City of Perth joins list of adversaries to state planning changes

The City of Perth's Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi, has spoken out against the state's planning changes, calling them inconsistent, poorly managed and a 'backflip.

Referring to the July 30 announcement, where the Premier and Minister for Local Government met with the Deputy Lord Mayor and proposed a revised city plan, Scaffidi said that the revices changes this week have turned them against the plans.

“The City now joins a growing list of strong adversaries on the way this process is being managed while previously they had been very much in sync with the Government on this matter," she said.

“We put our faith in a strategic and logical argument while now it seems the State is playing populist politics.  The State Government has a clear lack of understanding of fundamental local government issues and clear priorities such as the strategic outlook for the capital city which is the City of Perth."

She pointed to the eastern aspect of the city, including areas such as Belmont Park and Burswood Peninsula Estate, as one of many areas of contention. Noting that a proposed stadium and casino are located on the peninsula, she said it made sense for them to come under one LGA.

Concerns for ratepayers were also expressed, with areas other than the City of Perth having higher rates, meaning either a revenue shortfall or an increase across the LGA, should boundaries change in this way.

Ratepayers at Brookfield Place would face a collective estimated $214,000 increase under the changes.