Metropolitan Local Government Reform July 2013

Tony Simpson Minister for Local Government

• Four years ago, Government asked local governments to consider voluntary amalgamations

• Little change in local government boundaries or structure for more than 100 years.

• New boundaries take into account population growth to 2026.

Background

Robson report

• Too many councils (30) in metro Perth• Duplication and wasted resources• Different approaches to planning• Different councils offer different levels of

service

Actions since March

• Department of Local Government reviewed feedback to Robson report

• Minister met with Mayors/CEOs in groups• Minister met individually with Mayors/CEOs• Met with WALGA, LGMA and other groups• Met with Ministerial colleagues• Now ready to announce preferred model

Why 14?

– Stronger financially sustainable model–Cope with population growth–Communities of interest–Built and natural features

Our preferred model

• Wanneroo, Joondalup and Rockingham remain unchanged

• Boundary changes for City of Perth, and City of Stirling

• Vincent residents become ratepayers of either Stirling or Perth

• Nine new local governments are formed through amalgamations.

Expanded City of Perth• All the iconic attractions into City of Perth

o New stadium The University of WA

o Crown complex QEII Hospitalo Kings Park Leederville

café strip

• Grows from 782 hectares to 1893 hectares• Focus on commercial rather than residential

City of Perth map

City of Stirling

• Adds residential part of Vincent (Mt Hawthorn and North Perth)

• Population 205,000 (225,000 by 2026)• Already financially strong and sustainable• No longer includes Churchlands or Wembley

Downs

City of Stirling

City of Vincent• Vincent remains the same until July 2015, then the

residential part goes to Stirling and commercial part to City of Perth.

• Our capital city is growing to the north and it makes sense to include the commercial areas of Vincent into the City of Perth.

• Commend staff of Vincent for the great work they have done and reassure them that jobs will be found for them at Stirling and Perth.

• No reflection on their dedication.

A new western suburbs council

• Commercial focus on Claremont and Subiaco• Population 113,000 (124,000 by 2026)• Swan River, Stirling Highway, coast

– Cambridge Nedlands– Subiaco Claremont– Cottesloe Mosman Park– Peppermint Grove

• Addition of Churchlands, Wembley Downs, part of Woodlands and residential part of North Fremantle

Western suburbs

Merge Mundaring and Swan

• Create eastern hills local government based on the strategic centre of Midland

• Population 157,000 (218,000 by 2026)• Swan Valley, Guildford, Mundaring

Mundaring Swan

Merge Armadale with Serpentine Jarrahdale

• South eastern council Armadale plus Serpentine Jarrahdale

• Population 89,000 (132,000 by 2026)• High growth area, need for infrastructure• Coordinated approach to bushfire

management

Armadale Serpentine Jarrahdale

Merge Cockburn and Kwinana

• Population 132,000 (183,000 by 2026)• Western Trade Coast• Kwinana Industrial Area• Australian Marine Complex• Jandakot Airport• Coast and environs

Cockburn Kwinana

Merge Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle

• Population 157,000 (164,000 by 2026)– Fremantle Melville– East Fremantle Rottnest Island

• Focus on port city and Swan/Canning Rivers• Strengthen the local government to cater for

international and national visitors to Fremantle• Preserve its history• Expanded east to add Rossmoyne, Shelley and parts

of Riverton and Willeton• Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch Uni, Garden City

Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle

Merge Canning Gosnells

• Some boundary adjustments• Population 184,000 (215,000 by 2026)• Focus on Cannington• Industrial areas Canning Vale, Welshpool• Housing stock, commercial development

Canning Gosnells

Merge Bassendean Bayswater

• Population 109,000 (110,000 by 2026)• Focus on Morley• Addition of areas of the City of Stirling• Logical boundaries – Alexander Drive to the west

Reid Highway to the north

• All of Noranda into new local government area from Swan

Bassendean Bayswater

Merge Belmont Kalamunda

• City of Belmont, plus Shire of Kalamunda• Population 97,000 (104,000)• All of Perth Airport• New boundary of Orrong Rd

Belmont Kalamunda

Merge South Perth Victoria Park

• Merge City of South Perth and Town of Victoria Park

• Population 88,000 (100,000)• Residential areas of Burswood peninsula• Parts of St James and Bentley from Canning

South Perth Victoria Park

Poll provisions• Suspend poll provisions for metro reform • This means they cannot be used in metropolitan

Perth

Where to from here?• Digest this news. Big changes for you, your organisation, your

people

• Brief your staff and Councillors. Use www.dlgc.wa.gov.au

• A copy of this powerpoint and other information will be on the web very shortly

Invitation to view large maps

• Morning tea• Premier and Minister to brief the media

quickly. This will inform your staff and communities.

• Premier on tight time schedule, needs to leave soon

• Minister will return to explain roll-out of reform process

Morning tea

Response to Robson report

• Supported:– Councils take leadership role– State Government support– Improved coordination– Best practice community engagement– Periodic boundary reviews– Elected member training and allowances

Other Robson recommendations

• Supported for future action:– Waste management– Shared vision for Perth– Forum of Mayors

Other Robson recommendations

• Not supported:– Any changes to elections, selection of Mayor,

voting or length of terms for elected members– A Local Government Commission– Changes to rating payments, or disallowing UV

rating

Legislation• LGAB– Add two more members to widen representation– New powers to consider multiple proposals in a

strategic context• Local Government Standards Panel – not having to

deal with trivial complaints about Councillors

Dates

• 26 Aug to 4 Oct – you lodge merger proposals with LGAB– Contact Department for advice at any time, including

minor boundary changes.– Department officers to visit you during August

• After 4 Oct, if you have not lodged a merger proposal, Minister will do so.– If your merger proposal does not fit with Government’s

preferred model, Minister may put forward a counter proposal to LGAB

Funding• $200,000 upfront to: each merging group

» Collect data» Develop proposal to LGAB» Form a governance and management structure

Further funding to be announced later

Metropolitan Reform Implementation Committee

• A committee set up to drive the implementation and monitor progress.

• Chaired by Jennifer Mathews, from Department of Local Government and Communities

• Minister to invite one Mayor or Councillor from each of the amalgamating groups of local governments to join

• WALGA and LGMA representatives too.• Local governments to set up their own Local Implementation

Committees to oversee the detail of amalgamation planning and implementation

1 July 2015

• New local governments come into being• Commissioners in place from this date• Merging local governments can elect to install

Commissioner earlier to guide process• Minister can appoint Commissioners earlier in

certain areas if no progress being made• Elections in October 2015

Staff guarantee

• Council staff have a two-year guarantee of jobs from July 2015.

• It’s up to the new councils to decide how many people they will want long-term.

• Some staff may be eligible for a payout. This will be capped to 12 months.

Any questions?

Department of Local GovernmentTel: 08 6551 8700Web: www.dlgc.wa.gov.au