Perth metropolitan councils are preparing for the biggest change in 100 years with the long-awaited state government decision on amalgamations to be released on Wednesday.
The announcement by Local Government Minister Tony Simpson could see the number of metropolitan councils reduced from 30 to 15 from July 1, 2015.
Among the proposed amalgamations are the City of Gosnells and the City of Canning, the City of Bayswater and the Town of Bassendean, the City of Belmont and the Shire of Kalamunda, the City of South Perth and the Town of Victoria Park, the City of Swan and the Shire of Mundaring; and the City of Kwinana and the City of Cockburn.
In the western suburbs, Cottesloe, Claremont, Cambridge, Mosman Park, Nedlands, Peppermint Grove, Subiaco and part of the City of Stirling are expected to merge.
The redistribution of the Perth boundary has received mixed reaction from residents and ratepayers.
Premier Colin Barnett previously called for an expansion to the Perth boundaries to include major landmarks Kings Park, the University of Western Australia, Burswood Peninsula and QEII Medical Centre.
The Local Government Advisory Board indicated it would not take these recommendations on board, however, Vincent was expected to be absorbed by Perth.
Victoria Park mayor Trevor Vaughan said he was confident the Burswood Peninsula would remain with an amalgamated South Perth and Victoria Park.
"I think our community would be really angry [if they lost the peninsula]," Mr Vaughan said.
"We get $2.8 million in rates from the Crown, and people see if we lose that - our biggest ratepayer - they'll have to cover those rates."
Mr Barnett is proposing new legislation that would see Perth's boundaries expanded, as well as enhancing the city's power, stature and access to funding.
The new law could also have the potential to restrict voting, a consequence that has angered Vincent mayor John Carey.
"He [Mr Barnett] is saying he doesn't think residential voters should control the CBD," Mr Carey said.
"Why would City of Vincent residents want to come across to a new system where they are treated as second-class citizens because their votes have less say than the City of Perth residents?"
Mr Carey futher voiced his frustration on Twitter, comparing the amalgamation to reality TV show The Bachelor.
Local Gov reform feels like The Bachelor finale: Colin Barnett dumps Vincent after professing love and hooks up with City of Perth proposal. — john carey (@Vincent__Mayor)
October 19, 2014
Debate has also centred around the cities of Cockburn and Kwinana, which look to merge to form the City of Success.
Cockburn council had originally rejected plans to amalgamate with Kwinana, but found itself divided and swallowed up by Melville and Fremantle under blueprints released by the Local Government Advisory Board in November last year.
But under LGAB's latest recommended released in July - based on the Cockburn Community Steering Committee's submission - Kwinana and Cockburn are set to merge again.
Mr Simpson is expected to hold a closed briefing for metropolitan mayors, presidents and chief executive officers on Wednesday morning, before the decisions are published on the Department of Local Government and Communities website later in the day.
