PREMIER Colin Barnett visited the region during October.
During this visit it was apparent to me that time was of the essence and I noticed that several people did not get answers to the questions they wanted to ask the Premier and in some instances did not get the opportunity to even pose their questions.
With the assistance of Zara Saliba from Agricultural MLC Jim Chown’s office I asked these questions of the State Government.
These answers came from Local Government Minister John Castrilli’s chief of staff Garry Brennan.
One of the questions that Wagin Shire president Phil Blight wanted answered at the time was “who is going to pay for the amalgamation between shires, costs like employees incoming and outgoing, stationery signage and other associated costs?”
Mr Brennan’s reply was, “The Minister for Local Government through the Department of Local Government will discuss funding requests that arise from proposed amalgamations.
“Past governments have assisted with this cost and the Minister will be seeking funding through the 2010-11 budget process to have funds set aside for that purpose.”
Mr Blight asked “the amalgamation idea is based on population when in reality we have in Western Australia, one third of the nation’s land mass and one third of the total number of local shire councils.
“Should we not be considering the amalgamation on land mass rather than population?”
Mr Brennan’s answered, “There have been a number of suggestions put forward on the basis for reform, while the management of land infrastructure and environmental issues are important, it is mainly the community, current and future, who are the main areas of interest.
“The reform program has now reached the stage where the local government steering committee will be providing the Minister with its analysis of the submissions received from all 139 local governments.
“The Minister will then be making decisions on the remaining stages of this opportunity for reform.”
Dumbleyung Shire councillor Graham Wilson asked “is the Premier aware that if there was no Shire Council in Dumbleyung that other infrastructure like hospitals and certain businesses, would be non-existent and this would force families out of the area and into larger townships in search of work?
“Does the Premier have any answers to this domino effect?”
Mr Brennan replied “The role of local government in lobbying to retain or attract government services such as health services and as a consumer of goods and services from among small businesses is well recognised.
“A larger regionally focused local government would not diminish this capacity, if anything it should make it stronger.
“Communities having a regional focus should be able to identify economic development opportunities across the local government area and the potential is for increased activity among small businesses.”
I asked Mr Brennan “As a lot of shire councils had to complete their submissions within the specified time, what happens if a council changes its view on what should happen with their shire and perhaps a council chose to merge with another council who did not want all of the shire just part of it and the first council did not want to separate the region?”
Mr Brennan answered “The process is for the Local Government Advisory Board to examine in detail all submissions for mergers and boundary adjustments.
“If a local government has changed its mind that process provides the opportunity to raise that change.”
I asked “Is there any room for local shire councils to reconsider their options, in this respect?”
Mr Brennan said, “The Minister for Local Government will be announcing his intentions for the next stage of the reform program once he has received the steering committees analysis and recommendations.
“That stage will involve re-engaging with the majority of local governments and that will provide an opportunity to reconsider their options.”
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