Three wards proposed for Baw Baw Shire

Three wards with three councillors elected in each ward is the preferred electoral structure for Baw Baw Shire put forward by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

The VEC’s final report was released last week and recommends a modified electoral structure for Baw Baw, with nine councillors elected from three threecouncillor wards.

Currently the nine councillors represent four wards, with three elected in the Warragul ward and two each from the Drouin, North and Mt Worth wards.

The new boundaries proposed by the VEC would include a west, central and east ward, largely based on a north-south orientation.

The central ward would be largely based on Warragul while the west ward would include Drouin and Longwarry. The east ward would include Trafalgar, Yarragon, Rawson, Neerim South and Noojee areas.

The breakdown of population would see 11,968 voters in the central ward, covering 66 square kilometres; 12,982 voters in the east ward covering 3289 square kilometres; and, 12,704 voters in the west ward which will have an area of 669 square kilometres.

The final report has been presented by the VEC to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins for consideration.

The VEC commenced the review in July, holding two rounds of public submissions, public information sessions and a public hearing during the process.

The VEC researched key features of the municipality and carefully considered public submissions in making its recommendation.

Council also considered submissions and community feedback before adopting its preferred position In October.

At a special meeting, council’s position was determined by the casting vote of mayor Debbie Brown.

The VEC’s preferred option presented to council was for nine councillors elected from three twocouncillor wards and one three-councillor ward.

However, after consultation, the VEC’s final report reflected the option favoured by council to have three wards of three councillors in each ward. Three of the seven submissions made to the VEC supported this structure.

The report said a key theme in submissions was the perceived need to ensure that urban interests were not disproportionately represented over rural ones.

The VEC considered the final option was the most appropriate structure to meet these concerns.

“Placing all of the township of Warragul exclusively in one ward is preferable to blending the urban area with surrounding rural areas.

“The distribution of voters across the shire also means the potential for the number of candidates being elected from outside the urban areas is increased.

“This electoral structure supports the north-south transport and population corridors while minimising the impact on communities of interest based on topography and land based interests.

“It provides a blend of rural and urban areas in two wards, responding to the concerns of submitters that the current structure preferences urban voters and interests. Importantly, it provides an extra councillor to cover an inevitably large eastern ward,” the report said.

If the VEC’s recommendation is accepted, changes to the electoral structure will take effect at the next council general election in October 2016.