Redistribution grows Lowan

Wimmera city Stawell, its neighbours Great Western, Glenorchy and Concongella and the Western District centre of Mortlake will add about 9000 extra voters to the electorate of Lowan at next year’s State Election.

Stawell and Great Western shift from fiercely contested Ripon and Mortlake from Polwarth.

As well as voters, the additions add an extra 2676 square kilometres to Lowan, which was already 39,182 square kilometres and is Victoria’s largest geographical electorate, representing about 20 percent of the state.

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said although the electorate’s population had not declined, other areas of the state were growing at a faster rate.

She said the redistribution was designed to keep each electorate’s population within 10 percent of the average.

She has spoken in the past of an affinity with neighbouring communities and welcomed them into the electorate.

She said the decision to add Stawell and Great Western, along with Mortlake, was expected based on Victorian Electoral Commission proposals earlier this year.

“I extend a warm welcome to these communities and can’t wait to spend more time in these towns and get to know the constituents,” she said.

“Lowan already includes part of Northern Grampians Shire, and the addition of Stawell and Great Western makes sense given regional connectivity with other communities already in the electorate.

“Stawell and Great Western have also been part of Lowan in the past, and both these communities share many similarities with other Grampians towns already in Lowan.”

Out and about

Ms Kealy visited Great Western on Monday and will visit Stawell tomorrow to give residents an opportunity to meet her and share ideas.

“I would love to speak with as many people as possible about what’s working, what’s not, and what they are proud of, and also hear residents’ thoughts on how we can make Stawell and Great Western even better places to live, work, learn and do business,” she said.

“I’ll be visiting as many businesses and organisations as I can, and welcome anyone to come up and say hello and have a chat.

“I am very much looking forward to spending time in these communities and getting to know people.”

Ms Kealy also welcomed Mortlake into the electorate, adding that Lowan already included parts of Moyne Shire, and will visit the town today.

Next year’s State Election is on November 26.

The boundary changes are likely to change the dynamics of swinging-seat Ripon, which loses Donald, Charlton and Litchfield as well as Stawell district while maintaining Ararat and picking up 5994 votes from Buninyong, 1111 from Wendouree and 390 from Polwarth.

The Liberals’ Louise Staley won the seat by a slender margin from Labor at the last election.