❓ Ms. Evangel asks about the process for further negotiations regarding the splitting of the Town of Vincent. The Minister outlines the process involving the Local Government Advisory Board and community consultation, emphasizing minimal disruption to residents.
AnsweredQoN 365Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
365. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the state government announcement last week that
the Town of Vincent will be split into two parts in July 2015, with half going
to the City of Perth and half to the City of Stirling. Could the minister
please outline the process for any further negotiations on these boundaries?
365. Ms E. EVANGEL to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the state government announcement last week that
the Town of Vincent will be split into two parts in July 2015, with half going
to the City of Perth and half to the City of Stirling. Could the minister
please outline the process for any further negotiations on these boundaries?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Perth for the question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, maybe you are confused, but the question was not asked of
you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I
again thank the member for Perth for the question. Last Tuesday the Premier and
I announced local government reforms to the 30 mayors, presidents and CEOs of
the metropolitan local governments. As the member pointed out, this has a long
way to go. The City of Perth is a very fast growing city and we have to
accommodate nearly half a million people over the next 13 years. As the Premier
pointed out, there is a lot of work to be done in building road infrastructure,
caring for the Swan and Canning Rivers and developing our city as a vibrant
city. Having fewer local governments means those things can be done better.
Streamlining governments will improve decision making.
I make the point that the member for Perth raised concerns
about the Town of Vincent and the areas nearby, including Beaufort Street. Last
Saturday I had the opportunity to walk along Beaufort Street and have a coffee
there.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Yes, I made my way up to the northern suburbs. Most importantly, we understand
that this local government boundary has been in place for nearly 100 years.
Beside the changes to the boundaries of the City of Perth in 1994, there have
been no real changes to any local government boundaries in 100 years. We could
have taken the proposal and sat on our hands and done nothing, but as a
government we are showing leadership and making decisions on this issue. The
member for Perth raised a very good point. At the end of the day, we are going
through the process. I informed the mayors and presidents last Tuesday that
they have to put in a proposal to the Local Government Advisory Board. The
Local Government Advisory Board will come back with a report. The member for
Perth raised a good issue about the Town of Vincent and the City of Perth.
There is an opportunity for the residents of those areas to be involved and have their say through
the advisory process. The City of Perth, the City of Bayswater and the City of
Stirling will put in a proposal to the LGAB.
There will be a lot of community
input from the councils, but also, at the next stage, the Local Government
Advisory Board will consult with the councils and the residents. The most
important thing to remember in all this reform process is that people will live
in the same house, in the same street, in the same suburb, with the same
postcode. Once a year, they will get a different rate notice with a different
logo on it, but nothing will change in that process. In fact, people will get better
services for their money. We are going to the next level of reform. We are
sending it to the advisory board to do that work. I acknowledge that there are
a number of issues about trying to deal with the communities and making sure we
hang on to those communities and that community identity, because that is the
part that makes our community safe.
I confirm for the member for Perth
that the advisory board will have the opportunity to consult. The three
councils can put their proposals to the advisory board to make sure we identify
whether Vincent —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I will give you a chance to ask a question later. I call
you to order for the first time.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
In closing, I understand where the member for Perth is coming from about the
City of Vincent and its community. As we move forward with this reform process,
it is very important to identify the communities and the natural places that we
build around them, and to keep them in mind. The member for Perth can still get
her community involved —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister, can you wind it up, please?
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
So that the member for Perth —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Just in closing, the residents of Vincent can be involved in this process at
the Local Government Advisory Board level and, surely, we will have more debate
on this matter this afternoon.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, maybe you are confused, but the question was not asked of
you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I
again thank the member for Perth for the question. Last Tuesday the Premier and
I announced local government reforms to the 30 mayors, presidents and CEOs of
the metropolitan local governments. As the member pointed out, this has a long
way to go. The City of Perth is a very fast growing city and we have to
accommodate nearly half a million people over the next 13 years. As the Premier
pointed out, there is a lot of work to be done in building road infrastructure,
caring for the Swan and Canning Rivers and developing our city as a vibrant
city. Having fewer local governments means those things can be done better.
Streamlining governments will improve decision making.
I make the point that the member for Perth raised concerns
about the Town of Vincent and the areas nearby, including Beaufort Street. Last
Saturday I had the opportunity to walk along Beaufort Street and have a coffee
there.
Several members interjected.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Yes, I made my way up to the northern suburbs. Most importantly, we understand
that this local government boundary has been in place for nearly 100 years.
Beside the changes to the boundaries of the City of Perth in 1994, there have
been no real changes to any local government boundaries in 100 years. We could
have taken the proposal and sat on our hands and done nothing, but as a
government we are showing leadership and making decisions on this issue. The
member for Perth raised a very good point. At the end of the day, we are going
through the process. I informed the mayors and presidents last Tuesday that
they have to put in a proposal to the Local Government Advisory Board. The
Local Government Advisory Board will come back with a report. The member for
Perth raised a good issue about the Town of Vincent and the City of Perth.
There is an opportunity for the residents of those areas to be involved and have their say through
the advisory process. The City of Perth, the City of Bayswater and the City of
Stirling will put in a proposal to the LGAB.
There will be a lot of community
input from the councils, but also, at the next stage, the Local Government
Advisory Board will consult with the councils and the residents. The most
important thing to remember in all this reform process is that people will live
in the same house, in the same street, in the same suburb, with the same
postcode. Once a year, they will get a different rate notice with a different
logo on it, but nothing will change in that process. In fact, people will get better
services for their money. We are going to the next level of reform. We are
sending it to the advisory board to do that work. I acknowledge that there are
a number of issues about trying to deal with the communities and making sure we
hang on to those communities and that community identity, because that is the
part that makes our community safe.
I confirm for the member for Perth
that the advisory board will have the opportunity to consult. The three
councils can put their proposals to the advisory board to make sure we identify
whether Vincent —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I will give you a chance to ask a question later. I call
you to order for the first time.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
In closing, I understand where the member for Perth is coming from about the
City of Vincent and its community. As we move forward with this reform process,
it is very important to identify the communities and the natural places that we
build around them, and to keep them in mind. The member for Perth can still get
her community involved —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second time.
Minister, can you wind it up, please?
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Yes, I will. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
So that the member for Perth —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Just in closing, the residents of Vincent can be involved in this process at
the Local Government Advisory Board level and, surely, we will have more debate
on this matter this afternoon.
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