You could be, and probably are, right. I'm a bit disillusioned by the past 2 shires I've lived in and I think that if managed well some things like education and healthcare could have a great deal more input from local government.
I'm a decentralist by instinct but whether that degree of decentralisation is achievable or even desirable I'm not sure.
That said I love the way Albany in particular has changed over the past few decades and you're right that local government is to thank for that. I'm less enchanted by how Busselton has changed over the past few decades and I think local government is to blame. I do wonder if there was compulsory local elections we might have seen less unchecked development.
As I say, I'm in the self education phase of forming opinions so thanks for your thoughts.