Mergers leave 3000 without a council
The Barnett Government will be forced to submit yet another set of boundary amendments to the Local Government Advisory Board to prevent about 3000 residents of Mt Claremont and Crawley from being left without a local council to represent them.
The Government yesterday announced it would accept the LGAB's recommendation to create a new City of Subiaco, made up of a boundary adjustment that would see most of the exising Subiaco and Cambridge councils merged.
But the LGAB map also proposed that two small parcels of land - a pocket of Mt Claremont in Cambridge, and Crawley around the University of WA in Subiaco - be included in to its proposed City of Riversea.
The Government rejected the LGAB's Riversea recommendation because it included UWA and the QEII medical centre, which the Government wanted in the City of Perth instead.
By accepting the new City of Subiaco but rejecting the new City of Riversea, it has left roughly 3000 ratepayers in the pockets in Claremont and Crawley in limbo.
WESTERN SUPER CITY ON HOLD, NATS BLOCK VISION
SEE THE NEW COUNCIL BOUNDARIES
THE NEW COUNCIL BOUNDARIES EXPLAINED
DAY BREAK RANKS ON COUNCIL MERGERS
The anomaly was brought to light by Labor in State Parliament this morning as it moved a motion criticising the Government's plan for council reform for removing many residents' right to have a say on the mergers.
"There's 3000 forgotten people ... it's all falling apart before our eyes," Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said. "What happens to these people?
"It's anarchy in the western suburbs, they're not going to have their own rubbish, they'll be clipping their own trees."
The Government failed to respond to the point during the debate, which was won by Labor on the voices after the Government refused to dissent, which would have forced a division.
The Premier accused the Opposition of having no policy on local government reform.
Outside Parliament, Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said the Government had a "clear plan for the western suburbs".
“We were well aware of the implications of not accepting the recommendation for the City of Riversea," he said.
"Minor amendments to the boundaries of Mount Claremont and Crawley will be addressed through the normal Advisory Board process.”
“It is ridiculous to suggest that areas will not be provided with services.”
Mr Simpson's office is yet to respond to the question of whether those areas would be added to Nedlands, or some other option, or on what timeframe.
