Mr Burnett said the COP Bill provided a “clear” March 31 deadline for when the City of Subiaco was required to submit a proposal to the Local Government Advisory Board for a ward review.
“It is impossible for the City to achieve this timeframe under Clause 7 of Schedule 2.2 of the Local Government Act 1995, as the City has to give ‘not less than six weeks’ notice to the community on the review’, noting that the Bill is still in the Upper House,” he said.
“The City is simply unable to meet this timeframe under the Bill.
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READ NOW“The Government never thought it would be delayed so long and had not considered that that the March deadline would be an issue.”
However, Mr Simpson said Mr Burnett was “patently incorrect”.
“The City of Perth Bill provided the City of Subiaco with an opportunity to carry out a ward review prior to boundary changes on July 1, 2016,” he said.
“The ability for or the willingness of the City of Subiaco to do this prior to this date has no impact on the validity of the City of Perth Bill.
“Any suggestion otherwise is patently incorrect.”
Subiaco Mayor Heather Henderson said a boundary change within the Bill would force 3000 Subiaco residents south of Aberdare Road to become part of the City of Perth.