Mayor Alannah MacTiernan said the council was ‘deeply opposed’ to the State Government plan announced last weekend to expand the City of Perth’s boundaries, with Vincent ceasing to exist.
Perth, Highgate, East Perth and parts of North Perth, Mt Lawley and the Leederville cafe strip will be included in the expanded City of Perth, with the rest of Vincent expected to be added to an expanded City of Stirling.
Crown Perth, the new football stadium, QEII Medical Centre, Kings Park and UWA would also be added to Perth.
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READ NOWMs MacTiernan said the council did not support transferring North Perth, Mt Hawthorn and Leederville to a ‘suburban council’.
‘In the days this has been mooted, the community has told us they do not want to go to Stirling,’ she said.
‘People move into those areas because they want inner city life, they want a council that is in tune with activation and place-making of those town centres.’
Ms MacTiernan said she had called an urgent council meeting to start a community campaign against the changes.
Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the City was not against absorbing all of Vincent.
‘But the State Government has made it clear that it wants City of Perth to focus on its capital city role and not be distracted with a large suburban residential role. We understand and accept the State Government position,’ Ms Scaffidi said.
She said the Government proposal was a ‘modest scenario’ in comparison to its own proposals, which included absorbing South Perth into the City.
Stirling Mayor David Boothman said its biggest concern was having to take responsibility for Beatty Park Leisure Centre, which has about $15 million in debt.
Cr Boothman said he understood the boundaries would be negotiated in the coming years.
Premier Colin Barnett said the reforms would ensure the City of Perth was well placed for future development.