The Local Government Advisory Board (Board) is a statutory body established under the Local Government Act 1995 (the Act) to advise the Minister for Local Government (Minister) on local government constitutional matters.
This includes the assessment of proposals to change local government boundaries, amalgamations and their ward and representation of local governments.
After consideration, the Board will then make a recommendation to the Minister to reject or accept the proposal.
Membership
The Board consists of five members appointed by the Minister.
Members are required to be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have knowledge and experience relevant to local government.
The Minister designates:
- one member to be the chairperson of the Advisory Board; and
- one member to be deputy chairperson of the Advisory Board.
There is also a deputy for each of the positions other than the Chairperson.
A person can only be appointed as a deputy for a member if they are eligible to be appointed to the office of that member.
The Board receives administrative support from LGIRS.
Local Government Advisory Board members
As at 1 September 2026
Chairperson, Ms Carol Adams OAM
Term ends 31 August 2027
Deputy Chairperson, Ms Bianca Sandri - former City of Stirling Councillor and former City of Nedlands Commissioner
Term ends 31 August 2029
Member, Ms Natalie Martin Goode – Town of Mosman Park, Chief Executive Officer
Term ends 31 August 2029
Member, Cr Karen Wheatland - City of Melville, Councillor
Term ends 31 August 2029
Member, Cr Caroline Knight — City of Mandurah, Councillor
Term ends 31 August 2027
Deputy to the deputy Chairperson, Ms Alison Xamon — City of Vincent, Mayor
Term ends 31 August 2029
Deputy to Natalie Martin Goode, Mr Wayne Jack City of Kwinana, Chief Executive Officer
Term ends 31 August 2029
Deputy to Karen Wheatland, Cr Robert Schmidt – City of Rockingham, Deputy Mayor
Term ends 31 August 2029)
Deputy to Caroline Knight, Cr Jannah Stratford — Shire of Koorda, President
Term ends 31 August 2027
Changes to local government district boundaries and amalgamations
Proposals to change local government district boundaries and amalgamate local governments are governed by Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995.
Under Schedule 2.1 of the Act, proposals to change local government district boundaries or amalgamate local governments can be submitted to the Board by the Minister, local governments or electors of an affected local government.
Proposals initiated by electors require at least 10 per cent of electors or 250 electors to sign a petition for a proposal to be considered valid.
In practice, it is uncommon for the Minister to initiate this process, as Western Australia traditionally favours a collaborative and consultative approach to boundary changes and amalgamations.
An amalgamation proposal involves combining two or more local governments into a single local government district. Proponents should clearly demonstrate how the proposal satisfies the matters for consideration under Schedule 2.1 of the Act and the Board's LGAB Guiding Principles.
While some boundary changes may be considered minor and not require public consultation, this typically applies where a small area of land is transferred between local governments with the agreement of all affected parties, such as a boundary realignment affecting a single property.
Where the Board determines that a proposal is not minor, it must conduct a formal inquiry, providing affected local governments and electors six weeks to make submissions.
The Board must consider any submissions received and assess the proposal against the requirements of the Act. This includes the matters listed in Schedule 2.1, which are further explained in the LGAB Guiding Principles.
When its assessment is complete, the Board submits a report to the Minister for Local Government with a recommendation to either accept or reject the proposal. The Minister may accept or reject the Board's recommendation but cannot amend it.
It is important that local governments note the 31 January cut-off in local government election years to provide the best opportunity for approved changes to be implemented before the election.
Further information on how to make a valid proposal to the Board is included in the guidance documents below.
Documents to assist proponent with district boundary change and amalgamations
- Submitting a district boundary change or amalgamation proposal
Guidance on preparing and submitting a proposal to change a local government boundary or amalgamate local governments. Includes templates for elector-initiated proposals:- Form 1 – Community proposal to create, change the boundaries of, or abolish a local government district.
- Form 2 – Request for Poll on a recommended amalgamation
- Local Government Advisory Board Guiding Principles
Principles used by the Board when assessing proposals under Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995.
Examples of past reports
District boundary change reports
Amalgamation reports
- Shires of Cuballing, Narrogin and the Town of Narrogin Assessment Report
- City of Geraldton-Greenough and the Shires of Mullewa and Chapman Valley Assessment Report
- The Shire of Tambellup and the Shire of Broomehill Assessment Report
Changes to local government ward boundaries and elected member representation
Proposals to change ward boundaries or the number of elected members fall under schedule 2.2 of the Act.
The Board considers the outcome of these reviews and ensures that the local governments have complied with the Act.
Under schedule 2.2 local governments with wards must conduct reviews of ward boundaries of representation at least once every ten years in consultation with their communities.
Local governments may initiate reviews more regularly, or a submission can be made to a local government by affected electors who are at least 250 in number of are at least 10 per cent of the total number of affected electors.
In submitting a proposal, the proponent must demonstrate that it has considered the matters prescribed under clause 8 of schedule 2.2.
The Board notes that the majority of ward and representation reviews will not be considered as ones of a minor nature and most proposals will necessitate a six-week consultation period.
The Board must recommend to the Minister any proposal that, in its opinion, correctly takes account of the criteria in the documents below. The Minister may accept or reject the Board's recommendation but cannot change it.
Documents to assist proponents with ward and representation reviews
- Reviewing Ward Boundaries and Representation Overview
Guide to ward and representation reviews and proposal requirements under Schedule 2.2 of the Local Government Act 1995. Includes template for elector-initiated proposals:- Form 3 Community submission about changes to names, wards or representation
- Local Government Wards and Representation Review
Template for local governments submitting a ward and representation review proposal to the Board following a council decision. - A Guide for Local Governments: How to conduct a review of wards and representation for local governments with and without a ward system
Detailed guidance for local governments conducting a ward and representation review.
