FORMER chair of the WA Planning Commission Eric Lumsden died Monday after a long illness.

After retiring from the WAPC he was Perth chair commissioner from March 2018 to August 2019 when he stepped down on his doctor’s advice after being on sick leave for most of 2019.

However he revealed at his final meeting he’d still had a hand in the council’s direction during his treatment, with texts and phone calls to fellow commissioners.

At the Perth council meeting on December 17 replacement chair commissioner Andrew Hammond announced Mr Lumsden “passed away yesterday after a brave battle with illness for some time”.

“Eric was a committed professional; incredibly loyal and dedicated to the development of Perth and the development of WA and a fierce advocate for the strength and importance of local government.”

Mr Lumsden was CEO at Melville and Swan councils, and spent six years as director general of state planning.