General News
21 February, 2023
Shire backs current ward structure
CORANGAMITE Shire Council will ask the Victorian Electoral Commission to keep the existing ward structure.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council will ask the Victorian Electoral Commission to keep the existing ward structure.
At a special meeting in Camperdown last Tuesday night councillors voted to instruct the chief executive officer to make a submission to the Electoral Representation Advisory Panel (ERAP), which is reviewing the shire’s voting structure.
With three councillors in Central Ward and one each in North, South-Central, South-West and Coastal wards, the existing ward structure does not comply with the ‘Local Government Act 2020’.
As a result, the Minister for Local Government has established the ERAP to undertake an electoral structure review of Corangamite Shire Council.
Submissions close next Wednesday, February 22 and council will make a case for a new wards-based structure.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein said councillors felt it necessary to hold a special meeting to make sure the submission sent a strong message to the VEC.
“We could have done it under delegation but we wanted to send a clear and unambiguous message to the VEC that this is the position of Corangamite Shire Council,” Cr Gstrein said.
She said changing to seven single-member wards would be the least disruptive alternative.
“The most straightforward way of doing this would be to keep the current single-member wards and divide the Central Ward into three,” Cr Gstrein said.
“Council proposes creation of a new West Ward, encompassing Terang and Noorat, and dividing Camperdown and surrounds into East-Central Ward and West-Central Ward.”
Councillors expressed concern the needs of a diverse shire with widely dispersed population required councillors with knowledge.
“The ward structure is functioning well and has done for many years,” deputy mayor Geraldine Conheady said.
“We have a lot of diversity in the wards we currently have in place in terms of demography, topography and industry and also in our population distribution.
“With a ward structure we can be closer and more in touch with our community and have a strong connection with our ratepayers.”
Cr Gstrein said the proposal was the best option for a number of reasons.
“Councillors are more likely to be truly local representative of their ward, be easily accessible to residents, and aware of local issues,” she said.
“Major communities are likely to be represented so towns like Skipton and Lismore have a strong voice at the council table.
“It’s also less likely one particular area’s point of view dominates council decisions.”
Cr Gstrein said community members had told her they had found it difficult to make submissions on the VEC website.
“Our Governance staff are more than happy to help anybody if they would like to make a submission,” she said.
“It’s important for people in our community to have their say.
“If you’re keen to support council’s position, or perhaps you want to make an argument for an unsubdivided municipality, please make a submission.”
Submissions can be made before 5pm on Wednesday, February 22 online at submissions.vec.vic.gov.au/council/516 or via e-mail at Corangamite.ERAPSubmissions@vec.vic.gov.au.
Details of council’s proposal, including maps of the proposed new wards, can be found at corangamite.vic.gov.au/minutes.