Mandurah MLA David Templeman is unhappy that the regional manager’s position at Peel office of the Department of Sport and Recreation will be removed.
Camera IconMandurah MLA David Templeman is unhappy that the regional manager’s position at Peel office of the Department of Sport and Recreation will be removed. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Manager’s position removal riles MLA

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

Mandurah MLA David Templeman said he was dismayed and outraged the State Government had moved to downgrade the Peel region once more.

“What an absolutely stupid, short sighted and utterly appalling decision to once again attack the Peel region by removing the local regional manager’s position in sport and recreation,’’ he said.

“Under Mr Barnett, we lost our regional director of education position and saw the Peel Education Office gutted.

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“Our Peel Police District, which once had a local Superintendent and local autonomy, was absorbed into the super district of South Metro.

“And under Mr Barnett, the Peel lost its Workforce Development Centre that was helping up to 4000 unemployed job seekers every year.’’

Mr Templeman said that was on top of being overlooked for Royalties for Regions funding.

“All this is happening in the second largest region in WA which will have a population of nearly 200,000 people within the next five to 10 years. Now our Regional Sport and Recreation Office is to be gutted at a time when so many families and kids are moving here.’’

He said the Regional Sporting Complex at Fiegerts Road would go nowhere without strong local pressure.

“I am absolutely livid that local Liberal MLA and deputy Premier Kim Hames, who should be representing the interests of our region, is remaining silent while the Peel region’s status is dissolved before our eyes,” he said.

Mr Templeman said there was a clear intention by the State Government to absorb Mandurah and the Peel region into the Metropolitan area without any consideration for the needs and aspirations of the community there.

He warned the Peel Development Commission would be next.

A Department spokesman said the Department’s Peel office would remain open and continue to provide the full spectrum of its services to the community through its remaining three staff members.