Shire of Wanneroo to become City of Wanneroo from July 1

2/6/99
The Shire of Wanneroo is to become the City of Wanneroo from July 1.
Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said today that he had approved a request to that effect by the shire commissioners and would recommend the change to the Governor in Executive Council.
Mr Omodei said that when the original City of Wanneroo was divided into two municipalities, it was decided to call one the City of Joondalup and the other the Shire of Wanneroo.
The use of the term 'shire' was necessary to enable people to talk about the old and the new Wanneroo without always having to indicate which was meant.
The commissioners were now satisfied that the transition stage was over and the shire could assume its rightful status as the City of Wanneroo.
One effect of the change was that in the December elections, Wanneroo would elect a mayor. If it had continued as a shire, Wanneroo would have become only the second shire in the State to elect a shire president at large. (Carnarvon is the other.)
"Wanneroo has the size and status of a city and I am pleased that the commissioners have been able to tell me there is little risk of confusion in the community when the change is made," Mr Omodei said.
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