❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier's decision-making regarding the Burswood Peninsula's local government boundaries, citing uncertainty for Victoria Park ratepayers. The Premier defends his position, emphasizing the desire to incorporate major state facilities into the City of Perth while addressing concerns about rate revenue.
AnsweredQoN 858Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT REFORM — BURSWOOD PENINSULA
858. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's failed attempt to take the
Burswood peninsula from the people of Victoria Park and place it within the local
government boundary of the City of Perth, and the Premier's statement
reported today that —
We will leave the Burswood peninsula within the town of Victoria Park � and
that arrangement will be reviewed in five years time �
Why does the Premier continue to
create uncertainty for local ratepayers in Victoria Park about their boundary
and rate base?
GOVERNMENT REFORM — BURSWOOD PENINSULA
858. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the Premier's failed attempt to take the
Burswood peninsula from the people of Victoria Park and place it within the local
government boundary of the City of Perth, and the Premier's statement
reported today that —
We will leave the Burswood peninsula within the town of Victoria Park � and
that arrangement will be reviewed in five years time �
Why does the Premier continue to
create uncertainty for local ratepayers in Victoria Park about their boundary
and rate base?
AnswerView source ↗
At the beginning of this year I had
a meeting with the Mayors of Victoria Park and South Perth about the two coming
together, and they indicated to me—certainly at that time—that
they favoured the two coming together.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
That is right—with the peninsula.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes. They also made a bid for state government funding for the new sports
precinct, which amongst other things would include a home for the West Coast
Eagles. I said, ''Yes, fair enough, we will consider that.'' I
think members need to recognise that the precinct on which the Crown casino is
located and indeed where the sports stadium is being built and there are the
remains of what was the golf course all lie under the jurisdiction of the
casino act and therefore the Minister for Racing and Gaming. That is a bit of
anomaly from the past—I think we all recognise that—but it is
the law. Maybe others do not agree with me, but it is my view that in creating
a better structured Perth city council as a capital city, the major
institutions of the state, sporting facilities and the like, should be in the
capital city. That is my view and not everyone necessarily agrees with it. In
my discussions with the two mayors I made the point that I would prefer the
peninsula to be in the capital city. Their main concern was the rate revenue
from the casino. That was their concern, and they were quite open about that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Are
you surprised?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, not at all. The point I make is that their concern is the rate revenue from
the casino. At the moment, although the casino lies within the Victoria Park
local government, it has no administrative role at all and I do not think it
provides any services. That is all done by the casino.
Mr D.J. Kelly : And
the car parks, or some of them?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes, there is a bit of land there. Yes, there is some land.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member is right in that there are some small parcels of land, but the local
government does not have anything to do with the management of that precinct.
That has always been within the state government and will remain within the
state government. Ultimately, I would like to see it normalised within a local
government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Normalised, what does that even mean?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is a pretty straightforward word, I would have thought.
There is a case for that to be
normalised within local government. If that were to happen, I would prefer that
to be within the City of Perth, not the city of Victoria Park or South Park or
whatever it might be, because it is part of the vision of bringing the major
facilities into the capital city. The discussion—I assume it is still
the mayors' view—was about retaining the revenue. I have said
that they will retain the rates revenue and that was guaranteed certainly for
the next five years and then we will have another look at the situation. I
think that is a perfectly reasonable position.
a meeting with the Mayors of Victoria Park and South Perth about the two coming
together, and they indicated to me—certainly at that time—that
they favoured the two coming together.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
That is right—with the peninsula.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes. They also made a bid for state government funding for the new sports
precinct, which amongst other things would include a home for the West Coast
Eagles. I said, ''Yes, fair enough, we will consider that.'' I
think members need to recognise that the precinct on which the Crown casino is
located and indeed where the sports stadium is being built and there are the
remains of what was the golf course all lie under the jurisdiction of the
casino act and therefore the Minister for Racing and Gaming. That is a bit of
anomaly from the past—I think we all recognise that—but it is
the law. Maybe others do not agree with me, but it is my view that in creating
a better structured Perth city council as a capital city, the major
institutions of the state, sporting facilities and the like, should be in the
capital city. That is my view and not everyone necessarily agrees with it. In
my discussions with the two mayors I made the point that I would prefer the
peninsula to be in the capital city. Their main concern was the rate revenue
from the casino. That was their concern, and they were quite open about that.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Are
you surprised?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, not at all. The point I make is that their concern is the rate revenue from
the casino. At the moment, although the casino lies within the Victoria Park
local government, it has no administrative role at all and I do not think it
provides any services. That is all done by the casino.
Mr D.J. Kelly : And
the car parks, or some of them?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes, there is a bit of land there. Yes, there is some land.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member is right in that there are some small parcels of land, but the local
government does not have anything to do with the management of that precinct.
That has always been within the state government and will remain within the
state government. Ultimately, I would like to see it normalised within a local
government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Normalised, what does that even mean?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is a pretty straightforward word, I would have thought.
There is a case for that to be
normalised within local government. If that were to happen, I would prefer that
to be within the City of Perth, not the city of Victoria Park or South Park or
whatever it might be, because it is part of the vision of bringing the major
facilities into the capital city. The discussion—I assume it is still
the mayors' view—was about retaining the revenue. I have said
that they will retain the rates revenue and that was guaranteed certainly for
the next five years and then we will have another look at the situation. I
think that is a perfectly reasonable position.
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