Council steps up amalgamation fight

Dardanup Shire Council has launched a No Amalgamation Action Group amid fears Eaton residents will want to join the City of Bunbury.

The lobby group believes its biggest challenge is educating new Eaton residents about the effects of a possible local government merger.

Shire president Mick Bennett has warned that in two years the Government would be finished with the mergers in the city and predicted amalgamations would then focus on Greater Bunbury.

The No Amalgamation Action Group is made up of four Dardanup shire councillors, five community members and eight part-time members.

The group has met regularly to discuss how to educate Dardanup shire ratepayers about the possible impacts of a forced amalgamation.

Shire chief executive officer Mark Chester said some Eaton residents were new to the area and might not be as informed about the effects of amalgamation as long-term residents.

“What we want to sell to the broader community is that the Dardanup Shire Council is sustainable as it is, ” he said.

“Through the committee discussion we have come to the conclusion that most of the people in the rural areas such as Burekup, Dardanup and the farming areas do not support amalgamation.

“People need to allow us to keep putting out the services and completing the things which need doing.

“When the time comes to stand up for the council we need people to say ‘No we do not want this to happen’.”

The group has stepped up its efforts since Premier Colin Barnett visited Bunbury last month and reiterated his support for an amalgamation of the Greater Bunbury region to help cement the city’s place as WA’s second capital.

However the Government is yet to put a timeframe on any amalgamations in the South West while it works on the Perth mergers.

Cr Bennett said many people told him they were worried about the amalgamations.

“They say to us ‘we don’t want to be amalgamated’ and not to amalgamate us with other councils, ” he said.

“At the moment we are just having preliminary meetings.

“It is a bit awkward when you are in a fight where you don’t know what you are fighting – we are not sure just yet what the opponent is.”