Outrage over shire-to-city plan

Kalamunda council endorsed a move to pursue city status, along with a possible change of name and popular election of the mayor, at a meeting in April.

The Shire says a name change would make the area more resilient to future merger attempts and potentially more attractive to investors. But the Save Kalamunda Shire Action Group believes the reasons do not stack up.

"We have not found one sound, plausible reason to justify this campaign," a statement from the group said.

"We are proud to live in a shire, especially the Kalamunda Shire, as it is all-inclusive and not singularly focused as it would be if it was called a city.

"We already have a strong brand and a strong community awakened through the defence of the failed merger process."

Of the 30 metropolitan local governments, only four still have shire status - Peppermint Grove, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Mundaring and Kalamunda.

Kalamunda chief executive Rhonda Hardy said Kalamunda had double the required population of a city.

"It is time for Kalamunda to regroup and reposition itself," she said.