Local Government Reform

The issue of Local Government Reform has been ongoing for several years with the most recent development being the release of the Metropolitan Local Government Review - Final Report of the Independent Review Panel in July 2012.

In October 2012 the State Government released the Panel's Final Report, with recommendations, for comment until 5 April 2013.

To view the final report online or to lodge a submission visit the Department of Local Government website. 

Use the timeline below to view how the Local Government Reform process has developed since Local Government Minister John Castrilli first announced strategies for local government reform on 5 February 2009.  

Timeline of Local Government Reform Process

2012     December

The Town of Cambridge Council will consider at its 18 December meeting report CR12.198 Metropolitan Local Government Review - Final Report.

  CR12.198 - Metropolitan Local Government Review - Final Report

  CR12.198 - Attachment 1 - Alternative Plan of the proposed Council boundaries in the Western Suburbs

  CR12.198 - Attachment 2 - Draft response to the recommendations of the MLGR

A full page advertisement publicising the boundaries as recommended by the Town of Cambridge appeared in 15 December 2012 edition of the Post Newspaper.

Select the image below for a larger view.

2012     October

State Government release the Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel final report for public comment.

  Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel - Final Report (3MB)

  Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel - Executive Summary - Final Report (2MB)

The period of public comment closes on 5 April 2013.

To make comment online visit the Department of Local Government Have Your Say page.

2012     July

2012     April

Independent Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel release Draft Findings Report.

  Draft Findings Report

The Town was disappointed with the Draft Findings which apparently ignored input from the Town.

2011     December

The Town provides a submission to the Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel's Issues Paper.

  Metropolitan Local Government Review: Response to Issues Paper

The Town's submission is based on:

1. A building block approach to the implementation of the long term structure of local government in Perth with Councils growing from a minimum of 30,000 population to 50,000 in the longer term.
2. Central Business District Authority to manage and fund the major initiatives in the central business district (CBD).
3. No major shift in responsibilities between state and local government except waste disposal.
4. Community of interest, not shopping centres, should determine the form of local government.
5. Governance and decision making is not necessarily any more capable in larger councils.
6. Boundary expansion proposal for the Town of Cambridge boundary to achieve a population of 40,000 immediately and in our region three councils be created with one council centre at Subiaco, another at Claremont and the third at Cambridge.

2011     October

The Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel releases for comment an Issues Paper upon which local governments are invited to make submissions.

2011     June

Local Government Minister John Castrilli appoints the independent Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel (led by Professor Alan Robson) to undertake a review of Perth metropolitan local government and broader governance structures and to examine the social, economic and environmental challenges facing metropolitan Perth.

2009    September

Town of Cambridge Council approves its Local Government Reform Submission and delivers it to the Minister for Local Government.

   Local Government Reform Submission 2009 (7MB)

Summary of Local Government Reform Submission 2009

The Town doesn't support an amalgamation of Cambridge with any of neighbouring councils; Cambridge is financially sustainable and doesn't need to amalgamate to achieve this. Cambridge works effectively at its current size, however, as the Minister has asked councils to consider their appropriate size Council decided to propose expanding its boundaries to include:

• Wembley Downs, Churchlands, part of Woodlands, Herdsman Lake and that part of Wembley now not in the Town from the City of Stirling;
• City West 'beak' area in West Perth separated by the freeway and Perth to Fremantle railway line from the City of Perth; and
• Hackett estate in Floreat, all of AK Reserve and UWA Sports Park, the commercial area down to Lemnos Street including the Town's depot, and part of the Swanbourne army reserve and beach from the City of Nedlands.

The Town is also proposing to transfer the following areas to neighbouring councils:

• part of Daglish south of Hay Street and Jolimont south of Hay Street and east of Jersey Street (49 properties) to the City of Subiaco; and
• part of Mt Claremont south of Rochdale Road (100 properties) to the City of Nedlands.

If the proposal is successful the Town's operations are estimated to increase as follows:

• population by 50 per cent (12,500) to 38,000 people;
• rateable properties by 58 per cent (6,100) to 16,500 properties;
• rates revenue by 52 per cent ($8.5 million) to $25 million;
• total revenue by 35 per cent ($10.5 million) to $40.5 million; and
• total expenses by 27 per cent ($8.2 million) to $39 million.

2009    April

Town of Cambridge lodges a Local Government Reform Checklist to the Minister for Local Government. 

    Town of  Cambridge Local Government Reform Checklist

From the checklist, Cambridge received the highest possible rating (Category One).

Category One provides "evidence indicates there are existing organisational financial capacity to meet current and future community needs 1..".

This means the Town's operational practices and financial position make it a viable council. 

2009    February

Structural Reform Guidelines are issued by the Department of Local Government Reform Steering Committee providing a timeframe for each council to lodge a Reform Submission to the Minister.  This includes completion of a Reform Checklist by 30 April 2009, followed by completion of the Reform Submission to the Minister for Local Government by 30 September 2009.

   Structural Reform Guidelines 2009

2009    February

Local Government Minister John Castrilli announced strategies for local government reform inviting the 139 councils within Western Australian to embrace the opportunity to voluntarily amalgamate.

Read Local Government Minister John Catrilli announcement here.