Geoff Totterdel is leading the push to get part of North Fremantle moved to Mosman Park. Credit:Brendan Foster In most cases it really does come down to dissatisfaction with rates, rubbish, services and roads. The group behind the Greater Fremantle campaign wants the suburbs of Hamilton Hill and North Coogee shifted from Cockburn into nearby Fremantle. Ironically, the two suburbs were going to be swallowed up by Fremantle as part of the Barnett government's failed local government reform. The Greater Fremantle group wrote to the LGAB in April and was recently told by the board it would hold a formal inquiry into the push to move north in August.

Freo in the epicentre: some suburbs want in, others want out. "I spend 99 per cent of my time in Fremantle but 100 per cent of my rates go to Cockburn," Greater Fremantle convenor Adin Lang told WAtoday. "$100 million is going into the Cockburn Arc but I will never go there. "It's about making Fremantle stronger and more economically viable. "And to make it a more vibrant city, it needs more ratepayers."

Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett isn't chuffed about the two suburbs becoming part of Fremantle. The city is so outraged by idea, it has spent $50,000 in response to any proposal to annex parts of Cockburn and transfer them to Fremantle. "The City of Cockburn is disappointed that a new resident to the city has initiated this proposal, without consulting with the city," Mr Howlett said. "Mr Lang stood for a council position in October 2015 on a similar platform and was soundly defeated. "The mayor of Fremantle [Brad Pettitt] has publicly stated that, without the bipartisan support of the affected local governments [i.e. the cities of Cockburn and Fremantle], the proposal is unlikely to proceed and that this process is therefore likely to result in 'an unproductive use of everyone`s time'."

Dr Pettitt said with Cockburn council cold on any boundary change, it was highly unlikely the city would pick up the two suburbs. "The city welcomes a formal enquiry but given Cockburn has indicated they will not support this boundary change and the minister for local government has said he will not agree to any boundary change not agreed to by both councils, the campaign is likely to be unsuccessful," he said. While there is a push to shift Hamilton Hill and North Coogee into the port city, there are a bunch of residents in North Fremantle who want out. Geoff Totterdell is leading the charge to have North Fremantle from the Dingo Flour mill on Stirling Highway to the area just past McCabe Street to become part of Mosman Park. "Our kids go to school in Mosman Park, we use the facilities and amenities in Mosman Park, so why should we pay our rates to Fremantle?", he said.

"Fremantle has forgotten about North Fremantle and we don't get the services for our rates. "The reason Fremantle is scratching and clawing for us to stay is because they don't want to lose the rates." Although the LGAB knocked back Mr Totterdell's bid in November, he is hopeful the move could still go ahead after the Premier Colin Barnett and Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said they would meet with both Fremantle and Mosman Park councils in mid-July to thrash out a solution. Mosman Park mayor Ron Norris said his council would welcome the residents of North Fremantle. "There is already a very strong relationship between the town and these residents in the northern end of North Fremantle," he said.

"The residents use the schools, shops and sporting facilities in Mosman Park. Becoming part of the town would simply formalise an already strong relationship." In the south-eastern suburbs of Perth ratepayers are also railing against their councils. Residents of Harrisdale and Piara Waters are mounting a charge to get out of the City of Armadale, arguing ratepayers are getting slugged with some of the highest rates in Perth. The residents have yet to decide on which of the three neighbouring councils they want to move into. Kelly Lacquiere, who is behind the boundary-change push, said she paid almost $2900 in rates last year.

"I would prefer my rates money to go to a council whose facilities and amenities I use. I rarely if ever visit the Armadale city centre," she said. "We live on small blocks, three times smaller than what was available eight years ago and our rates continue to go up excessively." Armadale mayor Henry Zelones said the city was concerned residents wanted to pack up and move. "I understand their concerns and we are working to address those concerns," he said. "We recently met with a deputation of residents who put the issues to officers and councillors.

"The city is very concerned and is committed to working with the residents of Harrisdale and Piara Water to allay their concerns." Mr Simpson said the LGAB had never seen so many submissions calling for boundary changes. Only late last month the LGAB squashed a move by more than 500 residents of Wattle Grove to shift from the Shire of Kalamunda to the City of Gosnells. The Wattle Grove residents wanted to move because they felt their rural lifestyle would be better protected in the City of Gosnells. "I understand that the board has not experienced this level of community driven proposals previously," Mr Simpson said.

"As the proposed metropolitan reforms did not proceed, these proposals appear to reflect a desire in some communities to bring about local change." Follow WAtoday on Twitter