00:02The city of Nedlands heads to the polls for a special election in just over two weeks but the local
00:08government minister is already predicting a bumpy ride for the new council.
00:12I mean they've already had to close down some parks in Nedlands because they haven't been maintained and are therefore
00:18causing safety issues for local kids. So they're really pressing issues.
00:22Nedlands council was sacked and replaced by three commissioners last July after four councillors quit en masse.
00:29On March 28 a new council will be elected but the minister thinks it's time to talk about the city's
00:34viability altogether given its significant financial problems.
00:39They have many neighbours so whether it's a solution involving one or two, none at all, that's really a question
00:45for the council.
00:46Ms Beasley also flagging a broader conversation about amalgamations across the state. WA's smallest council not interested.
00:54Our house is in order so I'm not sure why we'd be looking amalgamating with other councillors that maybe don't
01:01have the same structure as we have in the set up and what we're doing.
01:05Despite trying and failing to push amalgamations in his time, former Premier Colin Barnett thinks there's fat to trim in
01:12Perth and more significantly in the regions.
01:14The really main game in terms of the future, in my opinion, is the wheat belt area.
01:20There are 44 local councils across the wheat belt.
01:23If they want to and should want to improve the opportunities and development in those areas, they're not going to
01:30do it with 44 councils.
01:31The government might be putting amalgamations on the agenda but the biggest challenge will be to get the sector and
01:39ratepayers on side during a tumultuous time for local government.
01:43When you present it as a straight amalgamation, there's not a lot of appetite when you go through the sector
01:48and it's just that general reality that has to be acknowledged.
01:51The people of Western Australia are saying and the local government sector are saying to me, they have been feeling
01:57a top-down approach from this government.
01:59Opinions divided on the future of local government.
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