Perth Voice Interactive

As expected, Perth city council has formally rejected a full merger with Vincent.

It bolsters local government minister Tony Simpson’s preferred option of splitting Vincent between Perth and Stirling, however premier Colin Barnett this week said he was “disappointed” and would personally intervene to try and get a rethink.

It also means the PCC is kissing goodbye to millions of dollars in annual savings: A study it commissioned stated increasing the capital’s population to 40,000 people would generate revenues and efficiencies leading to a saving of more than $10 million a year.

Instead, the PCC’s submission to the state government recommends its northern border extend only to Bulwer Street: That would see Vincent’s commercial districts in Perth and most suburbs hived off to Stirling: “I can imagine the disappointment from a number of Vincent ratepayers and residents who were hoping that we would have gone all the way up to Green Street [in Mt Hawthorn],” Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi said.

“I don’t think it was realistic for us.” Describing the PCC as the “face of WA” she says a smaller capital—albeit much bigger than it is now—“enables the City of Perth to focus on our capital city role”.

Jim Adamos was the only Perth city councillor to break ranks. He says more people is precisely what the capital needs, noting Melbourne has 100,000 residents and Sydney 180,000.

“A larger city of Perth area will create more efficiency, better use of assets such as trucks, buildings and land, together with an increase in rates and revenues.”

He says taking in all of Vincent makes cultural, financial and administrative sense.

“The costs and complexity of transitioning a part of Vincent or any other council for that matter will be high compared to the transition of an entire local government authority.”

Expanding the boundary means the PCC can also better meet its 2031 strategic community infrastructure goals for more schools, health clubs, recreation centres and youth facilities, without having to build them from scratch nor find the space to fit them into a smaller capital footprint.

by DAVID BELL