KWINANA council has completely rejected Cockburn council’s grovelling attempt to revisit an amicable merger.

Cockburn’s last-gasp entreaty was its best hope of surviving looming council amalgamations, which now look set to carve the sprawling municipality up between Fremantle, Melville and Kwinana.

Kwinana wrote to Cockburn on Monday to cancel a February 10 meeting at which merger plans were to be discussed.

“It’s a bit embarrassing,” former Cockburn councillor Tony Romano told the Herald.

“They decided there was no value or merit in a merger. They had second thoughts and preferred to wait for the minister’s decision later this year.” The minister recommends a Cockburn carve-up.

Mr Romano—appointed by Cockburn to lead its negotiating team—says he’s not surprised.

Kwinana is deeply unhappy with Cockburn’s campaign for survival, which has included warning residents of a less desirable life under Kwinana stewardship.

In its letter to Mr Romano cancelling the meeting, Kwinana says it made its decision, “after observing the agressiveness and misleading campaign led by city of Cockburn and championed by your steering committee”.

Mr Romano says despite the tension between the municipalities, Cockburn will attempt to open formal lines of communication with Kwinana.

While many Cockburn community groups have publicly backed the council’s bid for survival the Banjup Residents’ Group has come out in support of the municipality’s demise. In a post titled ‘Goodbye Cockburn?’ the group’s committee states it wants to play no part in the council’s survival campaign.

It says merging with Kwinana would help create efficiencies, but it also expressed concern over a possible rise in rates.

Public submissions are invited until March 13.

by CARMELO AMALFI