Stirling Mayor David Boothman, with chief executive Stuart Jardine, Mt Lawley Society member Paul Collins and councillors Joe Ferrante and Rod Willox.
Camera IconStirling Mayor David Boothman, with chief executive Stuart Jardine, Mt Lawley Society member Paul Collins and councillors Joe Ferrante and Rod Willox. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Stirling puts up strong fight

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

Mt Lawley Society hosted the meeting with its president Bruce Wooldridge and patron Barrie Baker leading the charge to keep the suburbs of Mt Lawley, Menora, Inglewood and Dianella in Stirling.

The State Government’s local government proposed boundary changes would see these suburbs given to a new greater Morley council.

But Mr Wooldridge said transferring control to this council, primarily made up of the existing Bayswater and Bassendean councils, would risk the heritage protection of Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Councillors Rod Willox and Terry Tyzack spoke at the meeting, both describing to the receptive audience how losing the suburbs would put residents at risk.

‘The residents and businesses of Mt Lawley, Inglewood and Dianella will in effect subsidise the new greater Morley,’ Cr Willox said.

‘In return, what we will get is a smaller slice from a smaller pie.’

Cr Tyzack said the ‘carve up’ of councils had been done with little community consultation.

‘The Government’s proposal for Stirling can only be described as gross economic and social vandalism devoid of logic, transparency and credibility,’ he said.

City of Stirling Mayor David Boothman said splitting these areas from the City could result in less development in Dianella, put the State Government’s light rail project at risk and increase rates for both residents leaving and staying in the City.

‘We were supposed to be the model upon which this whole reform was supposed to be based. Instead, we are being carved up to make other councils sustainable,’ he said.

All attendees agreed to continue fighting to oppose the reform, with many signing petitions, which will be presented to local politicians.

Premier Colin Barnett said the Government’s main objective was to reduce the number of councils.