Kimberley shires talk about closer ties

The shires of Broome, Derby-West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley have agreed to talk about how they can work more closely together.

The four Kimberley shires have decided to form a Regional Collaborative Group.

Local Government Minister John Castrilli said it was a positive step.

"The Regional Collaborative Group reform option was available to 28 local governments in remote regional areas where amalgamation was not a priority; however, there were benefits to be achieved from local governments working more closely," he said.

"A diverse regional economy and one of the fastest population growth rates in Western Australia means both opportunities and challenges for the Kimberley region," he said.

"Demographic change is a key impetus for reform and forming a Regional Collaborative Group enables a more regional approach, allowing local governments to maximise the benefits to their communities and the region," said Mr Castrilli.

He said the council's had identified many benefits from utilising this model, especially to address population and town centre growth in response to mining and tourism activity.