LAST month the Shire of Chittering unanimously voted to rejoin the Avon Regional Organisation of Councils (AROC) after leaving the organisation in 2017 to shift their focus to their Northern Growth Alliance (NGA) partnership.

The AROC is made up of the shires of Goomalling, Northam, Toodyay, Victoria Plains and York.

Chittering was formerly part of the AROC but chose to withdraw at the time to join the shires of Gingin and Dandaragan as part of the NGA.

This decision was made as Chittering shared demographic and infrastructure priorities in Perth’s northern peri-urban corridor with the two NGA shires during the time of withdrawal.

Since the move, the shire’s growth pressures, infrastructure needs, and housing challenges have extended beyond the NGA’s geographic scope.

Shire of Chittering chief executive officer Melinda Prinsloo said there was no reason for the shire to not be part of both organisations.

“At the time the NGA was formed, the decision was made to align only with that and leave the AROC in favour of the NGA,” she said.

“They’ve got distinctly different areas of focus.”

The council meeting minutes said the AROC provided a valuable platform for regional advocacy, resource sharing, and collaboration on strategic issues such as housing, transport, renewable energy, and workforce development.

“Rejoining AROC would position the Shire of Chittering alongside like-minded local governments within the northern Wheatbelt and peri-urban corridor, offering collective influence when engaging with state and federal agencies,” it said.

“(Rejoining) supports the shire’s strategic objectives to lead and participate in strong regional partnerships that deliver positive outcomes for the local community.”

Councillor Carmel Ross moved to support the officer’s recommendation to rejoin and said she was delighted the shire was rejoining AROC.

“I thought it was a very poor decision of council at the time to withdraw,” she said.

“I think it’s critical – local government is a complex thing on any day of the week.

“Having a group of neighbouring councils, the Avon region, working together on things that are common interests is just a great benefit to us.”

Councillor and deputy president Mary Angus seconded the motion and said her most recent attendance at an AROC meeting as a guest highlighted the benefits of membership.

“The discussions around the table, I felt, were very appropriate for us to be involved in as well and it can only be of benefit,” she said.

“There’s power in numbers and if we can put some of our issues forward along with neighbouring shires, I think that’s only a good thing.”

Following the motion being carried, the Shire of Chittering will have to pay $5000 to finalise membership with the AROC.