Metropolitan Local Government Reform July 2013

1. Metropolitan Local Government Reform July 2013 Tony Simpson Minister for Local Government

2. Background • Four years ago, Government asked local governments to consider voluntary amalgamations • Little change in local government boundaries or structure for more than 100 years. • New boundaries take into account population growth to 2026.

3. Robson report • Too many councils (30) in metro Perth • Duplication and wasted resources • Different approaches to planning • Different councils offer different levels of service

4. Actions since March • Department of Local Government reviewed feedback to Robson report • Minister met with Mayors/CEOs in groups • Minister met individually with Mayors/CEOs • Met with WALGA, LGMA and other groups • Met with Ministerial colleagues • Now ready to announce preferred model

5. Why 14? • Stronger financially sustainable model • Cope with population growth • Communities of interest • Built and natural features

6. Our preferred model • Wanneroo, Joondalup and Rockingham remain unchanged • Boundary changes for City of Perth, and City of Stirling • Vincent residents become ratepayers of either Stirling or Perth • Nine new local governments are formed through amalgamations.

7. Expanded City of Perth • All the iconic attractions into City of Perth • New stadium The University of WA • Crown complex QEII Hospital • Kings Park Leederville café strip • Grows from 782 hectares to 1893 hectares • Focus on commercial rather than residential

8. City of Perth map

9. City of Stirling • Adds residential part of Vincent (Mt Hawthorn and North Perth) • Population 205,000 (225,000 by 2026) • Already financially strong and sustainable • No longer includes Churchlands or Wembley Downs

10. City of Stirling

11. City of Vincent • Vincent remains the same until July 2015, then the residential part goes to Stirling and commercial part to City of Perth. • Our capital city is growing to the north and it makes sense to include the commercial areas of Vincent into the City of Perth. • Commend staff of Vincent for the great work they have done and reassure them that jobs will be found for them at Stirling and Perth. • No reflection on their dedication.

12. A new western suburbs council • Commercial focus on Claremont and Subiaco • Population 113,000 (124,000 by 2026) • Swan River, Stirling Highway, coast • Cambridge Nedlands • Subiaco Claremont • Cottesloe Mosman Park • Peppermint Grove • Addition of Churchlands, Wembley Downs, part of Woodlands and residential part of North Fremantle

13. Western suburbs

14. Merge Mundaring and Swan • Create eastern hills local government based on the strategic centre of Midland • Population 157,000 (218,000 by 2026) • Swan Valley, Guildford, Mundaring

15. Mundaring Swan

16. Merge Armadale with Serpentine Jarrahdale • South eastern council Armadale plus Serpentine Jarrahdale • Population 89,000 (132,000 by 2026) • High growth area, need for infrastructure • Coordinated approach to bushfire management

17. Armadale Serpentine Jarrahdale

18. Merge Cockburn and Kwinana • Population 132,000 (183,000 by 2026) • Western Trade Coast • Kwinana Industrial Area • Australian Marine Complex • Jandakot Airport • Coast and environs

19. Cockburn Kwinana

20. Merge Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle • Population 157,000 (164,000 by 2026) • Fremantle Melville • East Fremantle Rottnest Island • Focus on port city and Swan/Canning Rivers • Strengthen the local government to cater for international and national visitors to Fremantle • Preserve its history • Expanded east to add Rossmoyne, Shelley and parts of Riverton and Willeton • Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch Uni, Garden City

21. Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle

22. Merge Canning Gosnells • Some boundary adjustments • Population 184,000 (215,000 by 2026) • Focus on Cannington • Industrial areas Canning Vale, Welshpool • Housing stock, commercial development

23. Canning Gosnells

24. Merge Bassendean Bayswater • Population 109,000 (110,000 by 2026) • Focus on Morley • Addition of areas of the City of Stirling • Logical boundaries – Alexander Drive to the west Reid Highway to the north • All of Noranda into new local government area from Swan

25. Bassendean Bayswater

26. Merge Belmont Kalamunda • City of Belmont, plus Shire of Kalamunda • Population 97,000 (104,000) • All of Perth Airport • New boundary of Orrong Rd

27. Belmont Kalamunda

28. Merge South Perth Victoria Park • Merge City of South Perth and Town of Victoria Park • Population 88,000 (100,000) • Residential areas of Burswood peninsula • Parts of St James and Bentley from Canning

29. South Perth Victoria Park

30. Poll provisions • Suspend poll provisions for metro reform • This means they cannot be used in metropolitan Perth

31. Where to from here? • Digest this news. Big changes for you, your organisation, your people • Brief your staff and Councillors. Use www.dlgc.wa.gov.au • A copy of this powerpoint and other information will be on the web very shortly

32. Invitation to view large maps • Morning tea • Premier and Minister to brief the media quickly. This will inform your staff and communities. • Premier on tight time schedule, needs to leave soon • Minister will return to explain roll-out of reform process

33. Morning tea

34. Response to Robson report • Supported: • Councils take leadership role • State Government support • Improved coordination • Best practice community engagement • Periodic boundary reviews • Elected member training and allowances

35. Other Robson recommendations • Supported for future action: • Waste management • Shared vision for Perth • Forum of Mayors

36. Other Robson recommendations • Not supported: • Any changes to elections, selection of Mayor, voting or length of terms for elected members • A Local Government Commission • Changes to rating payments, or disallowing UV rating

37. Legislation • LGAB • Add two more members to widen representation • New powers to consider multiple proposals in a strategic context • Local Government Standards Panel – not having to deal with trivial complaints about Councillors

38. Dates • 26 Aug to 4 Oct – you lodge merger proposals with LGAB • Contact Department for advice at any time, including minor boundary changes. • Department officers to visit you during August • After 4 Oct, if you have not lodged a merger proposal, Minister will do so. • If your merger proposal does not fit with Government’s preferred model, Minister may put forward a counter proposal to LGAB

39. Funding • $200,000 upfront to: each merging group • Collect data • Develop proposal to LGAB • Form a governance and management structure Further funding to be announced later

40. Metropolitan Reform Implementation Committee • A committee set up to drive the implementation and monitor progress. • Chaired by Jennifer Mathews, from Department of Local Government and Communities • Minister to invite one Mayor or Councillor from each of the amalgamating groups of local governments to join • WALGA and LGMA representatives too. • Local governments to set up their own Local Implementation Committees to oversee the detail of amalgamation planning and implementation

42. 1 July 2015 • New local governments come into being • Commissioners in place from this date • Merging local governments can elect to install Commissioner earlier to guide process • Minister can appoint Commissioners earlier in certain areas if no progress being made • Elections in October 2015

43. Staff guarantee • Council staff have a two-year guarantee of jobs from July 2015. • It’s up to the new councils to decide how many people they will want long-term. • Some staff may be eligible for a payout. This will be capped to 12 months.

44. Any questions? Department of Local Government Tel: 08 6551 8700 Web: www.dlgc.wa.gov.au