Minister’s merger turnabout

Last week, Mr Simpson said Stirling’s preference to keep Inglewood in its boundaries and maintain the heritage protection area guiding development in the suburb, as well as Mt Lawley and Menora, had some validity.

He said the decision would be up to the Local Government Advisory Board.

‘I think it is a very good case for the advisory board to have a look at,’ he said. But earlier in the week the State Government released its revised preference for council borders, sending Inglewood and Dianella to the new Morley council, while Mt Lawley and Menora were retained by the City of Stirling.

This was in contrast to the State Government’s initial proposal that handed parts of Vincent to Stirling, while Menora, Inglewood, Dianella and part of |Mt Lawley were given to the new greater Morley council.

Stirling Mayor Giovanni Italiano said the changes would result in a $30 million loss to the council and split the heritage protection area.

‘They (the State Government) haven’t listened to the people or they would have ensured Inglewood and Dianella also stayed in Stirling.’

Mt Lawley Society president Bruce Wooldridge said retaining Mt Lawley and Menora in the City of Stirling was a positive step.

‘However, it continues to be our position, as it has been throughout our campaign and in our submission to the LGAB, that heritage is best served by Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood remaining in Stirling,’ he said.

Mt Lawley MLA Michael Sutherland said it made sense for Mt Lawley and Menora to remain with Stirling, but geographically Inglewood and Dianella fit better with the greater Morley council.

‘Stirling was the biggest council in numbers in WA. It will lose some people, but will remain a very big council,’ he said.

Mr Sutherland said residents could still influence the final boundaries by submitting individual responses to the LGAB.

‘We are never going to get 100 per cent consensus on everything all the time,’ he said.