Truth Will Out

It comes as no surprise to those of us who have been part of local government in WA to read that: "State Government figures show WA Councils are waiting for years for changes to building heights, zoning and land use to be approved…[with]…some [having] waited two to four years to have the WA Planning Commission approve town planning schemes, structure plans and scheme amendments."

For once, WALGA President Troy Pickard gets it right when he says: "Councils too often bear the brunt of angry ratepayers and other stakeholders who incorrectly point the finger at them, which is grossly unfair when much of the responsibility lies with the WAPC [WA Planning Commission] and its lack of sufficient resources".

Mind you, he should have added that those who incorrectly point the finger at local government include Planning Minister, John Day, and Local Government Minister, Homer Simpson, who are all too ready to place the blame for delays on local governments and to use this as an excuse for abolishing, amalgamating and emasculating them.

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