Hon Murray Criddle asks if the state government will fund the amalgamation of the City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough. Hon Jon Ford responds that their application is under consideration and a decision is expected soon.

AnsweredQoN 606Legislative Council
Asked
23 August 2006
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

CITY OF GERALDTON AND SHIRE OF GREENOUGH - AMALGAMATION
Will the state government fund the additional cost incurred by the City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough to advance the amalgamation of these two local governments? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Murray Criddle for some notice of the question. The state government is assisting in funding structural reform in local governments through the Connecting Local Governments fund of $3 million over two years, commencing in 2006-07. The City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough have jointly applied for funding. Their application is under consideration. We have not yet established exactly what those costs will be. When we at least agree on what those costs will be, we will determine how we will offer assistance, and whether it will come out of the Connecting Local Governments fund or from other sources. I am acutely aware of how important this issue is to the success of the amalgamation, and certainly the message it sends to other local governments that are considering amalgamation. It is a question that needs to be resolved as soon as possible so that local governments can talk to their constituencies about it. I would like to think that the issue will be resolved by next week.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Murray Criddle for some notice of the question. The state government is assisting in funding structural reform in local governments through the Connecting Local Governments fund of $3 million over two years, commencing in 2006-07. The City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough have jointly applied for funding. Their application is under consideration. We have not yet established exactly what those costs will be. When we at least agree on what those costs will be, we will determine how we will offer assistance, and whether it will come out of the Connecting Local Governments fund or from other sources. I am acutely aware of how important this issue is to the success of the amalgamation, and certainly the message it sends to other local governments that are considering amalgamation. It is a question that needs to be resolved as soon as possible so that local governments can talk to their constituencies about it. I would like to think that the issue will be resolved by next week.
I thank Hon Murray Criddle for some notice of the question. The state government is assisting in funding structural reform in local governments through the Connecting Local Governments fund of $3 million over two years, commencing in 2006-07. The City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough have jointly applied for funding. Their application is under consideration. We have not yet established exactly what those costs will be. When we at least agree on what those costs will be, we will determine how we will offer assistance, and whether it will come out of the Connecting Local Governments fund or from other sources. I am acutely aware of how important this issue is to the success of the amalgamation, and certainly the message it sends to other local governments that are considering amalgamation. It is a question that needs to be resolved as soon as possible so that local governments can talk to their constituencies about it. I would like to think that the issue will be resolved by next week.

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