Recommendation to realign Murray Shire/Mandurah boundary accepted

16/7/96

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei has accepted a Boundaries Commission recommendation to realign the boundary between the Shire of Murray and the City of Mandurah.

The current boundary follows the high water mark of the Peel/Harvey estuary, with the estuary on the Shire of Murray side. The boundary change would divide the estuary between the two councils.

Mr Omodei said the realignment would commence at the mouth of the Harvey River and follow existing navigational markers closest to the western and northern boundaries of the Harvey Estuary and Peel Inlet to the mouth of the Serpentine River.

The realignment was necessary as a result of the Dawesville Channel project but the two councils had been unable to reach agreement on a new boundary. The matter was referred to the Boundaries Commission for advice last September.

Mr Omodei said the commission had been advised by the Department of Land Administration that a proposal by the Murray Shire to realign the boundary to 100 metres off the shore line could not be pictorially represented on plans for certification purposes and would present a problem in the case of a dispute.

The Boundaries Commission also ruled against three specific concerns raised by the Shire of Murray regarding the Coodanup foreshore, Boundary Island and potential loss of rateable income.

It said the argument to retain the Coodanup foreshore because of the prawning grounds did not hold, as the area could be utilised and enjoyed by Shire of Murray residents and ratepayers, whether it was within the shire boundary or not.

Regarding Boundary Island, the commission said it was basically a mudflat created when the Sticks Channel was dredged some six years ago. It saw no benefit to the Shire of Murray in retaining the island within its boundaries.

Regarding the concerns about potential loss of rateable income, the commission said the Shire of Murray's current rate base would not alter. It did not see it as a loss for the shire - rather, it was a windfall gain for the City of Mandurah.

Mr Omodei said the shire would retain Brunswick Island, which it had indicated it was keen to do.

The realignment would also solve the problem of maintenance of boat ramps and jetties as they would now all begin and end in the City of Mandurah and would therefore be the City's responsibility to maintain.

Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman on 221 1377