Kwinana backs WALGA claim

The City of Kwinana has shown its support of the WA Local Government Association after it called on the State Government for $5.4 million to reimburse councils' money lost to the failed metropolitan local government reform process.

WALGA last week confirmed it had approached the State Government with an aggregated claim for the costs directly attributable to reform as recommended by the Local Government Advisory Board and approved by the Minister.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said the City supported WALGA in its endeavour to seek fair reimbursement after spending $1.5 million preparing for the reform process, which kicked off in 2009.

"We believe our residents should be reimbursed for the direct costs in responding to the process during consultation periods as well as for the merger preparation costs which were incurred prior to reform being abandoned earlier this year," she said.

WALGA president Mayor Troy Pickard said the claim was modest and did not take into account ancillary or opportunity costs of councils in complying with the State's metropolitan reform process.

Cr Adams said the City would now await the State Government's response to WALGA.