FAQs - Retention of SVC Brand Post De-amalgamation
- the amount Council may need to borrow; and
- the potential size of any future Special Rate Variation required to repay those costs.
- the amount Council may need to borrow; and
- the potential size of any future Special Rate Variation required to repay those costs.
In Queensland, the Sunshine Coast region includes both Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Shire Council.
In Victoria, the Gippsland region includes six local government areas: Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council, Latrobe City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Wellington Shire Council.
Q: If one Council retains the SVC brand, will the other Council incur the full cost of rebranding?
A: No. Rebranding is considered a cost of de-amalgamation. These costs would be funded through a combination of sources, including potential grant funding (if an application to the Office of Local Government is successful), the current SVC operational budget, or shared loans taken out equally by the newly established Councils.
Q: What are the approximate cost implications of retaining the SVC brand and applying it to one of the new Councils?
A: Council intends to apply to the NSW Government for funding assistance to support the de-amalgamation process.
However, if sufficient grant funding is not provided, Council may need to borrow funds to cover some of the de-amalgamation costs.
Any borrowing would need to be repaid over time. As Council does not currently have sufficient internal funds to absorb these costs, loan repayments may require a future Special Rate Variation (SRV).
An SRV is an increase in council rates that must be approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Reducing de-amalgamation costs — including through retaining the existing Snowy Valleys Council brand for one of the new councils — could reduce:
Q. How does this affect the community financially?
Council intends to apply to the NSW Government for grant funding assistance to support the de-amalgamation process.
However, if sufficient grant funding is not provided, Council may need to borrow funds to cover some of the de-amalgamation costs.
Any borrowing would need to be repaid over time. As Council does not currently have sufficient internal funds to absorb these costs, loan repayments may require a future Special Rate Variation (SRV).
An SRV is an increase in council rates that must be approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Reducing de-amalgamation costs — including through retaining the existing Snowy Valleys Council brand for one of the new councils — could reduce:
Q: If SVC is applied to one Council will the other Council automatically revert to the previous Council name/brand?
A: No. The Community will be consulted on the naming of the new Council(s). If the decision is made to apply the SVC brand to one of the new Councils, the community of the second Council area will be engaged on a preferred name.
Q: If only one of the new Councils retains the use of the SVC brand, will the wider area still be known as the Snowy Valleys?
A: Yes. The regional tourism area will still be known as the Snowy Valleys. Visit Snowy Valleys and all other destination collaterals will remain. The area will just include two local government areas (two governing Councils).
Q: Are there examples elsewhere in Australia where multiple councils share the name of a broader region?
A. Yes. There are several examples across Australia where multiple councils sit within the same geographic region and one council incorporates the regional name.
For example:
Q: Why do we need to decide this now – so early in the de-amalgamation implementation process?
A: Snowy Valleys Council is working to apply for a Grant from the Office of Local Government to offset the costs of de-amalgamation. This grant application must clearly outline, to the best of the Council's ability, the estimated costs associated with de-amalgamating and branding is one of the significant costs to be considered.
Q: How will the decision about retaining the SVC brand be made?
A: The results of the survey will be shared to Council along with an Officer's Recommendation for consideration. The ultimate decision of whether to apply the brand to one of the two new Councils and to which one, will reside with the Elected Councillors.