Major Changes at 2016 Elections!
"The VEC recommends Yarra Ranges Shire Council consist of nine
councillors elected from three three‑councillor wards"
A representation review for Yarra Ranges Shire Council was scheduled for 2019. Based on evidence suggesting that the Lyster Ward was approaching the 10 per cent tolerance for the average number of voters per councillor, the scheduled representation review for Yarra Ranges Shire Council was brought forward in to the 2015 program.
A preliminary report was released on Wednesday 30 September. The VEC considered
public submissions and research findings when formulating the options presented
in the preliminary report.
Electoral structure
The VEC put
forward three models for further consultation. Option A reflected the status
quo of nine councillors elected from single-councillor wards, with slightly
modified ward boundaries. Option B reflected the strong message in submissions
that a three-ward model with three councillors in each would be the best way to
represent the three major geographic communities of the municipality. Option C
(a multi‑councillor model with one four-councillor ward, one three-councillor
ward and one two‑councillor ward) also reflected the desire for
multi-councillor wards expressed in submissions, minimising the need to split
localities and providing an alternative arrangement for capturing identified
communities.
Options
After careful consideration, the VEC put forward the
following options:
·
Option A (preferred option)
Yarra Ranges Shire Council continue to consist of nine councillors elected from single‑councillor wards, with modified ward boundaries.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council continue to consist of nine councillors elected from single‑councillor wards, with modified ward boundaries.
·
Option B (alternative option)
Yarra Ranges Shire Council consist of nine councillors elected from three three‑councillor wards.
Option C (alternative option)Yarra Ranges Shire Council consist of nine councillors elected from three three‑councillor wards.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council consist of nine councillors elected from one four‑councillor ward, one three-councillor ward, and one two-councillor ward
The VEC accepted submissions responding to the preliminary report from Wednesday 30 September until 5.00 pm on Wednesday 28 October. The VEC received 18 response submissions. A list of people who made a response submission can be found in Appendix 1. Table 1 indicates the level of support for each option.
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Table 1: Preferences expressed in response submissions*
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Option A
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Option B
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Option C
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7
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10
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0
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*One submission did not
support any of the VEC’s proposed options.
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The VEC conducted a public hearing for those
wishing to speak about their response submission at 7.00 pm on Thursday 5 November
at the Yarra
Ranges Shire Council Offices, 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale
Option B: nine councillors elected from three three-councillor wards
The model put
forward by the VEC in Option B captured the sentiment expressed in many of the
submissions, which described the natural formation of three distinct areas: the
densely populated urban area of the metropolitan fringe; the south-western area
around the Dandenong Ranges; and the rural communities and natural environments
in the east of the municipality. Option B has strong and clearly identifiable
ward boundaries reflecting these communities of interest.
This option combines
the current wards of O’Shannassy, Ryrie and part of Chandler into a large rural
ward. Parts of the inner Dandenong Ranges in Streeton and Lyster Wards are
combined; with sections of the Walling, Melba and Billanook Wards also merged
to form one larger, urban multi-councillor ward.
The boundaries avoid splitting
localities as far as possible, and of all the options, the preservation of localities
(particularly in the higher-density urban western part of the Shire) is
achieved most effectively by this model.
This model also
brings with it the benefits of the proportional representation vote counting
method, and provides voters with a greater number of candidates to choose from
at election time. Once in office, there are more councillors for constituents
to approach on matters of concern in each ward.
One of the limitations of
multi-councillor wards is that the capacity for councillors to be familiar with
all local issues can be reduced due to the larger size of the wards. With three
councillors per ward, however, there is an opportunity for sharing the workload
between councillors. While the O’Shannassy Ward proposed under Option B is much
larger in geographic area than the current single-councillor ward, the model
increases the representation for voters in the ward by providing more
councillors.
Fair and equitable representation is still able to be achieved,
and is arguably improved, with multiple councillors per ward. 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.
In submissions
and at the public hearing, the VEC heard persuasive arguments for the three three‑councillor
wards option, put forward by residents from across the whole municipality. The
model has been tested in previous reviews and has consistently received strong
local support.
While it is important to note that the VEC’s decision is not
made according to the popularity of the option, it is clear that there is an
appetite for change, with momentum building over a number of years.
Taking into
account the effects of the uneven projected population pattern, longer-term
vulnerability of the single-ward boundaries, as well as the sentiment expressed
in submissions in support of Option B, the VEC considers Option B a preferable
model for the Shire.
Advertising
In accordance with the Act, public notices of the review and
the release of the preliminary report were placed in the following newspapers:
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Newspaper
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Notice of
review
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Notice of
preliminary report
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Herald Sun
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Wednesday 15 July
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Wednesday 9 September
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Free Press
Leader
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Tuesday 4 August
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Wednesday 30 September
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Mount Evelyn
Mail
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Tuesday 4 August
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Tuesday 6 October
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Ranges Trader
Mail
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Tuesday 4 August
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Tuesday 6 October
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Mountain Views
Mail
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Tuesday 4 August
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Tuesday 6 October
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Ferntree Gully
Belgrave Mail
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Tuesday 4 August
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Tuesday 6 October
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Lilydale Yarra
Valley Leader
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Tuesday 4 August
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Tuesday 6 October
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The Age
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Tuesday 4 August
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Wednesday 30 September
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Media releases
A media release was prepared and distributed to local
media at the commencement of the review on Wednesday
5 August. A further release was distributed at the publication of the
preliminary report on Wednesday 30 September.
A final release was circulated on the publication date of this final report.
Public information sessions
Public information sessions for people interested in the
review process were held on:
·
Monday 10 August
at the Yarra
Ranges Shire Council Offices, 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale
·
Wednesday 12
August at The Memo, 235 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
·
Thursday 13
August at the Monbulk Community Link, 21 Main Road, Monbulk.
Helpline and email address
A telephone helpline and dedicated email address were
established to assist members of the public with enquiries about the review
process.
VEC website
The VEC website delivered up-to-date information to
provide transparency and facilitate public participation during the review
process. An online submission tool was made available and all public
submissions were posted on the website.
Guide for Submissions
A Guide for
Submissions was developed and distributed to those interested in making
submissions. Copies of the Guide were
available on the VEC website, in hardcopy on request and also provided to
Council.
Council website and newsletter
Information about the review was provided to Council for
publication in council media,
e.g. website and newsletter.
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