Perth Voice Interactive

LIBERAL MP Michael Sutherland is in the sights of local party members aghast at confirmation that some of Mt Lawley is to shift from Stirling to Bayswater city council.

Former Liberal Party branch president Paul Collins claims Mr Sutherland didn’t fight the move hard enough because his wife Michelle is a Bayswater councillor, and that despite being Speaker, he has no influence with the premier.

“Whilst other Liberal party members across the metro area were influential resulting in positive outcomes for their constituents, Michael Sutherland, compromised by his own wife’s election on to Bayswater council, failed his thousands of constituents who attended three public rallies and signed petitions to remain in Stirling,” Mr Collins, a former Stirling councillor, says. “We now know Michael Sutherland does not have the influence within his own party, or with the premier, that the electors of Mt Lawley deserve. I am surprised the WA Liberal Party hasn’t learnt from Victoria and Queensland where similar local government boundary shifting led to the defeat of both state governments.”

Mr Sutherland says he did everything he could to keep Mt Lawley in Stirling, “but now the decision has been made we have to go with it”.

“The heritage protection that applies to parts of Mt Lawley and Inglewood will continue to be respected by the new city of Bayswater council, who have adapted the same heritage guidelines as those in Stirling.”

But the Mount Lawley Society remains convinced heritage will suffer: “Stirling has enshrined the heritage protection area concept for Mount Lawley, Menora and Inglewood in its local planning scheme,” says MLS president Bruce Wooldridge.

“New development must also conform to character retention guidelines. This would significantly diminish if Bayswater’s current system were to be applied.”

Stirling city council is also unhappy: it spent $59,000 fighting the merger and Cr Terry Tyzack now wants it to explore legal options.

Bayswater mayor Sylvan Albert is one of the few WA council leaders who’s happy—his council gets to annex Bassendean and juicy parts of Stirling and Swan.

“We believe that the boundary changes taking place represent a good outcome for the communities involved and will result in the city of Bayswater becoming an even more sustainable, effective and customer focussed local government,” he says.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK