The Great Divide: Harvey V Australind

Harvey shire councillors have conceded there is a great divide between the northern and southern ends of the shire. In a heated council meeting last week, they said there was a “difference” between the Australind and Harvey areas and more needed to be done to bring the two together. Cr Bill Adams proposed a name change to include Leschenault in the Shire of Harvey — which could cost ratepayers half a million dollars. The Shire of Harvey has almost two dozen localities with Harvey, Yarloop, Cookernup, Benger and Wokalup in the north and Australind, Leschenault and Roelands among towns in the south. Brunswick, Binningup and Myalup sit along the middle border. Cr John Bromham likened the issue to when he lived in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and said “people in Margaret River really didn’t like the people in Augusta and the people in Augusta really didn’t like the people in Margaret River”. The debate arose when Cr Bill Adams raised a motion to change the name of the Shire of Harvey to the Shire of Harvey-Leschenault. He withdrew his original motion and raised an amended one which asked for the idea to be put out into the community for consultation. He said the name Leschenault encompassed the southern end of the shire and would help those residents feel included. “This (Australind) is where the development is,” Cr Adams said. “This is where the action is.” He stated the new hub should have been designed for Australind instead of Harvey. Cr Adams, who lives in the Australind area, said he spoke to some people around town who gave mixed feedback about the name change, however he believed his idea would solve the divide issue. But, not all councillors agreed with him. Cr Paul Beech said he was not really sure of Cr Adams’ motivation. “If it gets up, it will be divisive,” Cr Beech said. He also questioned why Leschenault was the preferred name. “Brunswick played a part in the development in the early days and Cookernup was gazetted before the town of Harvey,” he said. Cr Derrick Simpson encouraged councillors to support Cr Adams’ motion and said the estimated $500,000 logo change should not at this stage influence the decision. “I grew up in Blackwood, which has evolved to Boyup Brook,” Cr Simpson said. He said the southern part of the shire was almost amalgamated into the greater Bunbury region several years ago along with Dardanup and Capel. “This highlights that just because we are a whole shire, the circumstances in the future may change.” Cr Robyn Coleman said she didn’t believe a name change would inspire inclusivity. “Every single one of us will be paying,” she said. The motion was lost after only two councillors voted in its favour. Cr Adams said it was a “crap” outcome. “Over time I will be proven right,” he said.