By Michael Newhouse
WESTERN councils have dismissed suggestions that Melbourne’s major Western municipalities should merge to create a super council similar to the one that had been proposed for inner-Melbourne.
Western leaders say they have no plans for such a super council, with at least three of the area’s major municipalities saying the idea hadn’t come up and there had been no push from the community on the issue.
Melbourne City Council last week rejected a motion put forward by Councillor Peter Clarke that would have laid the groundwork for the City of Melbourne to merge with the cities of Maribyrnong, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra.
He had suggested that such a large-scale amalgamation would help better manage public transport issues across greater Melbourne, and provide more efficient local government
Cr Clarke also suggested that other councils around metropolitan Melbourne could join the push if they wished.
Hobsons Bay mayor Carl Marsich told Star last week that while his council would keep an eye on any movements the City of Melbourne has planned, he was not sure the Western region needed or was ready for a similar plan.
“There’s no burning desire for any amalgamations coming from the community,” he said.
Cr Marsich said that his council, and most councils across Melbourne had just settled down after a difficult adjustment period following the Kennett years.
“We’ve had to put a lot of work into bedding down the (Kennett) amalgamations,” Cr Marsich said.
He admitted a single larger Western council could potentially streamline planning laws but said the idea was not feasible at the moment.
Wyndham CEO Ian Robins told Star the amalgamations issue hadn’t been discussed by council but that he thought there were better ways to manage issues in the West.
“Council supports the establishment of LeadWest as the model to address issues best approached on a regional basis for Melbourne’s West,” Mr Robins said.
LeadWest is a new regional body being formed by Wyndham, Melton, Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong and Brimbank councils, which is designed to promote the West and offer regional advice to councils in the region.
A spokesperson for Brimbank City Council agreed that LeadWest was the best option for the Western regions, and that Brimbank did not favour an amalgamated West region.
