Ruqayyah Snyder
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) that are made up of 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. The Local Government Act 1995 allows these towns to manage their own affairs. There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia: City, Shire, and Town. The most recent local government elections were held in 2023. Western Australia's local governments provide a range of services to their residents, including waste and recycling services, and are responsible for about one-third of all of Australia's public infrastructure assets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of local government areas (LGAs) | 137 |
| Number of cities | 27 |
| Number of shires | 102 |
| Number of towns | 8 |
| Number of regional councils | 10 |
| Number of metropolitan LGAs | 30 |
| Number of non-metropolitan LGAs | 107 |
| Number of female councillors | 39.61% |
| Largest LGA by area | Shire of East Pilbara Council |
| Smallest LGA by area | Shire of Peppermint Grove Council |
| Largest LGA by population | Brisbane City Council |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia's 137 local governments
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) that are classified as cities, shires, or towns. These LGAs manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by the Local Government Act 1995, which outlines the types of fees, allowances, and reimbursements that council members can claim. The Act also makes provision for regional local governments, referred to as "regional councils," which are established by two or more LGAs for a particular purpose.
There are 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns within the 137 LGAs. The classifications of local government in Western Australia are as follows:
- City: predominantly urban, plus seven significant regional centres.
- Shire: predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, including the Shire of Peppermint Grove.
- Town: predominantly inner urban, including the Town of Port Hedland.
The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories covered by the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act. This Act allows the Western Australian Local Government Act to apply "on-island" as though it were a Commonwealth act.
Western Australia's local governments provide a range of services to their residents, including waste and recycling services such as kerbside bin collections and vergeside collections for bulky items. Local governments must also vote to accept an annual budget that sets out their spending priorities, with expenditure classified into five categories defined in the Western Australian Local Government Accounting Manual.
Historically, most local governments in Western Australia have strongly resisted forced amalgamations, and the total number of authorities has declined only marginally over the last century.
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Three classifications: City, Shire, and Town
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) in total, which are divided into three classifications: City, Shire, and Town. There are 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns, each managing their own affairs within the framework of the Local Government Act 1995.
Cities
Cities are the first of the three classifications and are predominantly urban areas. There are 27 cities in Western Australia, with 20 of them being metropolitan and 7 non-metropolitan. Examples of cities in Western Australia include Fremantle, Gosnells, Joondalup, and Mandurah.
Shires
Shires are the second classification and refer to predominantly rural or outer suburban areas. There are 102 shires in total, with 3 being metropolitan and 99 non-metropolitan. Some examples of shire names in Western Australia are Esperance, Exmouth, Gingin, and Goomalling.
Towns
Towns, the third classification, are predominantly inner urban areas. There are 8 towns in Western Australia, 7 of which are metropolitan, and 1 is non-metropolitan. Towns are commonly understood as centres of population that are not formally declared as cities or part of the urban area surrounding a city. An example of a town in Western Australia is Mosman Park.
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Regional councils and federal external territories
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) that are divided into 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. The Local Government Act 1995 allows for regional local governments, also known as "regional councils", which are formed by two or more local governments uniting for a specific purpose. Western Australia currently has ten regional councils.
Regional councils are established under the Local Government Act 1995, which outlines the responsibilities of elected councillors and local government administration. The Act also provides for three classifications of local government: City, Shire, and Town. Cities are predominantly urban areas with seven significant regional centres; Shire are predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, including the Shire of Peppermint Grove; and Town refers to predominantly inner urban areas, such as the Town of Port Hedland.
The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, for example, consists of 6 LGAs, including 4 cities, 1 shire, and 1 town. Regional councils provide a framework for collaboration and coordinated decision-making among local governments, enabling them to address shared challenges and pursue common goals.
In addition to the regional councils, Western Australia also has federal external territories. The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories. These islands are governed under the Indian Ocean Territories Administration of Laws Act, which extends the application of the Western Australian Local Government Act to these territories as if it were a Commonwealth act. While these territories are considered part of Western Australia for local government purposes, they are not technically part of Western Australia or any other state or territory. They are classified as external territories of Australia and are governed by the federal government through the Territories portfolio.
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Local government autonomy and amalgamations
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs), which are made up of 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns. Each LGA manages its own affairs within the framework of the Local Government Act 1995. This Act established a clear separation of responsibilities between elected councillors and local government administration, reducing the number of decisions requiring ministerial approval and granting greater autonomy to local governments.
While successive state governments have promoted municipal amalgamation for greater efficiency and improved operations, Western Australia has largely resisted forced amalgamations. Historically, most local governments have opposed such mergers, and the number of authorities has only marginally declined over the last century. In 2014, the Barnett government abandoned a plan to amalgamate 30 metropolitan local governments into 16.
The three classifications of local government in Western Australia are:
- City: Predominantly urban, with seven significant regional centres.
- Shire: Predominantly rural or outer suburban areas, including the Shire of Peppermint Grove.
- Town: Predominantly inner urban, including the Town of Port Hedland.
The Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands are federal external territories, and the Western Australian Local Government Act applies to them as though it were a Commonwealth act.
Local governments in Western Australia have various responsibilities, including levying property taxes, passing municipal by-laws, and providing local regulatory services. They also offer waste and recycling services to residents, with the amount of waste collected depending on factors such as dwelling types and socioeconomic characteristics of the LGA. Councils must approve annual budgets that outline spending priorities, informed by their Strategic Community Plan developed with community input.
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Local government roles and responsibilities
Western Australia has 137 local government areas (LGAs) that are classified into three main types: cities, shires, and towns. These LGAs encompass 27 cities, 102 shires, and 8 towns, each managing their affairs within the framework of the Local Government Act 1995. This Act provides for regional local governments, known as "regional councils," which are formed by the collaboration of two or more LGAs.
The roles and responsibilities of local governments in Western Australia are diverse and vital for the region's development and well-being. They are responsible for implementing property taxes, such as rates, to fund various projects and services. These rates are calculated based on the rateable value of properties and are used to cover expenses beyond the revenue generated from other sources. The Local Government Act 1995 and the Valuation of Land Act 1978 outline the methods for assessing property values and determining the types of rates applicable.
Local governments in Western Australia are responsible for maintaining roads and providing waste management services to their residents. This includes kerbside and vergeside collections of waste and recycling. Additionally, they have the authority to establish civic institutions and facilities, such as libraries and botanical gardens, with the governor's consent.
Another crucial role of local governments is to ensure efficient financial management. They are required to report their expenditure according to the categories specified in the Western Australian Local Government Accounting Manual. The Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations 1996 outline 11 broad program areas for reporting expenditure. Local governments must also vote to approve an annual budget that aligns with the community's needs and expectations, as outlined in their Strategic Community Plan.
Western Australia's local governments also play a part in promoting gender equality in politics. While Indigenous representation in local governance requires further improvement, the state has made progress in women's representation, with 39.61% of councillors being women, a figure slightly above the national average.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 137 local government areas (LGAs) in Western Australia.
There are 27 cities, 102 shires and 8 towns in Western Australia.
There are three classifications of local government in Western Australia: City, Shire and Town.
The Shire of East Pilbara Council in Western Australia is the largest local government area in the country at 379,571 square kilometres.
