Noranda residents petition for transfer to City of Bayswater

The Noranda Action Group (NAG) members living in Swan bordered by the Reid and Tonkin highways, Alexander and Widgee drives, Matthews Close and Sewell Court were disappointed local government reform failed.

NAG lodged a submission and petition with more than 500 signatures requesting support for the move to the Local Government Advisory Board (LGAB) in September.

The submission has led to a public submission period from November 5 to December 17 with a public meeting to be held at 7pm on November 26 at Lightning Park Recreation Centre for interested community members.

NAG member Doug McLennan, who has lived in the area for 35 years, said the highways made a natural boundary that included Lightning Swamp Bushland and Lightning Park, already managed by the City of Bayswater.

“Currently our councillors for Swan all live in Ballajura where the Bayswater councillors that would represent us live in Noranda,” he said.

“It would be easier and cheaper for Bayswater to provide services to our area than it is for Swan as we are on their doorstep.

“Bayswater’s rates are 25 per cent lower (the 2015-16 rate in the dollar on the gross rental value of your property for Bayswater is 4.955 cents where Swan’s rate is 6.5618 cents).

“Bayswater’s waste management fees are $37pa less than Swan’s.”

Mr McLennan said in 2009, Swan voted to initiate the boundary changes and in 2011, Bayswater prepared a draft proposal for the LGAB but three months after Swan decided not to go ahead because of possible local government reform and compensation.

He said 70 per cent of residents NAG approached were disappointed the reform process was scrapped and needed no prompting to sign the petition. All the signatories lived in the affected area, except four who own a property there.

Mr McLennan said NAG would write to property owners seeking their support and address the next Swan Council meeting.

He said he hoped the recommendation would be submitted to the Local Government Minister with boundary amendments effective as of July 1 2016.

A Department of Local Government and Communalities spokeswoman said the advisory board had begun its investigation into the proposal by calling for public submissions.

“The submissions received and the views expressed at the public hearing will help to inform the board’s views,” she said. “The board will then provide a written report to the minister with a recommendation as to whether the boundary should be changed.”