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A rates increase has been set by the City of Belmont.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumPopular Perth suburb praise their budget as ‘best in State’

A Perth council’s budget has been praised as ‘realistic’ and the ‘best in the State.’

Michael Palmer

Optus and Vodafone are facing having to leave Lathlain Park.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumTower removal to plunge telco customers into no service zone

Optus and Vodafone have warned customers they could be in a dead zone after the Town of Victoria Park ordered they remove their towers from the Lathlain Park grandstand to make way for a proposed redevelopment.

Sophie Gannon

Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge is seeking re-election.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Local GovernmentCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Fremantle mayor reveals priorities if re-elected

With less than four months to go until the local government elections, City of Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge has her sights set on another four years holding the reins.

Caitlin Vinci

Claisebrook Road concrete plant can be seen from the freeway.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
BusinessCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Concrete companies attempt to adjust planning conditions

The City of Vincent looks set to double down on its refusal to reconsider conditions for two concrete plants in the Claisebrook precinct, despite a State invitation to reconsider.

Sophie Gannon

Victoria Park will lower its planned rate rise by one per cent.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumVic Park backs down on rate rise over cost-of-living crisis

Victoria Park mayor Karen Vernon said it had responded to feedback from residents and lowered the rate increase, which was ‘sufficient to cover the town’s operating and capital expenditure’.

Sophie Gannon

Mayor Fiona Argyle amongst the roses.

opinion
opinion
JESSICA PAGECommentsPremium
opinion
Nedlands saga shows things aren’t rosy in local governments

The door might be open, but it’s time to give some mayors a shove through it. 

Jessica Page

Jessica Page

Fiona Argyle.

state politicsCommentsPremiumModel who became the mayor to hopelessly divide Nedlands

Never one to shy from a fight, Fiona Argyle started out as a TV journalist and model long before she became the City of Nedlands Mayor.

Jessica Page

Perth councillor Catherine Lezer has become the first to officially signal her intent to run for Lord Mayor, replacing now-Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCouncillor first to throw hat in the ring for Lord Mayor gig

Perth councillor Catherine Lezer has become the first to signal her intent to run for Lord Mayor of Perth, seeking to replace now-State Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.

Oliver Lane

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley addresses the media following the mass resignation of City of Nedlands councillors yesterday. Kelsey Reid

updated
updated
state politicsCommentsPremium
updated
Beazley to end council’s ‘embarrassing saga of dysfunction’

It could take a fortnight for commissioners to take control of the City of Nedlands — but the councillors at the centre of the saga could renominate for the local government elections later this year.

Jessica Page

Councillors Fergus Bennett, Noel Youngman, Ben Hodson and Hengameh Amiry have quit, sending the City of Nedlands into crisis and sparking calls for the State Government to step in and appoint administrators.

updated
updated
state politicsCommentsPremium
updated
‘Toxic’: Four Nedlands councillors quit in mass resignation

Four councillors have quit, sending the City of Nedlands into crisis as the State Government prepares to step in.

Jessica Page and Harriet Flinn

Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumDeputy Lord Mayor issues warning to election candidates

City of Perth election candidates have been warned not to use council question time for grandstanding as the battle for seats in WA’s capital city heats up.

Sophie Gannon & Michael Palmer

Christine Hamilton-Prime and her husband, Dr Ganesa Raja.

Local GovernmentCommentsYoungest-ever councillor’s bid to become first female mayor

A councillor has embarked on a campaign to be the first woman to become the mayor of one of Perth’s biggest councils.

Justin Bianchini

The City of Canning has set its rates rise for 2025-26.

Local GovernmentPremiumREVEALED: Council pushing through highest rate rise in Perth

The hike equates to about $84 more that households will pay in 2025-26.

Matt Zis

Joondalup mayor Albert Jacob will not run again for the top job.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Local governmentVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Joondalup mayor to bow out of politics after nearly 20 years

Albert Jacob has decided not to run for a third mayoral term in October, paving the way for ex-Federal Liberal Ian Goodenough to put his hand up for the top job.

Justin Bianchini

Councils have pulled their membership of the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumSecrecy surrounds cities’ abandonment of regional council

The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council’s membership has dropped from six councils to two but the reasons behind the abandonment have been kept behind closed doors.

Michael Palmer

The City of Rockingham will increase rates by 3.5 per cent.

Rockingham ratesModest rate rise leaves Rockingham with budget shortfall

The City of Rockingham council has gone against a proposal to increase rates by 3.9 per cent next financial year and voted for a more modest increase of 3.5 per cent. 

Rachel Fenner

Minister for Local Government, Disability Services, Youth, Volunteering and the Gascoyne region Hannah Beazley.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Local GovernmentCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Beazley looks to overhaul election cycle amid voter fatigue

Admitting her patience is wearing ‘thin’ with obstinate and overly political local governments, the second term MP and minister has opened up to The West about a plague of issues in the sector. 

Dylan Caporn

Shire of Plantagenet stalwart Ken Clements received a King’s Birthday Honour.

OAMPremiumMt Barker OAM modest about 39yrs of service

Despite his almost four decades of public and volunteer service to the Mt Barker community, Ken Clements admitted he was “very surprised” to see his name among the 413 esteemed Australians receiving an OAM.

Melissa Sheil

The City of Joondalup is reviewing its perks for council members.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Local GovernmentCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Alcohol, dining perks for elected members to be reviewed

It comes in the wake of an Auditor-General report that found questionable spending by other councils on alcohol and dining perks.

Liam Murphy

Cottesloe residents will soon have their say on the divisive Australia Day date debate as the council considers whether to continue holding its annual citizenship ceremony on January 26.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCottesloe residents get say on Australia Day date debate

Locals will be given a choice of three options: A) On the nearest Saturday to 26 January, B) On 26 January, or C) No preference. 

Harriet Flinn

Early concept images of the proposed coastal boardwalk released by the City of Stirling.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumCity refuses to release $500k boardwalk documents

A community group has referred a Freedom of Information dispute to the WA Information Commissioner after the City of Stirling declined to release some internal documents.

Liam Murphy

City of Joondalup CEO James Pearson has told staff he will not be seeking reappointment when his contract ends next March.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumCEO to depart after council decides to advertise position

The council plans to start the search for a new chief executive after the 2025 local government elections in October.

Liam Murphy

State Budget funding means the airport master plan can be completed by March-April next year.

AIRPORT UPGRADESPremiumMayor thrilled by $11.5m for “big-ticket” airport upgrades

Albany’s mayor says the $11.5 million dedicated to finishing the upgrades of the Great Southern’s largest airport, announced in last week’s State Budget, means the facility can be completed in early 2026.

Melissa Sheil

Housing and Works Minister John Carey.

Commercial PropertyCommentsPremiumA kick up the Rs for Perth’s home density codes

A review to consider higher heights limits in some areas as the State Government seeks to promote greater density in key locations

Kim Macdonald