which a CEO, who would be appointed, would actually oversee the reconstitution of that council.
"So, making sure that local laws are in place, making sure people can pay their bills from day one, that the bins get picked up, that the phones can be answered."
Mr Crisafulli said the de-amalgamation process was "not for the faint-hearted".
"There is some hard work ahead but it can be done. There are costs involved and unfortunately the bulk of the costs are in the area of information technology.
"It's not a case of just plugging a computer in the wall and starting again."
And Mr Crisafulli blamed the previous Labor Government, which announced forced amalgamations of the Noosa, Maroochy and Caloundra councils in 2007, for adding to the financial burden.
"Five years ago, these costs weren't on the table but you've had an amalgamated council that has put in significant costs," he said.
"But it's up to the community to decide whether or not that financial pain is worth the community gain."
