27/10/00
Local Government Minister Paul Omodei has flatly rejected the latest demand by the Towns of Cambridge, Victoria Park and Vincent for a share of the City of Perth’s share of Tamala Park.
“They never were entitled to the land and they are not entitled to it now,” Mr Omodei said.
“They were not given it at the time of the division of the City and they won’t be given it now.”
The Minister explained that the Carr-Fardon report, which was the blueprint for the division, recommended that the only two PCC assets outside all of the new boundaries should be retained by the City. Those assets were the Roberts Street depot in Osborne Park and the share in Tamala Park.
“There never was any legal or moral reason for doing it any other way,” Mr Omodei said.
“The current claim by the three towns that their ratepayers were ‘penalised’ by the decision would bring hollow laughter from ratepayers all over the State.
“They are probably the most favoured ratepayers in history.
“Each town was given council offices/civic centre, a works depot, all the equipment they needed and $1 million as a capital reserve.
“All debts on services or facilities in each town were paid out by the PCC so that the towns were set up debt-free, with all facilities and a capital reserve.
“Over the next few years they were given more money as a need arose.
“The towns were also given membership of the Mindarie Regional Council, with the Perth City Council paying the capital contribution for them to have voting rights and the same concessional tip charges as other members.
“I doubt that there is a local government in WA that would not have exulted in such a comfortable start.
“The argument that the residents of the towns paid 93 per cent of the cost of Tamala Park is laughable. It pretends that every householder paid the same rates as every business in the CBD.
“Finally, I want the three towns to know that the division of the assets and liabilities of the former City of Perth is over and the power to make an order changing it no longer exists.
“They should therefore stop dangling a pot of gold in front of their residents and get on with the job of managing their towns with the resources they have.”
Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6700
