Councils set to lobby State MPs

‘We’re still firm that the G7 model is unacceptable and the Dadour Amendment needs to be protected,’ G7 mayors meeting chairman and Mosman Park Mayor Ron Norris said.

Last week, G7 mayors agreed to tell residents about the costs and implications of merging their councils with North Fremantle and three City of Stirling suburbs because legislation extinguishing the amendment was expected in Parliament next month.

Mr Norris said mayors were concerned there were no written instructions from the Government about merging after Department of Local Government officers stated that councils were being ‘invited’ to amalgamate following clarification requests.

He said a G7 joint submission to the Local Government Advisory Board by October 4 now appeared ‘highly unlikely’ because of confusion about concurrent consideration of Claremont’s request for a G4 and another submission from Cambridge.

Councils are expected to consider their own resolutions opposing a G7.

Subiaco this month agreed to consider alternatives to the super-council ‘under duress’.

Cambridge Mayor Simon Withers said he voted against lobbying MPs because it was a ‘waste of time’ when the local MPs were the Government, others outside the area would not care for the western suburbs and time was limited to develop an alternative to the G7.

‘We will get the legal power to (start merging) in about a year when the submissions have been processed and the Governor makes an order and they have binding effect,’ Mr Withers said.

The City of Stirling agreed to fight to keep Wembley Downs, Churchlands and Woodlands last week.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said the Government would go ahead with reform through the Local Government Advisory Board process and instruction letters were sent to councils last week.

Mr Simpson said Parliament would determine when the legislation eliminating Dadour would be decided.