Good news for Perth businesses rate payers

Good news for Perth businesses, rate payersThe long-awaited City of Perth Act, which passed through West Australia’s parliament last week, could kick-start local council reform, says the Property Council of Australia. From 1 July, the City of Perth will absorb a number of key landmarks, including Kings Park, the University of Western Australia, the new Perth Children’s Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, along with around 3000 residents from Nedlands and Subiaco.Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi has said the move will bring Perth in line with other Australian capital cities and acknowledge its central role in tourism, business and economic development.”The City of Perth Act will provide the necessary structure and legislation to ensure local and state government can work together on vitally important issues,” Scaffidi says.West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has also welcomed the Act’s passing, and Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has said the Bill acknowledges the unique role played by the City of Perth.”The City of Perth has responsibility not only to its ratepayers but to the thousands of people who visit the city for work and leisure every day, including visitors from interstate and overseas,” Simpson says.The Property Council of Australia’s WA executive director Joe Lenzo argues that it’s “only natural” that the City of Perth boundaries should include “our biggest landmarks”.Lenzo encourages the Barnett Government to “use the momentum from this and push forward with the reform process. “This state needs larger and more sustainable councils that can provide the full range of services for businesses and communities under growth pressures, he says.”Ultimately the role of local council is to provide ratepayers the best possible place to live, at the best rate; metropolitan municipality reform is the only way to achieve that.”There is no doubt the City of Perth will prove to be a shining example of the benefits of local council reform and we encourage other councils to rethink the missed opportunity on amalgamations,” Lenzo concludes.