THE Stay in Stirling campaign is ramping up again as the merger process gets to the pointy end, with submissions to the local government advisory board due March 13.
The council has called for more community meetings opposing WA government plans for a Stirling split up, with mayor Giovanni Italiano urging anyone who cares about their hip pocket and their neighbourhood’s amenity to come along.
“it’s mainly the fear for heritage”
“There’s no point sitting on the fence in this matter, we are fighting for our residents and we are fighting to ensure that the state government doesn’t just decide to carve us up to make the financing of this whole affair more affordable,” Cr Italiano said in a statement announcing the meetings.
“Rates may increase for everyone, services will be reduced, our heritage is under threat and major strategic projects may be put into jeopardy.”
Mt Lawley Society president Bruce Wooldridge told the Voice, “it’s mainly the fear for heritage” which has him most worried. He says Stirling has a good record on its historic buildings with its heritage protection areas.
But chunks of the council could be shipped off to Bayswater which he said has been sending “mixed messages” on heritage, with two old buildings on Guildford Road recently being given the thumbs up for demolition.
“We believe that Stirling has the most effective heritage protection regime in place of any council in Australia, with Bayswater’s (and Perth and Vincent’s) existing approaches and philosophies being fundamentally flawed,” Mr Wooldridge’s submission says.
The next public meeting is at the Bob Daniels community centre, 895 Beaufort Street Inglewood on February 22 from 10am.
by DAVID BELL
Perth Voice Interactive 
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