Sharing councils reap financial benefits

A group of Tasmanian councils have saved more than $1.2 million by agreeing to share services under a model that has appealed to some local government areas in the Northern Territory.

In the 2015-16 financial year eight councils across the island state shared resources in a number of departments including planning and asset management, finance and accounting, environmental health, information technology and human resources.

"Participating councils have access to all the skills and experience within all the councils under agreed shared service arrangements, enabling them to better and more cost-effectively meet the needs of their ratepayers," Local Government Shared Services spokesman Peter Murfett said, adding that five NT councils have signed up to the scheme.