By JESSE GRAHAM
THE ELECTORAL make-up of the Yarra Ranges Council may stay largely the same following a Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) review, but residents still have time to have their say.
The VEC released its preliminary report into its review of the Yarra Ranges Council’s electoral make-up on Wednesday, 30 September, putting forward three options for the council’s future.
The review, which takes place after three elections, will assess the amount of councillors and wards in the municipality, to determine what changes, if any, should be made for next year’s council election to achieve fair voter representation.
The VEC’s “preferred option” in the report is to maintain the current nine councillor, nine ward system in the Yarra Ranges, with modified boundaries to even out voter numbers.
This option, Option A, moves the Lyster Ward boundary to Ferny Creek, brings the border of Walling and Streeton Wards to Canterbury Road and moves part of the boundary between Chandler and Billanook Wards to Olinda Creek – 4491 voters will be moved to different wards under this option.
However, this preferred option comes despite half of the public submissions in the first stage of the review recommending a change to three large wards for the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and urban area of the council, with three councillors elected from each ward.
This option was slated as an alternative, Option B, in the report.
The VEC stated in the report that its preference in the review was for “minimal change if there are no special circumstances to warrant major changes”.
It said that the nine councillor, nine ward system gives the “positive features” of councillors with specific knowledge of their ward, with an easier to understand voting system.
Option B, however, would result in less splitting of municipalities by ward boundaries, and would “arguably” improve “fair and equitable representation” by having three councillors to represent a range of interests in larger wards.
Option C offers a slight adaption to Option B, with nine councillors elected from one four-councillor ward, one three-councillor ward and one two-councillor ward.
With this option, four councillors would be selected from a central ward that takes in urban areas around Chirnside Park and stretches through Mount Evelyn, Seville, Silvan and Wandin North, while two councillors would be elected from the Yarra Valley and three would be elected from the Dandenong Ranges.
The report can be viewed by visiting www.vec.vic.gov.au, and public submissions can be made up until 5pm on Wednesday, 28 October.
Submissions can be made online, by emailing yarraranges.review@vec.vic.gov.au, by post to Victorian Electoral Commission, Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, or by faxing to 03 9629 8632, and must include a full name, address and contact phone number.
A public hearing will be held at 7pm on Thursday, 5 November at the Yarra Ranges Council offices at 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale – submitters can indicate on their form if they wish to speak at this meeting.
The Yarra Ranges Council was contacted for comment, but was not able to comment by deadline.
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