Nats' merger deal upsets Bunbury mayor

WA Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls yesterday said he had struck a deal with Premier Colin Barnett ruling out regional council amalgamations, knocking Bunbury’s hopes of merging with its neighbours on the head.

Mr Grylls said he would support changes to metropolitan council boundaries, provided there were no forced mergers in regional WA.

He said while the Nationals did not support forced amalgamations, he believed Mr Barnett had a mandate to redraw metropolitan boundaries.

Bunbury Mayor David Smith said he would be disappointed if the Premier had entered into a deal which prevented any amalgamation of the Greater Bunbury councils.

Mr Smith said he believed only the Peel and Greater Bunbury councils’ boundaries should be the focus of amalgamation.

“I have made a plea to the Premier that Peel and Greater Bunbury region are dealt with as part of the metro review,” he said.

“If he has made such a deal (with Mr Grylls), I’m urging him to exclude the Peel and Greater Bunbury regions.”

The Mayor said he would support the rest of regional WA’s councils remaining unchanged and untouched by local government mergers.

“We are not talking about Bunbury taking over, we are talking about expanding the quality, ranges and delivery of services,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Grylls said if legislation was required to allow metropolitan boundary changes, he expected Nationals MPs to support it.