City of Canning residents attend pulic meeting on council reform

Organised by the City of Canning at the Herald Avenue Seniors Centre, Canning Commissioner Steven Cole addressed the packed room.

For more than an hour, residents asked various questions.

The main concerns were rate increases, a lack of say about boundary changes and questions relating to the future of Canning’s assets, the cost and level of services provided and how long would the turmoil of reform last.

In a letter entitled Future for Canning, which was handed out to attendees, Canning chief executive Lyn Russell said the City was working to ensure the best outcome for the City and its residents, ratepayers and staff.

‘The City will be working to ensure that the services historically provided, including aged care, disability services, youth services, leisure services and waste management services, are not adversely impacted by these changes,’ she said.

One resident asked the audience if anyone was happy about the City of Canning’s boundary changes. Not one hand was raised.

With aged-care services, including those provided at the Herald Avenue Seniors Centre expected to move to the new City of Melville, Melville Mayor Russell Aubrey said the City was focused on improving and strengthening the aged community.

‘A large part of what we do to support our older community is to advocate for them and provide them with the opportunity to have a voice,’ Mr Aubrey said.

‘We also support and work with expert aged-care service providers and not-for-profit organisations, connect local community groups, facilitate critical networking opportunities and provide a central point of contact.

‘Our residents enjoy access to a wide range of aged-care services and this is reflected in consistent high satisfaction scored from our community regarding access to aged-care services.’

It was one of four meetings organised by the City to inform residents about what the new boundary changes mean for targeted parts of the community.

A meeting for residents living in Bentley, Wilson and St James was held at Bentley Community Centre on November 10.

Another meeting will be held at the City of Canning Administration Centre to detail the impact of reform for residents in the City of Canning tomorrow at 7pm.

On November 24 from 6pm, a public meeting will be held at the Canning Administration Centre for Welshpool businesses.