Local Government
Department of Local Government and Regional Development
Government of Western Australia


Local Government Advisory Board - Overview
Local Government Advisory Board
 
The Local Government Advisory Board is a statutory body established under the Local Government Act 1995 to provide advice to the Minister for Local Government on local government constitutional matters. It has five members including members nominated by local government and the Department of Local Government and Regional Development.

The Board’s major function is to assess proposals to change local government boundaries and their systems of representation and then make recommendations to the Minister.

Board Members
Select here to view the Board Members »

Changes to Local Government District Boundaries
Under Schedule 2.1 of the Act, proposals to change local government district boundaries can be submitted to the Board by the Minister, local governments or electors of an affected local government.

View the Processes Associated with Making Submissions for District Boundary Changes (June 2006)PDF 65.81Kb

Electors may wish to view How can we change our local government boundaries?PDF 40.84Kb and Form 1 Community proposal to create, change the boundaries of, or abolish a local government districtPDF 52.83Kb.

Where the Board decides that a proposed district boundary change is not minor, it must conduct a full public inquiry giving affected councils and electors 6 weeks to make submissions.

In assessing proposals, the Board must consider any submissions received during the submission period and take specific factors into consideration:

  • Community of interest
  • Physical and topographic features
  • Demographic trends
  • Economic factors
  • The history of the area
  • Transport and communication
  • Matters affecting the viability of local governments
  • The effective delivery of local government services
View the Guiding PrinciplesPDF 17.57Kb for an explanation of how the board interprets these factors.

When its assessment is complete, the Board submits a report to the Minister with a recommendation. This may recommend that the proposal be approved, rejected or changed. The Minister may accept or reject the Board’s recommendation but cannot change it.

Changes to Wards and Representation
Under Schedule 2.2 of the Act, local governments with wards must conduct regular reviews of ward boundaries of representation in consultation with their communities.

View An explanation of the processes for reviewing ward boundaries and representation (June 2006)PDF 69.01Kb.

For advice about how to complete a review, local governments may wish to view the Information PackagePDF 1,011.67Kb.

Electors may wish to view Form 3 Community submission about changes to wards, name or representationPDF 51.72Kb.

The Board considers the outcome of these reviews and ensures that the local governments have complied with the Act.

Where after a review, a local government proposes to change its system of representation the Board must be satisfied that the Council has correctly considered certain criteria:
  • Community of interest
  • Physical and topographic features
  • Demographic trends
  • Economic factors
  • The ratio of councillors to electors in the various wards
If it is not satisfied it may ask the local government to reconsider its decision or to do a further review.

The Board must recommend to the Minister any proposal that in its opinion correctly takes account of relevant criteria. The Minister may accept or reject the Board’s recommendation but cannot change it.
See also...

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