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Fast-track council mergers, minister told

MITCHELL WOODCOCKSouth Western Times
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Bunbury businesses have called on the State Government to take action on local government reform by amalgamating councils in Greater Bunbury.

Local Government Minister Tony Simpson was in Bunbury on Friday, where he was a guest speaker at a Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries lunch.

Several businesspeople told the Minister they were concerned with the delivery of services by South West shire councils and called for immediate action on amalgamation.

Mr Simpson said there was no set timeframe for the councils to be merged because he was still concentrating on the metropolitan area – but he did confirm that regional councils were next in line.

Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries chief executive officer Ray Philp said there were business leaders who believed amalgamation was needed immediately.

“I think it is one of those things – businesses see the benefits of having larger councils. They look at it from a business perspective, ” Mr Philp said.

“Businesses see fewer councils within the region would mean more consistency in relation to council planning applications.

“There seems to be variations between councils which make things difficult.

“The Minister was very adamant from the point of view that he has his focus on the metropolitan area and hasn’t considered the regional reform.”

Mr Simpson said people in business looked at the amalgamation issue differently to residents.

“Business people are always very supportive of reform, ” he said.

“Businesses pay quite a considerable amount of rates.

“They like the idea of building those economies of scale, getting efficiency for their dollar and a lot of people in business have to deal with council on a regular basis.”

“There was a lot of conversation about planning regulations and why local governments are different today.”

Mr Simpson said Bunbury would remain the South West’s regional centre after amalgamation.

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