Populations estimates order and first set of orders for council representation changes

Jun 22, 2023, 12:13 PM

In the recent Government Gazette the population estimates order and the first set of orders for constitutional and representation changes to councils were made under the Local Government Act 1995, ahead of the upcoming 2023 ordinary local government elections.

In accordance with the Local Government Amendment Act 2023, the Governor has made a population estimate order to determine the population of local governments.

This order is used to determine the minimum and maximum council members that elected to Western Australian local governments:
  • local governments with a population of less than 5000 will have between 5 and 7 members
  • local governments with a population between 5000 and 75,000 members will have between 5 and 9 members
  • local governments with a population above 75,000 will have between 9 and 15 members.
The Governor has made orders changing the wards and representation of the following 17 local governments:
Bruce Rock, Canning, Claremont, Chapman Valley, Coorow, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Dowerin, Irwin, Kojonup, Narembeen, Pingelly, Toodyay, Wagin, Waroona and Wickepin.

These changes are a result of the recommendations of the Local Government Advisory Board in relation to local governments’ ward and representation review processes.

The remaining orders for 44 local governments' representation changes are anticipated to be made in June 2023.

Details of the changes for each local government can be found in the gazetted order.