On 27 August 1986, Sutherland
Council called a meeting to express its concern with regional
planning mechanisms being imposed on local government without
consultation. Elected representatives from Rockdale, Hurstville,
Kogarah, Marrickville, Canterbury and Sutherland Councils attended
the meeting.
A discussion paper prepared by Sutherland Council stated:
"The need for a regional organisation of councils in the
Botany Bay region has never been more apparent.
"The Botany Bay region has much of its employment tied up in
declining sectors, and has a disproportionate share of hazardous
and offensive industry. It has some of the lowest environmental
standards in the metropolis and serious social problems.
"The only way these problems will be addressed is through
effective lobbying at the State and Federal levels."
The six Councils in attendance resolved to form the Southern
Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils to represent those at the
meeting, as well as Bankstown, Botany and Randwick Councils.
Membership
There have been changes to the original membership of SSROC.
Waverley Council joined the organisation in 1987, South Sydney in
1989, and Woollahra in 1992. Bankstown left SSROC in 2002 to join
Western Sydney ROC.
In February 2008, four more Councils joined the
organisation. These Councils, Ashfield, Canada Bay, Burwood
and Leichhardt, were formally endorsed as members.
In November 2008, Bankstown City Council was formally endorsed
as a member, bringing the number of member Councils to
sixteen.