THE preferred option for an adjustment to the Bass Coast Shire Council ward structure, ahead of the October 2024 elections, would see the residents and ratepayers of Phillip Island suffering a significant devaluation to their voting power.
Where it will take an estimated 15,839 Island voters to elect three councillors, just 12,291 voters in a slightly altered ‘Western Port’ Ward will be entitled to the same level of representation at the council table.
The townsfolk of Inverloch and Wonthaggi will also do well under the proposed ‘Model 1’ published this week by the Victorian Electoral Commission for public consultation, getting three councillors to represent them at the council table in the Bunurong Ward for only 13,115 electors.
The only advantage for Phillip Island is they’ll all be in the same boat together, one ward for all Island residents. It’s clear, it’s simple but it’s also a hefty 15.21 more voters than average to get the same result.
The other advantage is that the major new growth areas of Wonthaggi, to the north and east of the town, will be divided between the Western Port and Bunurong wards, allowing them to bridge the numbers gap over the next decade, potentially eliminating the need for any further boundary changes.
If, however, the Island folk don’t want their voting power to be diluted ahead of the October elections, they might opt for ‘Model 2’ which would see the 600 Islanders in the Newhaven area staying with the Western Port ward which includes San Remo, the Waterline areas of Coronet Bay, Corinella, and Grantville plus a large swath of the shire’s rural hinterland, Dalyston and North Wonthaggi.
It's not a huge improvement though with the 15,279 voters on Phillip Island only getting three councillors as against three in Western Port for their 12,851 voters and three Wonthaggi and Inverloch voters for 13,115 voters.
Those who don’t like either Model 1 or Model 2, and would rather a different structure to the council wards, one that is fairer to the voters, or are in favour of either one would need submissions to make a submission before 5pm on Wednesday, March 6 2024.
Submissions can be received online (vec.vic.gov.au) via the Public Submission Tool. By email to BassCoast.WardReview@vec.vic.gov.au. By post Ward boundary review panel Victorian Electoral Commission Level 11, 530 Collins St Melbourne VIC 3000.
There will be an online public hearing, at which you can speak in support of your submission at 2pm on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Full details at: Bass Coast Shire Council | Victorian Electoral Commission (vec.vic.gov.au)
