Shire of Harvey council votes in support of investigating the potential reclassification to city status

“City” classification is now one step closer for the Shire of Harvey with investigations to upgrade its local government status to go ahead. During Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, councillors voted in support of deputy president Craig Carbone’s motion to investigate the potential reclassification of the shire to city status. The shire has met the 20,001 people quota needed to be a recognised city, with the motion marking the next step forward in the elevation process. The council voted to request the chief executive investigate the potential change, undertake public consultation to seek community views — including on the potential name — and prepare a report for the council’s consideration. Speaking to his motion, Cr Carbone said it was one of the most important proposals put forward to the shire in its 64-year history. He said a need for funding in the shire was the driver behind his push for city status. “We don’t need millions of dollars, we need hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 10 years to do the things that this shire needs,” he said. “Becoming a city status will give us a front-row seat with State and Federal politicians — certainly in those parliaments.” About $32 million is raised in rates each year, according to the shire’s annual budget. But, Cr Carbone said after paying wages and delivering core services, it was dependant on grant funding for major projects. “If you’re against this motion then you support rate increases because that’s the only way that we can fund the things that we need to do,” he said. Cr Carbone said he had suggested amalgamation in the past but it was always defeated — a move he now said was “dead and buried”. With more than 28,000 people residing in the shire, Cr Carbone said it was one of the fastest growing regions in WA and was experiencing rapid growth in its coastal areas “City status helps manage the large population growth, urban expansion of Australind, Treendale and Binningup and better long-term planning tools and infrastructure standards,” he said. “It’s good for community and business confidence. It signals stability and opportunity. “If you want this shire to go forward in the future, then we need to embrace this, be strategic and take this forward.” Cr Laurie Morley was the only one in the chamber to speak against the motion, and said he hadn’t seen any evidence suggesting extra funding or guarantees would result from the motion. Cr Morley said he wanted to see two questions asked to electors through a voluntary poll: Should the transition to a city status occur and if so should the name be changed? “At this stage I’m concerned that the motion may be interpreted as signalling a predisposition towards pursuing directional or predetermined city status before the community had been adequately informed or meaningfully consulted,” he said. ”We must avoid proceeding with proposals that may not reflect the community’s values, aspirations or identity and must ensure that any consultation is genuine, accessible, inclusive and sufficiently resourced to capture the diverse views across the district.” Supporting the motion, Cr Robyn Coleman said an investigation would provide clarity and allow for an informed debate. “It’ll also get some of that emotion out because change is always a bit scary for every single one of us whether we admit it or not,” she said. Cr Coleman said denying the motion would deny the community to have a say in the shire’s future. Shire president Michelle Campbell also expressed support and said it would not make a predetermined decision, but gather the facts and allow for an informed and transparent conversation. “Waiting until growth overtakes our capacity to plan is not responsible governance,” she said. “Proactively examining our status ensures we are preparing for the future, rather than reacting to it.” The vote was carried 8-1 with Cr Morley voting against.