Community News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more.
Camera IconCommunity News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more. Credit: Community News

Mergers opposed

- See also page 5Southern Gazette

About 150 people attended the meeting called by Victoria Park resident Andrew Cooper, with the support of anti-reform town councillor Vince Maxwell, after gathering 100 signatures and presenting them to the council.

Five motions presented to last Tuesday’s meeting appealed for the town to withdraw from the reform process, with more than 100 eligible ratepayers voting in favour each time, and no more than nine against each motion.

Mayor Trevor Vaughan said he made it clear at the meeting that motions passed would be considered at the next round of councillor briefing sessions and full council meeting.

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

‘The Act asserts that the motions passed at the special electors’ meeting are to be considered at the next practical council meeting. It is not possible to provide elected members with enough time to consider the motions in time for the next council meeting (July 8),’ he said.

Mr Cooper said the community wanted all motions carried by overwhelming majorities to be dealt with by the council without undue delay.

‘It now seems the council is once again ignoring what the people want. People are getting quite angry when I inform them it may be delayed until the August meeting, and if that happens I speculate they’ll need to hire a bigger hall,’ he said.

Mr Vaughan said there was more community interest in local government reform a year ago when 723 people responded to a council survey.

‘Sixty-two per cent said they prefer to stay as is, but if amalgamations are forced, then 71 per cent said they preferred to amalgamate with the City of South Perth,’ he said.