Perth Voice Interactive

RECOMMENDATIONS on councils mergers for Perth, Vincent, Bayswater and Stirling are expected to be finished later this week.

WA local government advisory board chair Mel Congerton says recommendations for most of Perth’s metro councils are nearly done.

More work is needed on a merger plan that includes Melville and Cockburn, with knock-on impacts for Fremantle, East Fremantle, Kwinana, Canning and Gosnells.

“We will submit the remainder of the recommendations to local government minister Tony Simpson as soon as they are ready and we will put on hold the balance until we get further submissions on the revised proposals,” Mr Congerton said.

“The board recognises that the changes we are considering are significantly different from the proposals that were advertised recently.”

Mr Congerton adds changes were included after taking account of extensive feedback from the community.

Mr Simpson has the power to accept or reject the Walgab’s recommendations but not to amend them.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK