By Staff Writer

West Australian Local Government Minister John Castrilli has urged local governments to submit their reform submissions by September 30.

Castrilli said reform would deliver a number of strategic benefits to Western Australia’s councils and their communities.
 
“There has been widespread public discussion about driving reform in local government with focus on cost savings, not strategic benefit,” he said.
 
“Reform will create better efficiency, improved services and delivery and more sustainable finances.
 
“It will build a sector that has the capacity to plan and act regionally with the State and Commonwealth governments.”
 
The Minister said councils had consulted with their communities and considered ways in which to voluntarily amalgamate to reduce the total number of elected members to between six and nine and form appropriate regional groupings of councils.
 
He said responses from local governments to-date had been very positive.
 
“Last week four Mid-West shires, Mingenew, Three Springs, Morawa and Perenjori agreed to form one local government and I encourage other local governments to embrace the form agenda,” Castrilli said.
 
“This is a voluntary process, however, all local governments must provide a reform submission, including those that do not believe amalgamation is required.”
 
The Minister will review the reform submissions through the Local Government Reform Steering Committee.
 
The steering committee will provide an interim report to the Minister by mid- October and a consolidated report towards the end of the year.