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EXCLUSIVE: Rates anger over failed mergers

THESUNDAYMAIL.COM.AU

THE MIRRENEFFECTU MAGAZINEINSIDE TODAY

Daryl Passmoreand Kelmeny Fraser

THE forced merger of Queens-land councils has turned out tobe an expensive flop.

A Sunday Mail investigationhas found councils have rackedup record levels of debt while

hitting residents with ratesincreases of up to 30 per centsince amalgamations threeyears ago.

And ratepayers are set to besmashed again, forced to pickup an enormous tab to scrapsoutheast Queensland’s waterretail companies.

Councils predict the cost ofimplementing Premier AnnaBligh’s sudden backflip onwater reforms could reach$300 million.

Most ratepayers believe theperformance of their localcouncil has deteriorated sincethe mergers, with total council

debt tripling to $6 billion.LNP leader Campbell New-

man says he would considerallowing Noosa and Port Doug-las to break away from theirregional councils..

Mergers under fireSPECIAL REPORT P9-11