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3 Wards? Where do you sit?





Now that the VEC has made its final report, where does this now leave you and what ward (electorate) will you be in?

There will now only be 3 wards - generally speaking
  • Chirnside (metro)
  • Streeton (Hills)
  • O'Shannassy (Valley/Rural)
For those in the current "Chandler Ward" - Most of you will become O'Shannassy with the exception of the Monbulk township, which will be in "Streeton Ward".

Suburbs of:

Silvan, Wandin, Wandin East/North, Macclesfield, Yellingbo, Haddles Creek, Beenak, Mt Evelyn, Seville, Seville East, Gruyere, Coldstream, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Don Valley, Millgrove, Warburton, East Warburton, Big Pats Creek, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Cambarville, Fernshaw, Healesville, Badger Creek, Chum Creek, Tarrawarra, Diamond Creek, Steels Creek, Cape Horn, Yarra Glen, and Yering.

All these townships will now be under O'Shannassy Ward.

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.

·         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 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.

Table 1: Preferences expressed in response submissions*
Option A
Option B
Option C
7
10
0
*One submission did not support any of the VEC’s proposed options.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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:
Newspaper
Notice of review
Notice of preliminary report
Herald Sun
Wednesday 15 July
Wednesday 9 September
Free Press Leader
Tuesday 4 August
Wednesday 30 September
Mount Evelyn Mail
Tuesday 4 August
Tuesday 6 October
Ranges Trader Mail
Tuesday 4 August
Tuesday 6 October
Mountain Views Mail
Tuesday 4 August
Tuesday 6 October
Ferntree Gully Belgrave Mail
Tuesday 4 August
Tuesday 6 October
Lilydale Yarra Valley Leader
Tuesday 4 August
Tuesday 6 October
The Age
Tuesday 4 August
Wednesday 30 September
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.
 
 
 
 

Cr Callanan on Leave - May 2015





Hi all I will be on leave from the 8th May till the 1 week of June. I will not available by phone during this time. I will keep an eye on my emails and FB page(s). So if you need to get hold of me, your best way would be email/Facebook. If it is urgent, Cr Jim Child will assist in any ward matters in my absence.

Welcome our Newest Cr - Mike Clarke









I would like welcomeour newest Councillor - Cr Mike Clarke of Lyster Ward. Congratulations and I look forward to working with you!

 
 
 
 
 
I am an independent standing to represent all interests for "Living well in Lyster", having lived in Selby and Upwey for over 30years, where my sons grew up to be sportsmen on the world stage. Local initiatives, small business and jobs are high on my agenda. With a focus on healthy living, support for health services is paramount. I will proactively support sports, recreation, local community groups and creative pursuits. Of equal importance is security and safety: Fire Management Planning, environmental development, weed reduction, fauna and flora protection. I will work hard to improve housing affordability, efficient public transport throughout Yarra Ranges with 14 seater shuttle buses connecting trains and expanded bike trails. My professional background started in Electrical Engineering with global enterprises, moving to software development, small business, project management consulting for State Government Departments: Environment Protection Authority, State Emergency Services, Police and Health, recently banking services and NBN.

"Back to Work"








Well the festivities are over! I hope everyone had a great break! 2015 will be an exciting year for the Yarra Ranges Council, starting off with a "Bi Election" Yeah (I hear everyone say). Our new Mayor Cr Maria Mcarthy will lead us throughout 2015 and I will be eager to assist where I can.

So if you have any issues, planning, property, roads or community, please give a buzz either on my phone or email me! I will be happy to try and assist with you questions/issues. Now some may not be a simple fix and at times I may not be able to find a solution, but I will ensure that I do give it my best shot and try and see how we can get a solution!

Happy 2015!

Yarra Ranges Cr Samantha Dunn - State MP!




I wish to congratulate Cr Samantha Dunn for winning a seat in the Upper House in this years state Election. Even though my time has been short here at Yarra Ranges Council, I have experienced Sam's professionalism, tenacity, and passion to her constituents in the Ward of Lyster. Good luck Sam, hope your time here has been memorable and look forward to continuing working with you in the future!

Councillor goals coming to fruition - Efficiency Savings






Im proud to announce tonight at our council meeting agenda item 7.4 Yarra Ranges Council Quarterly Finance report. One of the promises I was elected on was to reduce waste and ask for efficiency savings. Below is a number of efficiency saving that council officers have done and commend their hard work and look forward to more in the future!


  • Road Maintenance contract savings
  • Election fine income
  • Savings on loan interest
  • Internal Audit re-tender
  • Fuel Savings through more efficient rostering (aged & disability)
Whole of organisation
  • Decrease in Executive Assistants (CEO to zero, Planning & S&ED down by 1.5 EFT)
Corporate Services
  • Council - reduction of 2.5 EFT in councillor support (from 6.0 EFT's to 3.5)
  • Liaison with People & Culture providers to negotiate better rates
Social and Economic Development
  • Youth Services - restructure - reduced of Band 7 posts
  • S&ED Admin - reduction in 1.3 EFT Band Admin Staff
Environment and Engineering
  • Competitive tendering of construction projects seeking best value
  • Competitive quotation of projects utilising annual supply tendered rates
  • Centralisation of the leasing and licensing functions
And there is a lot more planned which all of us are eager to see!

Pets & Emergencies

 


Your animals are your responsibility. It's up to you to prepare for the safety and welfare of your pets and livestock in the event of an emergency.

Be Prepared


  • Include animals in your household emergency plan
  • Properly identify your pets eg name tags, microchip etc
  • Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on display
  • Be aware that some emergency relief centres may not cater for animals so have an alternative plan

Act Early


  • If moving animals to a safer place, do it early
  • Ensure there they have access to food and water
  • If staying at home secure animals so they can't run away

Be Considerate


If you have to leave pets behind:

  • If possible, leave your pets inside
  • Place pets in separate rooms with small or no windows eg bathroom or laundry
  • Provide food and water in large heavy bowls
  • If left outside, do not tie them up.

Act Safe


  • Your safety, and that of your family, is highly important. Don't risk human life trying to find and protect pets.

Information supplied courtesy of the Attorney General's Department, Emergency Management Australia.

For more information, click on the related links or contact us on 1300 368 333

Get me about









Plan your trip, get information about local transport services and find out things to do in your community. Covering the council areas of Booroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges. http://getmeabout.org.au/
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