Shared service models in Australian local government: the fragmentation of the New England Strategic Alliance 5 years on

Article

Conway, Mary-Louise, Dollery, Brian and Grant, Bligh. 2011. "Shared service models in Australian local government: the fragmentation of the New England Strategic Alliance 5 years on ." Australian Geographer. 42 (2), pp. 207-223. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2011.570232

Article Title	Shared service models in Australian local government: the fragmentation of the New England Strategic Alliance 5 years on
ERA Journal ID	2002
Article Category	Article
Authors	Conway, Mary-Louise (Author), Dollery, Brian (Author) and Grant, Bligh (Author)
Journal Title	Australian Geographer
Journal Citation	42 (2), pp. 207-223
Number of Pages	17
Year	2011
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
Place of Publication	Sydney, Australia
ISSN	0004-9182
	1465-3311
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2011.570232
Abstract	In 2004, the New England Strategic Alliance of Councils (NESAC) was formed in a successful effort by its member municipalities to avoid forced amalgamation by the NSW government in its (then) program of compulsory council consolidation. The Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha Councils, as well as the New England Weeds County Council, formed a 'strategic alliance' under the auspices of NESAC. Over the past 5 years this alliance of councils has developed a model of shared service provision. However, in early 2009, the Walcha Shire Council dramatically announced that it would leave NESAC. This momentous decision raises several interesting questions and may have broader lessons for shared service provision in Australian local government. This paper thus seeks to augment the existing embryonic literature on shared services in Australian local government by analysing the withdrawal of the Walcha Shire Council from NESAC through interviews with the general managers and mayors of the participating organisations.
Keywords	local government amalgamation; New England Strategic Alliance; shared services
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020	380118. Urban and regional economics
	440801. Australian government and politics
	440708. Public administration
Public Notes	Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.
Byline Affiliations	University of New England
Institution of Origin	University of Southern Queensland

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