Assessment of feasibility of Gibson Desert shire

Local Government Minister David Smith has asked the Local Government Boundaries Commission to investigate the feasibility of creating a new shire in the Gibson Desert.

Mr Smith said that, if established, the new shire would be Western Australia's most remote and isolated local government.

The Minister was responding to a petition from electors in the eastern region of the Shire of Wiluna seeking a division of the shire.

"A separate local government may be the only means by which the eastern region of the Shire of Wiluna can be effectively serviced," Mr Smith said.

"Approximately two-thirds of the shire's population of about 2,000 live in the east, near the State border with the Northern Territory and South Australia.

"The eight communities living in the east of the shire are separated from the west by some 600-800 km of desert, with the only serviceable road between Wiluna and the eastern region's main centre, Warburton, being the 1,200 km  route via Leonora and Laverton."

Mr Smith said he had asked the boundaries commission to investigate the economic viability of the proposed new local governments in both the east and west, as well as the social impact of any boundary changes on the local communities.

"In addition I have requested that the Commission consider the local government boundaries of adjoining shires so that any altered boundaries reflect community boundaries," Mr Smith said.

"Communities in neighbouring local governments may have closer ties with the new shire than with their existing shire and it should be taken into consideration whether their needs would be better serviced if they were a part of the new shire."

It has been proposed that a new shire in the eastern half would be known as Ngaanyatjarraku, after the Ngaanyatjarraku people who live in the region.

Mr Smith said that although he was reluctant to add to WA's total of 138 local governments, Wiluna Shire's immense size and the enormous difficulty of servicing the eastern region meant it should be considered as a special case.

Terms of reference for the Commission's inquiry are available from the Department of Local Government or the Shire of Wiluna.

Public submissions close on August 28 and the Commission is expected to complete its investigation by the end of the year.