Ratepayers rubbish WA council plans

Ratepayers from three Perth councils have left Premier Colin Barnett's plan to slash the number of local governments in tatters.

The WA government plans to cut the number of metropolitan councils from 30 to 16 from July.

But on Saturday three councils - Kwinana, South Perth and East Fremantle - voted to save their governments from the chopping block.

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

However, because the poll results in Kwinana and South Perth affected Cockburn and Victoria Park respectively, all five councils have been spared from amalgamation.

Perth's remaining councils were not allowed to hold a vote under the Dadour poll provisions because they are subject to "boundary adjustments", not amalgamation.

More people turned out for the vote on amalgamation in Kwinana and South Perth than in the councils' 2013 elections.

Local government minister Tony Simpson said he was disappointed ratepayers in the affected areas would not realise the benefits amalgamation would bring.

"Change is long overdue however the onus is now on the local governments in these areas to determine the best future for their ratepayers," Mr Simpson said on Sunday.

"The government will continue its focus on progressing metropolitan reform in the other areas including the introduction of legislation for an expanded City of Perth."