Rod Willox is so angry with the Barnett merger he’s abandoned plans to retire from Stirling city council in October.
Cr Willox has represented Lawley ward for 20 years and is determined to seek re-election to fight to keep Mt Lawley in Stirling.
Under the Barnett merger, his home of 40 years is to wind up in the merged Bayswater-Bassendean super council.
“The decision-making process is flawed—it seems to be driven by arithmetic rather than logic,” he says.
“They want 100,000 in each council and needed around 20,000 to make the new Bayswater super council, so they decided to lob Mt Lawley in there.
“Stirling will lose around 12,000 rateable properties a year, which equates to roughly $14 million in revenue.
“Stirling has a heritage protection area that encompasses Mt Lawley and portions of Inglewood, so we have a great record in preserving historical buildings.
“I want to fight to keep that and make sure that heritage is not the big loser in all of this.”
The retired colonel—who cuts a dashing figure about town with his cane and polka dot scarf—was previously a member of the local government advisory board that oversaw the creation of Joondalup’s new boundaries and a planned merger of the western suburbs.
For his services to the community and local government Cr Willox was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2003 and received the centenary of federation medal.
BY STEPHEN POLLOCK
Perth Voice Interactive 
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