Report recommends new local govt in Wiluna Shire

A report by the Local Government Boundaries Commission has recommended forming a new local government in the eastern region of the Shire of Wiluna.

Local Government Minister David Smith said today that the new shire, if established, would be known as Ngaanyatarraku* after the local Ngaanyatjarra communities.

In this event, the western region of the Shire of Wiluna would continue as a separate shire in its own right.

"If the new shire is created it will be the first in Australia to be created primarily on the basis of an Aboriginal community of interest," Mr Smith said.

"It will also be Western Australia's most remote and isolated local government, with its shire office at Warburton in the State's central desert, about 1,500 kilometres from Perth by road.

"The new shire's population of about 1,400 people over eight different communities will be larger than 48 of WA's present 138 local governments."

Mr Smith asked the Boundaries Commission to examine the feasibility of creating a new shire after receiving a petition in support of the move from local residents.

The Commission's preliminary report concluded that the new shire was desirable because of the immense geographic size of the existing Wiluna Shire.

The report also pointed out that there were large cultural differences between the eastern communities and those in the western region near Wiluna.

"The Commission believes that the new shire will serve the best interests of the local residents and be financially and socially viable," Mr Smith said.

"It has also recommended that the Kiwirrkurra community in the East Pilbara Shire and some territory in the Shire of Laverton should eventually be included in the new shire's boundaries.

"In the Commission's opinion, this would more accurately reflect local community and social interests."

Copies of the report are available from the Local Government Boundaries Commission, 32 St George's Terrace, Perth.  Public comment is invited until Friday January 15 1993.

*Pronounced Nahn-dah-rah-koo with accent on the first syllable.