A new mix, but Marles still safe

SIDE-BY-SIDE for more than a century, Corangamite and Corio are no longer likely to be neighbours but the latter is set to live on.

Corio, held by Labor frontbencher Richard Marles on an ultra-safe margin of 10 per cent, is set to lose the northern half of the Bellarine Peninsula.

The electorate’s southern boundary has also been altered to take in Liberal-leaning Highton, Labor-leaning Belmont as well as Wandana Heights and a northern sliver of Grovedale.

In the east, Coppards Rd will provide the boundary between Cox and Corio, meaning the Bellarine Peninsula from Moolap onwards will change seats.

“It has been a great privilege to represent the Bellarine since my election in 2007 and if these proposed maps are adopted at the next election it will be sad for me to no longer represent a thriving and brilliant community,” Mr Marles said.

“It would be an honour to represent the people of Belmont and Highton. If these boundaries are adopted I look forward to listening and engag- ing with the communities in these suburbs which I know well.”

Based on polling booth figures from the 2016 electorate, Corio will remain solidly in the Labor camp with the notional margin around 8.3 per cent.

Corio’s northern boundaries along Sutherland Creek and Little River, dividing it from the Ballarat and Lalor constituencies, remain unchanged.