The Local Government Minister announced the details for Local Government reform

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson handed down the State Government decision at Dumas House in front of all 30 local government mayors and chief executives.

City of Stirling Mayor Giovanni Italiano said the cuts to the City’s rate base would most probably result in rate increases in the future.

Stirling will lose territory along its southern and eastern boundaries, with all of Inglewood and parts of Menora, Mt Lawley and Yokine moving to a significantly larger City of Bayswater, which also gains Bassendean.

The City will also lose Churchlands, Herdsman and parts of Wembley as part of the amalgamations, which is about 17 per cent of Stirling.

North Metropolitan Region MLC and former Local Government Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said there was no compelling economic reason for the reforms, but was instead a way the State Government could make things easier for large developers.

‘There is however, benefit for developers who have long complained about having to deal with a multitude of councils on development matters,’ Ms Ravlich said.

‘Under the new proposal the City of Stirling will continue to be one of the biggest metropolitan councils in Perth and its population is expected to reach 190,000 in 2015.

‘This tells me that they will lose a significant part of their rate base while at the same time still have the same or even more amenities to maintain and services to deliver.’

Premier Colin Barnett said the changes would produce estimated savings of more than $20 million for elected member allowances and at least $30 million in chief executive packages over 10 years.

Mt Lawley Society president Bruce Wooldridge said he was outraged the suburb was being excised from Stirling, which he said had a more effective heritage protection regime than Bayswater.

‘We are fortunate to have in Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood the legacy of three of the best preserved heritage precincts in Australia,’ Mr Wooldridge said.

‘This did not happen by accident, and is the result of decades of hard work by the Mt Lawley Society, the community and Stirling.’

Changes to local government will come into effect from July 1, 2015.