Council mergers will be costly, divisive and increase rates across the metropolitan area, leaving Perth residents worse off, research shows.

A yet-to-be published study on Perth’s proposed council mergers by Brian Dollery, from the NSW University of New England, says that contrary to the WA Government’s assertions, bigger councils do not mean better or cheaper.

Professor Dollery points out that all States, with the exception of WA, have undergone some sort of amalgamation process.

“What we have learnt from these amalgamations is that there aren’t any cost savings,” he said.

“A national report into local government systems carried out in 2006 – before Queensland underwent major reorganisation – showed there were no differences in service cost levels or financial sustainability between the States that had amalgamated councils and those that did not.

“That tells…