No compo for botched WA council mergers

Councils won't get a single cent of compensation for the West Australian government's failed amalgamation plans.

Premier Colin Barnett said councils spent money on things they were not required to and he saw no case for any reimbursement.

"We're not going to pay for that. That's their decision. They wear it," Mr Barnett told reporters on Thursday.

Mr Barnett put his plans to halve the number of metropolitan governments on hold this week following votes in Kwinana, South Perth and East Fremantle on Saturday against the changes.

The Town of Victoria Park and the City of Cockburn also polled ratepayers, but did not receive the 50 per cent turnout required to be valid.

However, because the election results in Kwinana and South Perth affected Cockburn and Victoria Park, respectively, the four councils have been spared amalgamation.

The vote also halts plans to merge the City of Fremantle - which did not hold a vote - with East Fremantle.

Perth's remaining councils could not vote under the Local Government Act because they are subject to "boundary adjustments", not amalgamations.

Mr Barnett said cabinet would discuss the future of the amalgamation plans and continued to press ahead with legislation to make the City of Perth a capital city council.

The premier said he was also looking to change the Local Government Act, but it wasn't an urgent matter.

"There is no doubt the way the Local Government Act is structured, it is almost impossible to get a sensible structure. It's like dealing with the feudal system," he said.

"Local government is incapable of reforming itself.

"I get continual complaints from people wanting to build houses, the red tape, the over-regulation, the inconsistency from one suburb to another.

"The case for amalgamations and mergers of local councils is overwhelming."