Perth Voice Interactive

Note: these photos are of 2015 Mercedes C250 and CLA250 models, but features may vary to the vehicles purchased by the City of Stirling.  

WHY buy just one luxury Mercedes with ratepayers’ money when you can buy two?

Eyebrows are being raised across Stirling as word gets around that mayor Giovanni Italiano and CEO Stuart Jardine are driving flash new sedans; a C250 for the mayor and a CLA250 for the CEO.

Both cars retail for about $75,000 each.

Neither the mayor nor the CEO would be interviewed by the Voice about the vehicles. Instead, council infrastructure director Michael Littleton stepped in via an email statement to defend the purchases.

He says the council switched to Mercedes based on cost, vehicles emissions, fuel consumption, safety and fuel type. “The vehicles purchased for the CEO and mayor fit within those parameters,” he says.

The council refused to say what makes and models were driven previously, but the Voice understands the mayor’s previous vehicle was a Holden Statesman or Caprice. A top of the line Caprice with all the fruit sells for around $62,000.

Mr Jardine is understood to have been provided a Toyota Prado 4WD (depending on the model between $60,000 and $90,000).

No information was provided on how often Stirling council buys cars, how big its fleet is, nor its total cost.

“It is important to remember that these vehicles are city assets,” Mr Littleton says.

“The city utilises its buying capacity to achieve competitive vehicle purchase prices and also optimises resale to minimise vehicle operating costs.”

He adds the cars are part of packages and incentives to “attract and retain quality staff”. No information was provided as to how a Mercedes keeps staff better than another vehicle.

“Tim” called the Voice to complain about the cars, saying they were “excessive”.  He’d seen the pair with the cars soon after last month’s council elections, where Cr Italiano was re-elected to his ward by the skin of his teeth.

Teresa Olow, who came within a handful of votes of defeating Cr Italiano in Osborne ward, says the cars are over the top.

“I don’t think it’s right because, at the end of the day, it’s ratepayers’ money,” she says.

“Tim” says the purchases do not sit well with other councillors.

by EMMIE DOWLING