Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens SC MP has lodged a submission to the delegate chosen to examine the proposed merger of Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Councils.

Mr Henskens’ six page submission acknowledges all sides of the merger debate, having considered all correspondence to his office and all verbal submissions made to two public meetings before the delegate, held in February at Pymble Golf Club.

Mr Henskens’ submission calls for the protection of the character of Ku-ring-gai, regardless of whether a merger proceeds.

“I have also asked the delegate to consider a reworking of the size of any new merged Council to better balance out the population mix between Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby,” Mr Henskens says.

A suggestion is for the area west of Berowra Creek to be excluded from any merger of Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Councils, given its rural nature and the natural geographic boundary the creek creates.

“I have maintained a very close eye on the mood and views of residents in the electorate of Ku-ring-gai on the merger issue” Mr Henskens said.

“Eighty percent (80%) of the electorate I represent are Ku-ring-gai residents and twenty percent (20%) residents of Hornsby Shire and it is well known that there is a difference of opinion to the proposed amalgamation taken by the two Councils.

 “It should be noted that less than one percent (1%) of the enrolled voters in the Ku-ring-gai Electorate phoned or wrote to my office on the amalgamation issue.

“To put that in context, my office has received much stronger responses to contentious planning issues since I have been the member,” Mr Henskens said.

The delegate Mr Garry West will now prepare a report to the Boundaries Commission on the merger issue.