Rare Chance to Shape Perth


The Council of the City of Perth believes the current local government boundary reforms being undertaken by the State Government are a crucial opportunity to shape Perth into a strong capital city for future generations.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, speaking ahead of the City’s presentation to the Local Government Advisory Board (LGAB) on what the Council considers to be the best system of local government for the capital city as part of the reform process, said: “We have taken a close look at the local government reforms achieved in other cities and have drawn insight from those successes.

“It is clear from the experiences in strong leading cities like Melbourne and Brisbane that it is essential to incorporate all major infrastructure and significant inner city precincts into the boundaries of a capital city.

“Our efforts are focused on shaping a strong capital city so we can strongly promote and show our city to the rest of the nation and the world as we champion our various key industry sectors and attract more investment opportunities.

“This is a one in a hundred year opportunity: let’s get it right.”

The City of Perth advocates relatively small amendments to the State Government’s  proposed boundary changes announced in November 2013.

Ms Scaffidi said Belmont Racecourse and the complete Burswood Peninsula should be included within the City’s boundaries along with the other essential strategic infrastructure identified by the State Government including Kings Park, the University of WA, QEII Medical Centre, Hollywood Hospital, Crown Perth, Medibank Stadium, NIB Stadium, and the new Perth Stadium and their immediate surrounding areas.

“Under the proposed changes by the State Government, what would normally be considered key capital city infrastructure would be dispersed around various local governments. This dissipates the role of the capital city” she said.

“That’s not conducive to effective planning and it stifles coordinated development.

“We don’t believe that including the northern part of the City of Vincent within our boundaries is ideal as it is more suburban in nature with different issues and priorities from those in the inner-city.

“Regarding the ‘all of the City of Vincent into the City of Perth’ push, which has received a strong focus in this discussion, why would more comparable areas such as West Leederville and Subiaco not be considered as well as they are actually closer to the CBD than the areas referred to in the City of Vincent?”

The City of Perth will present its supplementary submission to the LGAB on Wednesday 19 February.

The LGAB is seeking public submissions until 13 March 2014 on the proposed boundary changes.

Lord Mayor Scaffidi appealed to West Australians to have their say to help make the City of Perth a stronger capital.   “A stronger capital city is really where this reform discussion should start as it sets us all up for a better future,” she said.

For more information visit City of Perth