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Cr Clare Campbell was elected unopposed as the Shire of Denmark's new deputy president.

local councilPremiumNew deputy president elected unopposed for Denmark council

The Shire of Denmark council voted in a new deputy president on Tuesday night, with experienced councillor Clare Campbell elected to the role unopposed. 

Jacki Elezovich

Albany councillors approved the 2026-27 budget on July 28.

Local GovernmentAlbany ratepayers to see ‘responsible’ 5.5 per cent rise

Airport upgrades, rural road maintenance, and planning for improving the city’s vital, but ageing assets such as the tip and ALAC are among the items to be funded by an average 5.5 per cent rate rise.

Melissa Sheil

Incoming Shire of Cranbrook chief executive Peter Fitchat.

new bossPremiumPeter Fitchat to be Shire of Cranbrook’s new chief executive

A fresh face has been appointed to take on the top job in Cranbrook, with the shire announcing the identity of their new chief executive last week.

Melissa Sheil

The Shire of Narrogin’s rates verdict has been decided.

Rate risePremiumNarrogin rates to rise by 3.9 per cent after council vote

Rates in the Shire of Narrogin are set to rise by 3.9 per cent following the council’s ordinary meeting on July 22.

Claire Middleton

Christina Farrington presented a petition to the Shire of Plantagenet on behalf of Kendenup residents who are against a proposed drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.

Drug trialPremiumCorporation appeals to tribunal over Kendenup rehab facility

Southern Aboriginal Corporation is appealing against the Shire of Plantagenet’s decision to deny its application turn the Kendenup Cottages into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.

Claire Middleton

Department of Transport's Kriss Logan with City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks and Cr Rebecca Stephens with some local swimmers at the new staircase at Albany Marina.

safe swimmingPremiumSwimmers give tick of approval to new marina swim steps

An eager band of daily swimmers heralded the long-awaited opening of a new staircase descending from the jetty into the Albany Marina on Friday.

Melissa Sheil

Albany’s Hanrahan Road waste facility will be boosted by a State Government grant.

Recycling improvementsFunding given to local governments to improve recycling

The City of Albany and the Shire of Plantagenet have received funding from the State Government to improve recycling methods under the recycling modernisation fund.

Amy Towers

A bushfire in Boddington last year.

Bushfire funding Funding announced to boost bushfire mitigation strategies

Local governments across the Wheatbelt have received State Government funding to boost their bushfire mitigation strategies under the bushfire mitigation activity fund. 

Amy Towers

Cr Stephen Russell has called to scrap prayers, blessings and other religious impartations of the flag at City of South Perth citizenship ceremonies.

Australia DayCommentsPremiumCity urged to scrap religion from citizenship ceremonies

A councillor wants to remove religious elements from all city citizenship ceremonies, arguing they should be inclusive for all people ‘from all religions and of no religion’.

Sophie Gannon

Paul Martin has been appointed as CEO of the City of Nedlands.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumUnder-pressure western suburbs council appoints new CEO

The City of Nedlands has chosen the person to lead improvement of the city’s beleaguered finances.

Belinda Hickman

Ray Simpson, owner of The Frankland at Nornalup, has been told to remove some of his signage by the Shire of Denmark.

Sign of the timesPremiumThe Frankland owner offers V-sign to shire over signage row

The owner of a business who has been told to remove what the Shire of Denmark believes are illegal signs has said he will ignore the order.

Claire Middleton

Firefighters attend a blaze in the City of Albany in 2025.

Bushfire fundingFunding announced to boost bushfire mitigation strategies

City of Albany and Shire of Plantagenet have received funding from the State Government to boost their bushfire mitigation strategies under the Bushfire Mitigation Activity Fund. 

Amy Towers

Local government inspector Tony Brown.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumInspector declares conflict of interest in South Perth drama

Local government inspector Tony Brown as declared a conflict of interest in the City of South Perth and has now removed himself from all matters relating to the troublesome organisation.

Sophie Gannon

Garry Bird has been appointed CEO at the Shire of Plantagenet.

New LeaderBird appointed as new Shire of Plantagenet chief executive

Shire of Plantagenet has appointed Garry Bird to succeed outgoing chief executive Julian Murphy following a special meeting of the council on Tuesday.

Claire Middleton

Bronwyn David.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumTwo new councillors enter one Perth chamber

Two councillors were officially sworn in last Thursday.

Sophie Gannon

City of Stirling mayor Mark Irwin has been forced to issue a public apology for the second time this year.

Local GovernmentCommentsPremiumMayor forced to apologise after ‘impolite’ exchange

The Local Government Standards Panel found the mayor had acted in a ‘impolite’ manner towards a ratepayer during an annual electors’ general meeting.

Liam Murphy

The proposed eight-storey development on Glyde Street.

Commercial PropertyCommentsPremium$20m Japanese restaurant alley project on a knife edge

A leafy suburb council wants plans for a new mixed-use project on the former Tsunami restaurant site rejected because the developer is refusing to pay a larger community contribution.

Kim Macdonald

Rachael Wright will start as the Shire of Boddington’s new chief executive on October 13.

New CEOPremiumBoddington shire’s new chief executive to begin in October

Shire of Boddington have announced the appointment of Rachael Wright as their new chief executive officer following a special council meeting held on July 8. 

Amy Towers

The Shire of Katanning has adopted its 2026-27 budget.

Katanning budgetPremiumKatanning approves 2026-27 budget with 5 per cent rate rise

Roads, community facilities and major infrastructure projects are set to receive major funding after the Shire of Katanning adopted its 2026-27 annual budget. 

Amy Towers

The Town of Mosman Park has adopted its 2026-27 budget.

Local governmentCommentsPremiumRates spike in one Perth suburb to deliver ‘long-term’ value

Rates in Mosman Park will be going up to fund the town’s community-focused budget amidst unrelenting cost of living pressures.

Eliana Hullett

The Shire of Wagin have announced their proposed rate rise.

ratesPremiumMajority of Wagin ratepayers likely to see 3.5 per cent rise

About 80 per cent of ratepayers in the Shire of Wagin should expect a 3.5 per cent increase in their rates in the next financial year, although the shire expects an 6.8 per cent increase in revenue.

Melissa Sheil

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