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The University of Western Australia welcomes the recommendations of the final independent report into metropolitan local government and encourages the WA Government to implement its findings.

The Metropolitan Local Government Review report - tabled in State Parliament today after extensive community and stakeholder consultation - sets out a clear strategy to reform Perth's system of local government.

UWA Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Louden said the University particularly welcomed Recommendation 12 of the report, which calls for the WA Government to consider "transferring oversight responsibility for developments at Perth's airports, major hospitals and universities to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority".

"If implemented, this recommendation will help UWA further develop as an internationally significant centre for teaching and research, and allow the University to realise its full potential for the benefit of the whole community," Professor Louden said.

"Local government reform is important to The University of Western Australia and our goal to become one of the world's top 50 universities by 2050.

"The Crawley campus straddles three local government municipalities (Cities of Perth, Nedlands, and Subiaco), and the boundary between the Cities of Perth and Subiaco runs down the centre of Winthrop Hall.

"While the University believes local government plays an important role and we value our relationships with local government stakeholders, the report makes it clear that Perth's current system of local government needs improvement."

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783