AROUND 100 concerned southern suburbs residents attended a meeting on local government mergers at the Coolbellup community school Monday.

Under Barnett government plans, Samson (Fremantle) and Coolbellup (Cockburn) are to be annexed by Melville.

Willagee Labor MP Peter Tinley organised the meeting after being inundated with calls from residents worried about the financial and social ramifications of moving to Melville.

“Residents are worried about rates rises, keeping tip passes and making sure their suburb is not forgotten,” he says.

“We are meant to live in a democracy—locals should be given a say in whether their suburb is to be transferred to Melville. The whole process has been a shambles, and WA Labor and I will continue to fight it in parliament.”

As the WA government has classified the shift as a boundary alignment and not a merger, Samson and Coolbellup residents will not have the chance to trigger a referendum on the move.

Coolbellup Community Association treasurer Pip Brennan says residents are unsure about what mergers mean for them: “Cockburn are excellent at maintaining local parks and reserves, so we hope Melville will be able to emulate that high level of care,” she says.

“We know Melville have a good track record in aged care, but are they as committed to youth services? And what will happen to our tip passes?”

The Coolbellup Q&A was attended by Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett and Cr Stephen Pratt and Melville mayor Russell Aubrey and CEO Shayne Silcox.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK