Metropolitan Local Government Review
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METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW FINAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT PANEL JULY 2012 Metropolitan Local Government Review Final Report of the Independent Panel - July 2012 CHAIR’S TRANSMITTAL LETTER Hon G M (John) Castrilli MLA Minister for Local Government; Heritage; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests 8th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Dear Minister I am pleased to provide you with the Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel‘s Final Report. The Panel has unanimously made 30 recommendations, in accordance with its Terms of Reference, which we believe will build the strength, capacity, effectiveness and authority of local government. The Panel sees a stronger local government sector in metropolitan Perth as the key outcome of this Review. The Panel believes that implementation of its recommendations will enhance the role that local government plays in supporting communities. I am sure that you will agree that the Review is an opportunity for State and local governments, and the community, to support changes that will strengthen the standing of local government in community life. On behalf of the Panel I would like to thank you for the opportunity to undertake this Review and I look forward to hearing of your consideration of the recommendations the Panel made. Yours sincerely Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AM, CitWA CHAIR, METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW 12 July 2012 1 | P a g e Metropolitan Local Government Review Final Report of the Independent Panel - July 2012 CHAIR’S FOREWORD In June 2011 the Minister for Local Government, Hon John Castrilli MLA, appointed the Metropolitan Local Government Panel to undertake the important task of considering the current structures and arrangements for local government in Perth and recommending improvements to maximise benefits to the Perth community. The Review has been a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of Perth, and I have been grateful for the opportunity to be involved. One of my main observations through this Review is that Perth has a great collection of suburbs, but it does not function as well as it should as a city. The people of Perth are in a buoyant mood and the city is on the edge of a period of great change. This Review of local government provides a chance to make the most of the current environment, and help Perth to take off on the right foot and face its future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Advisory Groups to the Panel including: Ms Jennifer Mathews, Director General, Department of Local Government Mr Eric Lumsden, Director General, Department of Planning Mayor Troy Pickard, President, and Cr Steve Martin, formerly Deputy President, Western Australian Local Government Association. The Advisory Groups provided invaluable support and advice to the Panel throughout the Review. I would also like to thank the Panel Secretariat for their excellent work on this project in preparing research materials and providing executive support. In addition to the Issues Paper and Draft Findings, over 40 background and briefing papers were produced. The Panel also appreciates the administrative, information technology and cartographic assistance provided by staff in the Departments of Local Government and Planning. Nearly 450 submissions were made to the Panel and I was pleased to have the opportunity to review these and to meet with many members of the community. I would like to thank all of the local government and stakeholder representatives and community members who took the time to participate. Their input was most important and the Review would have been poorer without that participation. Finally, I would like to thank the other members of the Panel for their contribution to the Review: Dr Peter Tannock AM, Vice Chancellor Emeritus Dr Sue van Leeuwen, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership WA. This Final Report makes 30 recommendations which the Panel believes are both achievable and vital for the continued success of Perth. Perth has a good local government system. I would like the outcome of this Review to be that Perth has a great local government system. I believe the recommendations made by the Panel lay the foundations for this, and I look forward to seeing how these are progressed. Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AM CitWA CHAIR, METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW July 2012 2 | P a g e Metropolitan Local Government Review Final Report of the Independent Panel - July 2012 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ACELG Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government AC21 Swan Canning Policy Group CaLD Culturally and Linguistically Diverse CAT Central Area Transit CBD Central Business District COAG Council of Australian Governments DAP Development Assessment Panel DLG Department of Local Government DR Development and Resources stream (of SAT) EMRC East Metropolitan Regional Council FPTP First-past-the-post GRV Gross Rental Value HACC Home and Community Care LGAB Local Government Advisory Board LGMA Local Government Managers Australia LPS Local Planning Scheme MRA Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority MRPA Metropolitan Regional Planning Authority MRS Metropolitan Region Scheme NRM Natural Resource Management PAMG Perth Airport Municipalities Group QEII Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre RC Regional Council RDC Regional Development Commission RLG Regional Local Government ROC Regional Organisation of Councils SAT State Administrative Tribunal SMRC South Metropolitan Regional Council TPS Town Planning Scheme UV Unimproved Value UWA University of Western Australia WALGA Western Australian Local Government Association WAPC Western Australian Planning Commission WESROC Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils WMRC Western Metropolitan Regional Council 3 | P a g e Metropolitan Local Government Review Final Report of the Independent Panel - July 2012 CONTENTS CHAIR‟S TRANSMITTAL LETTER .............................................................................................. 1 CHAIR‟S FOREWORD ............................................................................................................ 2 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................... 3 CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. 6 LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................... 8 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 13 SECTION 1: THE REVIEW: ESTABLISHMENT AND PROCESS ....................................... 16 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 16 1.2 Background ...................................................................................................... 16 1.3 Panel members ................................................................................................ 16 1.4 Terms of reference ........................................................................................... 17 1.5 Defining metropolitan Perth .............................................................................. 17 1.6 Principles for the Metropolitan Local Government Review ................................. 19 1.7 Engaging the community .................................................................................. 20 SECTION 2: THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE ....... 21 2.1 A need for change ............................................................................................ 21 2.2 Previous reviews and boundary changes in Perth ............................................. 23 2.3 A vision for metropolitan Perth .......................................................................... 25 2.4 Changes to Perth local government arrangements ........................................... 26 2.5 Relationships, roles and functions .................................................................... 26 2.6 Working towards an ideal structure for local government .................................. 27 2.7 Governance ..................................................................................................... 28 SECTION 3: KEY DRIVERS AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF PERTH AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT .................................................................................................................. 29 3.1 ECONOMIC ISSUES ........................................................................................... 30 3.2 SOCIAL ISSUES .................................................................................................. 32 3.2.1 Population .................................................................................................... 32 3.2.2 Ageing.......................................................................................................... 34 3.2.3 Changing household structure and demographic diversity ............................. 35 3.2.4 Urban consolidation and housing .................................................................. 38 3.2.5 Critical public infrastructure..........................................................................