Councillor cut could be blocked

A bid to cut the number of Bunbury city councillors could be blocked despite the results of Saturday's referendum.

The _South Western Times _can reveal six councillors have confirmed they will vote against any move to reduce councillors from 12 to eight, despite 52 per cent of voters supporting it.

Councillors Brendan Kelly, Wendy Giles, Michelle Steck, Joel McGuinness, Karen Steele and Betty McCleary have vowed to block the move.

The proposal, to cut four councillors over the next two elections, is set to be heard at a future meeting before it is referred to the Local Government Advisory Board and then the State Government for a final decision.

The group needs the support of one more councillor to block the plan with Mayor Gary Brennan having the power to break a 6-6 deadlock and bring in the change.

The group's opposition means the council will have at least one more lengthy debate on an issue which has been on the agenda for more than a year.

Many of the councillors against the reduction told the _Times _ they were shocked by the referendum.

They also questioned the apparent "bias" in the arguments that were given to the public.

"No my position has not changed - I will not support a reduction of councillors in the City of Bunbury," Cr Kelly said.

"I believe the arguments that were put to the public were at best poor.

"I don't think the public were voting on a matter that was fully explained.

"I think the results are so inconclusive that I will be staying with the status quo."

Cr Steele supported Cr Kelly's view and said the vote was "almost split down the middle".

John Sherwood, who led a campaign against the referendum, said the issue was "not over yet".

He said the lower turnout meant only 13 per cent of all electors voted for the reduction of numbers. Only about 5000 people voted on the referendum - about 25 per cent of all voters.

"That is not sufficient to warrant such a major change," Mr Sherwood said.

"If such reduction had taken place before this election, Joel McGuinness and former councillor Sam Morris would not have been elected and Bunbury would have lost their expertise and contribution to our council."