Shire of Murray and City of Armadale happily take over Serpentine Jarrahdale after amalgamation

A Local Implementation Committee (LIC) consisting of representation from Shire of Murray, City of Armadale, the Department of Local Government and the Western Australian Local Government Association, has been working towards this decision for many months. 

The new boundary will run along Mundijong Road with the southern half of Serpentine Jarrahdale land to go to the Shire of Murray and the northern half to be subsumed by the City of Armadale. 

Former Serpentine Jarrahdale residents will then be serviced by either the Shire of Murray or City of Armadale as of  July 1, 2015, and will still be able to access services from both councils  through the current  shire office in Mundijong. 

“From a regional perspective, the Shire of Murray believes this is a positive long-term outcome for the Peel region," Shire of Murray president Wally Barrett said. 

"As the southern half of Serpentine Jarrahdale is agricultural and rural in nature and experiences similar environmental challenges to Murray, it has much more in common with our Council than the larger metropolitan City of Armadale.

"The business planning undertaken shows there will be no negative effect on current Murray residents and ratepayers and that the services currently provided by the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale to their residents and ratepayers will not be reduced.

“The Minister has also accepted Murray's proposal for guaranteed Council representation for the southern Serpentine Jarrahdale residents. 

"A two-ward system will be implemented with two Council representatives from Serpentine Jarrahdale establishing a 'North Ward', following the October 2015 local government elections. 

"The 'South Ward' will incorporate the current Shire of Murray boundary and representation for this area will decrease from nine to eight Councillors." 

LIC chairperson and Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones said the decision reflected the submissions made by the City of Armadale and Shire of Murray and he believed it was the best outcome for everyone. 

“Every effort will be made to ensure a seamless transition of services and over the next two years we’ll work to streamline our business," he said.

"Residents are invited to visit their local government customer service offices at Armadale and Murray, and also to get onto their ‘new’ Council’s website, over the coming year for information on the change process and any potential future variation to services.

“The Shire of Murray and City of Armadale have worked cohesively together as part of the LIC to prepare for this step.

"The CEOs of Armadale and Murray are now inviting their Serpentine Jarrahdale work colleagues to the table to commence the transition process. 

“Planning is already well underway and I’m sure all three Councils will work together to ensure residents and ratepayers receive quality services throughout the transition and that the boundary alignment leads to positive outcomes for all communities involved.

“The boundary adjustment has the potential to strengthen our communities and, over time, to improve infrastructure and services across the region."

As the changeover day approaches, the LIC will seek to keep residents and ratepayers of Murray, Armadale and Serpentine Jarrahdale informed of benefits and any service delivery changes. 

For more information call the Shire of Murray on 9531 7703 or the City of Armadale on 9399 0111.