By JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA Ranges mayor Jason Callanan says the council will aim to appeal a VEC recommendation that will see the biggest change to ward structures in 20 years.
On Wednesday, 25 November, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) officially finished its review into the Yarra Ranges Council’s electoral structure, releasing its report and recommendations to the Victorian Government.
The final recommendation of the report was that the council should keep nine councillors, but have them elected from three wards, rather than the current nine for next year’s election.
These three wards are Chirnside, which takes in the urban areas of the municipality around Lilydale, O’Shannassy, which encompasses the Yarra Valley and Mount Evelyn, and Streeton, which covers the Dandenong Ranges.
It follows preliminary submissions received during August and early September, follow-up submissions to a preliminary report and a public meeting on 5 November.
Cr Callanan, who made a submission in favour of keeping the current nine-ward structure, said the recommendation was “surprising”, as the VEC originally indicated it was in favour of keeping the status quo.
He said the change meant he would now be seeking re-election with councillors Jim Child and Fiona McAllister in a ward that covered the entire Yarra Valley – about 22,000 square kilometres.
“I honestly don’t know how it’s going to work – I really don’t,” he said.
“Looking at my ward, Jim’s ward and Fiona’s ward combining into one, that’s huge, and I don’t know how I can appreciate what Healesville’s issues are, because I’m not there all the time – I’m not local.”
Cr Callanan said the proposed change would be the biggest ward change in the Yarra Ranges since the council began about 20 years ago.
He agreed with the VEC report’s statement that the change gave residents variety in councillors for their area, who may have different political views, but argued there was already a similar system.
“I guess, in a way … if they don’t feel like they’re getting success with one councillor, they can go to another – so that’s where it becomes fair,” Cr Callanan said.
“They can do that now – there is the opportunity to come to the mayor to say ‘I’m not having any success with the councillor’, and things can be looked at that way.
“I do believe that councillors here are very fair, and are open, and don’t have very political drives or agendas, and shouldn’t at this level of government.”
He said he was hoping to meet with Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins to discuss the potential changes and council’s position.
Though the VEC had previously stated a preference for keeping the current council structure with nine wards (Option A), most public submitters favoured changing to three major wards (Option B).
The report said the three wards would address concerns about splitting townships more than the other options, which was an issue of contention for some submitters.
“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.”
An Option C, with different multi-councillor wards, was proposed – but was not supported by any public responses.
The Yarra Ranges Council, along with Cr Callanan, Cr Child and Cr Mike Clarke, made submissions in favour of keeping the current ward structure.
Healesville Action Group (HAG)’s John Anwin said he was “delighted and surprised” about the recommendation, with the group campaigning for the change at the 2007 electoral review.
“Needless to say, we are very pleased,” he said.
“I know there is a lot of concern that vested interest groups would stand three councillors on a ticket, and perhaps eliminate independent people, and I guess that’s up for the ratepayers now to be more vigilant about who they vote for.
“It’s the old adage of you get the government that you deserve, and I think that’s pretty true at all levels.”
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.
The recommendations were submitted to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins to be considered – if accepted, the changes will come into effect for the October 2016 council elections.
For the full report, visit www.vec.vic.gov.au.
