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The Shire of Gnowangerup has voted to raise rates by 6.6 per cent.

Country roadGnowangerup up rates 6.6 per cent to pay for roads, housing

Rates in the Shire of Gnowangerup are set to rise by 6.6 per cent after the council approved a budget for 2026-27 at its ordinary meeting last month.

Claire Middleton

Bronwyn Waugh, Tim Houweling and Hayley Prendiville.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
LOCAL GOVERNMENTComments
The West Australian exclusive
New letter exposes real reason South Perth councillors quit

Former councillors who quit the embattled City of South Perth have blamed a hostile culture where they were subjected to personal attacks if they raised differing views for their exit.

Charlton Hart

Four of the City of South Perth’s nine councillors have walked off the job in just two weeks.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
BreakingCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Fourth South Perth councillor quits amid political turmoil

EXCLUSIVE: South Perth has lost another councillor, after a Mill Point ward elected member immediately walked off the job after fewer than eight months, adding to political turmoil plaguing the city.

Sophie Gannon

Shire of Denmark president Aaron Wiggins and departing deputy Nathan Devenport.

local governmentPremiumDenmark set for new deputy president as Devenport steps down

A vacancy to be the ‘right-hand man’ in the Shire of Denmark has opened up after the deputy president announced his resignation on Friday, less than a year after being elected to the position.

Melissa Sheil

Denmark Rowers have got first approval for a new storage shed near Denmark River.

councilDenmark councillors unanimously support club development

Denmark Rowers have put the wheels in motion for a new storage shed on the banks of the Denmark River, with the council giving the club the green light to apply for building approval. 

Jacki Elezovich

A Kings Park cable car is among proposals to reinvent the CBD.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
PerthCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
REVEALED: Huge plans to finally reinvent Perth CBD

‘We as a city can’t thrive if everyone leaves at 5 o’clock,’ Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds told The West Australian.

Sophie Gannon

The exodus of staff from the City of Perth is continuing, with another executive leader the latest to leave the troubled local government. Pictured: Wendy Attenborough

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Local governmentCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Executive bails on City of Perth amid leadership turmoil

The exodus of staff from the City of Perth is continuing, with another executive leader the latest to leave the troubled local government.

Sophie Gannon

Denmark councillors unanimously approved to advertise a 6.6 per cent rate rise for the 2026-27 financial year.

rate risePremiumDenmark councillors approve proposed 6.6 per cent rate rise

Denmark residents will likely see a hike in their rates for the coming year after the Shire of Denmark council approved the advertising of a proposed 6.6 per cent rate rise at their June meeting.

Jacki Elezovich

Costs to deal with dysfunction at the City of Perth have increased by 15-fold.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
ExclusiveCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Costs for councillor complaints jump 15-fold at WA’s capital

Alarming figures have revealed the harsh reality of being a ratepayer in WA’s capital city, with a 15-fold increase in payments to deal with ongoing dysfunction.

Sophie Gannon

The site of Denmark's first indoor shopping centre complex.

councilPremiumDenmark council instate working group for town centre plans

Major works for Denmark’s town centre will take a new direction after initial plans had a Federal funding setback. 

Jacki Elezovich

The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, Ray Loh Head of ICNWA and Gerry Matera Founder and Managing Director Weitj Investment Group at Marnda (Nyoongar Gathering) at PCEC.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumNoongar leader targets ‘black cladding’ in $50b plan

Noongar leader Gerry Matera wants to build a $50 billion Indigenous wealth fund by 2050, with “black cladding” firms first in his sights.

Ryan Johnson

Mayor of Perth Bruce Reynolds.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumLord Mayor diary kept private despite calls for transparency

A call for the Lord Mayor to disclose his diary with the aim of improving transparency and accountability has been knocked back by the City of Perth council.

Sophie Gannon

The Federal Government funding totals $4.8m, shared between 34 regional airport owners.

debt wipedPremium‘Nervous wait’ of Rex debt saga over with formal write-off

The City of Albany has formally written off the almost half a million dollars of debt owed to it by the collapsed airline Rex after receiving the bulk of the cash from a Federal Government relief payout.

Melissa Sheil

A 4.58 per cent rates increase has been officially locked in by the City of Rockingham council.

Local governmentRates rise adopted in Rockingham budget

‘In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, whose side are we on, really?’

Michael Palmer

Fortnightly red bin collections will remain in the City of Rockingham.

Local governmentPremiumBullying, intimidation claims in red bin debate

Claims of bullying and intimidation have marred an ultimately unsuccessful bid for weekly general waste bin collections to return to the City of Rockingham.

Michael Palmer

Wagin councillor Wade Longmuir.

local governmentPremiumShire saves thousands with council backfill acceptance

A seat on the Shire of Wagin council has been expeditiously filled by a former representative following the resignation of a sitting councillor.

Melissa Sheil

Cr Carlo Andretta has a tourism vision for Brookton.

New CouncillorPremiumCarlo Andretta voted in as councillor to Brookton shire

Brookton’s newest councillor Carlo Andretta has a simple vision for the town — to make it “a destination, not a stopover”.

Amy Towers

Jason Meotti and Esther Cole organised the petition to force a special electors meeting to pause the John Connell Reserve cricket pitch extension, but the results did not go their way.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumSpecial electors meeting fails to stop $5m cricket pitch

Perth residents’ attempts to pump the brakes on a $4.68 million cricket pitch expansion that would clear more than 200 trees have backfired.

Eliana Hullett

Katy Mair, City of Melville’s mayor, pictured at Wireless Hill Park in Ardross, Perth.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumPerth council adopts lower rate rise after resident concerns

One Perth council has adopted its budget for next year, announcing a 4.9 per cent rates increase for residents.

Eliana Hullett

Works on the proposed $10m Coogee Golf Complex in Cockburn have been paused until further notice.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumLong-awaited $10m Perth golf course hits a wall

Plans for a $10 million golf course in Perth’s south have been paused following financial viability concerns.

Eliana Hullett

Inspector Tony Brown.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumLocal Government complaints skyrocket under Inspector watch

The number of complaints related to local governments have doubled since the Local Government Inspector was appointed six months ago, as another council becomes the latest to face scrutiny over dysfunction.

Oliver Lane

The City of South Park could be returning.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumSouth Park? South Perth explore Victoria Park merger

The ‘City of South Park’ could soon become a reality as a thinned out South Perth council prepares to consider an amalgamation with the neighbouring Town of Victoria Park.

Sophie Gannon

South Perth ratepayers may have to return to the polls after three councillors walked out.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumSouth Perth ratepayers face polls after mass council exodus

City of South Perth ratepayers will head back to the polls after a period of political turmoil saw the resignation of three councillors within 72 hours.

Sophie Gannon

The City of Joondalup has voted to remove councillors’ access to ratepayer-funded alcohol in the councillors’ lounge, but the decision was far from unanimous.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumPerth council makes final call on ratepayer-funded alcohol

The City of Joondalup has voted on councillors’ access to ratepayer-funded alcohol in the councillors’ lounge, but the decision was far from unanimous.

Liam Murphy