TWO-THIRDS of residents want to see Queensland's ``super councils'' disbanded as anger grows over soaring costs and declining services.
An exclusive Sunday Mail poll of 900 people in six of the major new councils created by the forced mergers shows 65 per cent of people would vote in a referendum to roll back amalgamation.
The results show residents do not believe the benefits promised when the Labor Government ordered the amalgamations - in the face of angry opposition around the state - have been delivered.
Value for money for rates, standards of service, and planning and management of population growth have all gone backwards since the new councils were formed, according to a majority of those polled.
The survey, by Market Facts (Qld) & Morton Consulting Services, was commissioned by The Sunday Mail and the Local Government Association of Queensland.
Morton Consulting Services director Alan Morton said: ``The level of negativity and the consistency of it across council areas was surprising.''
Mr Morton said a majority of residents in all areas were in favour of a return to former council boundaries.
The wish to split is strongest on the Sunshine Coast, where 71 per cent of residents favour de-amalgamation -
rising to 97 per cent in the old Noosa council area.
While most mayors approached by The Sunday Mail accepted that resident dissatisfaction levels were high, an angry Rockhampton mayor Brad Carter scoffed at the results.
``The release of the information appears to be an agenda for the LGAQ to support de-amalgamation and support the Opposition in Queensland,'' Mr Carter said, adding his council would review its membership of the LGAQ.
The LGAQ was fiercely opposed to the forced mergers at the time but now says it is too late to turn back the clock.
``It's completely useless to be fighting old fights,'' LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam said.
``Everyone in local-government land has moved on and is trying to make the most of the cards that have been dealt.
``We don't for a moment believe you can unwind all of the amalgamations. There may be some limited circumstances where, if the communities themselves determine that they should de-amalgamate, that that could occur. But we don't think that will be widespread.''
The survey found the overall satisfaction level with council performance was 58 per cent - the lowest level in the 14 years Mr Morton had been tracking it.
``This is such a big drop, it should be of concern,'' he said.
Across the six regions surveyed, six in 10 people say they are getting less value for money from their rates.
As Redcliffe mayor, Allan Sutherland was one of the strongest opponents of amalgamations, pushing a wheelbarrow filled with a 22,000-signature petition more than 30km to Parliament House. Now, as Moreton Bay Mayor, he has become a vocal advocate of the benefits.
But Moreton Bay residents registered the most negative results in the poll for quality of council service and value for rates.
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