City of Perth boundaries expanded
The City of Perth will increase its boundaries to take in Kings Park, Crown Casino, the University of WA and QE 2 Medical Centre under the first of the State Government’s controversial changes to local government management.
From the roof of the city’s 54-storey Central Park building, Premier Colin Barnett said the new boundaries were drawn up to increase the footprint of Perth to include some of the iconic surrounds.
“We are very deliberately making some changes to enhance the city of Perth as our capital city,” Mr Barnett said.
“The future of this State, in terms of its position within Australia and in particular with Asia, depends on our capital city to a great degree. It is the destination.”
The boundary changes will inject more than $2 million in rates to the city council’s coffers from the casino at the expense of the Town of Victoria Park.
About 10,000 extra residents will come under the city’s management as a result of the changes.
One of the more contentious additions to the city will be the current Town of Vincent’s thriving cafe strip along Oxford Street in Leederville.
Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan, who will contest the Federal seat of Perth at the next election, has already been scathing of the Barnett Government’s handling of the boundary changes.
Today she was angry that only part of Vincent will be brought under the city council's management, saying that if a merger had to happen it should incorporate all of Vincent.
When the rest of the local government amalgamations are announced on Tuesday, Ms MacTiernan’s council is tipped to merge with the City of Stirling.
Despite previous assurance, some of the looming mergers will be forced on the existing council.
Acting Lord Mayor Janet Davidson said the city council welcomed the boundary shifts.
“We hope that those people who are coming into the city will be happy with us,” she said. “We will certainly work very hard to make it happen and embrace everyone.”
The new City of Perth Boundaries. Image: Supplied
