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Councils call for compensation

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

"It's just a case of money down the drain," Cambridge Mayor Simon Withers said.

Cambridge was the only western suburbs council in a claim organised by the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) that councils whose mergers were accepted by the Government in 2014 be repaid $5.4 million they spent on mergers before the plans were quashed.

Mr Withers said hiring extra staff and consultants comprised most of the $434,000 but future services and rates would not be affected as the money had come from previous budgets.

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"When you consider $15 million was budgeted by the State for the merger process, a claim for $5.4 million for work undertaken in preparation is certainly reasonable," WALGA president Troy Pickard said.

WALGA refused a request from the Town of Mosman Park to be part of the claim and get back about $100,000 because the LGAB-recommended City of Riversea for the western suburbs was rejected by the Government.

"That's outrageous because we still had to go through the merger process and still had to respond to the Government's requests," Mosman Park Mayor Ron Norris said.

Mr Norris said WALGA's rejection might prompt his council to withdraw from the organisation.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said WALGA's right to make representations for its members was respected but the Government had said grants between $50,000 and $200,000, totalling $1.7 million, were provided to prepare for mergers and no further expense claims would be considered.