By JESSE GRAHAM
A REVIEW into the electoral structure of Yarra Ranges Council has finished, with a recommendation that the council shift to a three-ward structure with nine-councillors.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has officially finished its review into the council’s electoral structure, releasing a report on Wednesday 25 November.
The report’s final recommendation for the council is that it keeps nine councillors, but has them elected from three wards rather than the current nine.
These three wards are Chirnside, which takes in the urban areas of the municipality around Lilydale, O’Shannassy, which encompasses the Yarra Valley, and Streeton, which covers the Dandenong Ranges.
It follows preliminary submissions received during August and early September, where most of the 18 submitters supported keeping the same amount of councillors – but many also stated a preference to a three-ward model, with three councillors elected from each ward.
Four of these submissions were from the Yarra Ranges Council and individual councillors, who supported the status quo of nine councillors, nine wards.
In follow-up submissions to the VEC’s preliminary report, 10 of 18 submitters preferred the new electoral structure (Option B), while seven supported the status quo – one did not support any of the options.
A public meeting was also held on 5 November, for submitters to speak for or against potential changes.
The VEC report said the body considered increasing the councillor numbers to 11, to be consistent with similar councils in Victoria, but noted “significantly higher numbers of voters and rapid population growth” in 11-councillor councils.
“The VEC concluded that the Yarra Ranges Shire Council did not require a change to the number of councillors based on its current population or projected rate of growth,” the report read.
Though the VEC noted its preference is for minimal change in electoral structures, unless there are “special circumstances”, it said Option B would avoid splitting towns more than the other options.
“Option B reflected the strong message in preliminary submissions that a three ward model of three councillors in each ward would be the best way to represent the three major geographic communities of the municipality,” the report read.
“Option B has strong and clearly identifiable ward boundaries reflecting these communities of interest.
“The three-ward structure with three councillors per ward is considered by the VEC to be less vulnerable to the impacts of the population growth pattern, and is therefore a sustainable model for the municipality into the future.”
The VEC has submitted its recommendation to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins to be considered. If accepted, the changes will come into effect for next year’s election.
To see the full report, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au.
The Mail has contacted the Yarra Ranges Council for comment.
