SHADOW Local Government Minister and Mandurah MLA David Templeman has slammed the State Government’s council carve-up and warned Peel residents the City of Mandurah could be next on the chopping block.
The State Government today released the Local Government Advisory Board report which provides the framework for the most significant reform of metropolitan local government in 100 years.
Local impact will be felt with the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale swallowed up by Armadale and Murray shires.
Premier Colin Barnett said the State Government would introduce a City of Perth Act to set the city’s new boundaries and ensure Perth has the status it deserves as Australia’s west coast capital and an increasingly important city in the Asia region.
“The City of Perth must be better-equipped to respond to the demands of a growing State - and better represent WA in the international market,” he said.
Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said the report confirmed many metropolitan councils would be more financially sustainable in their new format and said it heralded a new era for local government, with councils able to combine resources, reduce duplication and streamline processes.
“Ultimately, once the new councils are in place, there will be a reduction of more than 100 elected members and 10 Chief Executive Officers, producing estimated savings of more than $20 million for elected member allowances and at least $30 million in CEO packages over 10 years,” he said.
The report recommends the City of Armadale absorbs the north of Serpentine-Jarrahdale while the Murray Shire takes the south section.
And while comment has also been sought from Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Murray shires, Mr Templeman said he was concerned with the report.
“Serpentine-Jarrahdale has effectively been sliced in half,” he said.
“The implications this has for the future of the Peel region is huge.
“We have now lost a significant proportion of our population.”
Mr Templeman said up to 20,000 residents would fall under the City of Armadale following the change and expressed concern regarding the cost of this to the Murray Shire.
He also said he was concerned about Mandurah’s fate with future carve-ups slated to include regional areas.
“We’re next,” he said.
“The Premier has made that quite clear.”
Mr Templeman said the Peel region was vulnerable to being “absorbed by stealth” into the metropolitan area.
“Are we prepared to accept that?” he said.
“Peel is clearly a target.”
Murray Wellington MLA Murray Cowper said he was pleased the residents in the more rural parts of the shire who had pushed for the move.
“The push to become part of the Murray Shire is a sentiment that exists with many people from Serpentine Jarrahdale,” he said.
“The issue of reform in metropolitan areas is a complex one but I’m pleased for those rural communities who will continue to have a historic link to the region.”
Mr Simpson said he had no plan and no time-frame for local government reforms outside of the Perth metropolitan.
