Outgoing Mayor of Warringah, Michael Regan has praised the NSW Government’s announcement that Warringah, Pittwater and Manly will be merged to form a new northern beaches council.

‘This is a pioneering reform that will benefit the northern beaches community for generations,’ said Michael Regan.

‘I would like to congratulate and thank all the people who spoke up against the division of the northern beaches and Mosman into two councils. You are brave and inspiring and a credit to all of us.

‘I would also like to thank the NSW Government for listening to the community and taking the difficult decision to create genuine reform. There will always be critics and people who are frightened of change. But, together, we have shown (and will prove) that proper reform can create a better future.

‘We now have the opportunity to start building the best possible council for the future.

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new organisation that is stronger and more efficient that will meet the future needs of our community from Barrenjoey to North Head.

‘We will work with the northern beaches community to develop the vision and governance structure of the new organisation.

‘It’s important we ensure our individual communities and unique suburbs will remain and be strengthened by new governance models.

‘As the popularly elected, independent Mayor of Warringah’s 155,000 people, I look forward to working with the administrator and our new colleagues at Manly and Pittwater to ensure the smoothest transition possible.’