A Wanneroo councillor has questioned the city’s decision to spend nearly $7000 refurbishing its ceremonial mayoral chain.
At last week’s agenda briefing, Cr Jordan Wright sought clarification over why the refurbishment had gone ahead after a payment of $3400 to Rohan Jewellers appeared in the city’s financial statements.
Cr Wright said he believed the restoration had been discussed at a previous concept forum, where councillors had given feedback against proceeding with the work.
“My understanding was that that was not proceeding based on council feedback. So can I just seek some clarification as to why that’s gone through? ... I may have been away for that particular meeting,” Cr Wright said.
City of Wanneroo concept forums are closed-door meetings where councillors and city administration exchange information, but do not make formal decisions.
Vicki Coles, the city’s head of general counsel, told Cr Wright the refurbishment was aimed at replacing the chain’s outdated crest with the city’s new official crest, rather than replacing the chain itself, which had been discussed.
“At the concept forum, there was consensus for administration to seek a quote to look at refurbishing the mayoral chain based on the fact that the current one has the old crest, so administration looked at the quote,” Ms Coles said.
“The quote came back, so that’s a 50 per cent deposit, so it’s $6800, and therefore the refurbishment can be done as part of the asset renewal through the operational budget.”
Cr Wright asked why the matter had been discussed at a concept forum if it was considered operational expenditure.
“Concept forums are not decision-making bodies. So is the administration determining that this is operational expenditure? If so, why did it bring a report to a concept forum?” he said.
Director of assets Harminder Singh said the discussion had centred on whether to replace the chain or refurbish it.
“My recollection from that forum was to just gauge interest: ‘Is there any appetite to replace that metal chain or do something different’. Given that was not received in that light, we looked at refurbishment, and that work has been done,” Mr Singh said.
A spokesperson for the City of Wanneroo told the Northern Suburbs Weekly the refurbishment was being funded through the city’s existing mayoral support operational budget, and that Mt Lawley-based Rohan Jewellers was selected in accordance with the city’s procurement processes.
“The refurbishment of the city’s existing mayoral chain includes polishing, replacing worn materials and updating the emblem to feature the city’s official council crest, which is used for civic purposes,” they said.
“Work has commenced on the new crest and the refurbishment expected to be completed in January 2027.
“The mayoral chain is part of the city’s civic traditions and records the names and terms of previous mayors. It is worn at council meetings and official civic ceremonies.”
The chain was famously at the centre of a custody dispute between the cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup in the early 2000s.
When the former City of Wanneroo was abolished in 1998 and the City of Joondalup was created, the mayoral chain was classified as memorabilia by a joint committee and placed in the care and control of Joondalup on behalf of both local governments.
However, in September 2000 Wanneroo borrowed the chain and refused to return it, prompting Joondalup to buy its own mayoral chain the following month for $11,108.
The dispute over the chain continued for several years and was even referred to the Minister for Local Government for resolution.
Ultimately, in May 2003 the City of Joondalup agreed, “in the spirit of co-operation, municipal and filial confraternity”, to gift its rights, title and interest in the mayoral chain to Wanneroo, with the chain to “be retained in perpetuity for the benefit of both municipalities”.