Local government areas of Western Australia facts for kids
In the Australian state of Western Australia, there are 140 special groups called local government areas (LGAs). These groups help towns and districts manage their own local matters. Think of them like mini-governments for specific areas. They follow rules set out in the Local Government Act 1995. This Act also allows different local governments to team up for bigger projects, forming "regional local governments."
There are three main types of local government in Western Australia:
- City: These are mostly for big city areas, like Perth, or larger towns in the countryside.
- Town: These are usually for smaller city areas or medium-sized towns outside the main city.
- Shire: These cover mostly country areas or the outer parts of big cities.
You might also hear about the Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos. Even though they are Australian territories and use Western Australia's local government rules, they are not actually part of Western Australia itself.
Long ago, there were two types of local governments: "municipalities" for towns and "road districts" for other areas. For example, the Perth Road District later became the City of Stirling. Before 1961, only a few places were called "cities," like Perth and Fremantle. Then, on 1 July 1961, all road districts became shires, and all municipalities became towns. This made the system simpler!
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What are Local Government Areas?
Local government areas are like smaller versions of the state government, but they focus on local needs. They handle things like:
- Keeping parks and public spaces tidy.
- Collecting rubbish.
- Building and maintaining local roads.
- Organizing community events.
- Making sure buildings follow safety rules.
These local governments are run by elected councils. People in the community vote for who they want to represent them on the council.
Metropolitan Local Governments
The metropolitan area means the main city of Perth and its surrounding suburbs. There are many local government areas here, each looking after its own part of the city. For example, the City of Armadale looks after the Armadale area, and the City of Joondalup looks after Joondalup. These local governments work hard to make sure their communities have good services and facilities.
Non-Metropolitan Local Governments
Outside the main city of Perth, you'll find many other local government areas. These cover the vast country regions of Western Australia. They can be very large, like the Shire of East Pilbara, which is bigger than many countries! These local governments help manage towns and rural areas, providing services to people living far from the big cities. Examples include the City of Albany in the south and the Shire of Broome in the north.
Regional Local Government Groups
Sometimes, different local government areas work together on bigger projects that benefit everyone. They form "regional local government organisations" to share resources and ideas. This helps them achieve more than they could on their own.
For example, the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council includes the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring, and City of Swan. They team up for things like waste management and environmental projects across their areas.
Another example is the Pilbara Regional Council, which brings together the Shire of Ashburton, Shire of East Pilbara, City of Karratha, and Town of Port Hedland. These councils work together on regional development and infrastructure in the Pilbara area.
