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MOYNE SHIRE COUNCILMarch 2019
© State of Victoria (Victorian Electoral Commission) 20 March 2019
Version 2
This work, Local Council Representation Review Preliminary Report – Moyne Shire Council, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/]. You are free to share this work under that licence, on the
Local Council Representation Review – Preliminary Report Moyne Shire Council 2019
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Local Council Representation Review – Preliminary Report Moyne Shire Council 2019
ContentsEXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................1
BACKGROUND.........................................................................................3
Legislative basis..........................................................................................................................3
Public engagement......................................................................................................................3
The VEC’s principles...................................................................................................................4
Developing recommendations.....................................................................................................5
PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS (PRELIMINARY)......................................................7
THE VEC’S FINDINGS AND OPTIONS........................................................10
Preliminary report findings.........................................................................................................10
Options......................................................................................................................................16
NEXT STEPS..........................................................................................17
Response submissions.............................................................................................................17
Public hearing............................................................................................................................17
Final report................................................................................................................................18
APPENDIX 1: OPTION MAPS....................................................................19
APPENDIX 2: LIST OF PRELIMINARY SUBMISSIONS...................................23
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Executive summaryThe Local Government Act 1989 (the Act) requires the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to
conduct an electoral representation review of each local council in Victoria at least before every
third council general election.
The purpose of a representation review is to recommend an electoral structure that provides fair
and equitable representation for the persons who are entitled to vote at a general election of the
council. The matters considered by a review are:
the number of councillors
the electoral structure of the council (whether the council should be unsubdivided or
divided into wards and, if subdivided, the details of the wards).
The VEC conducts all reviews based on three main principles:
1. taking a consistent, State-wide approach to the total number of councillors
2. if subdivided, ensuring the number of voters represented by each councillor is within plus-
or-minus 10 per cent of the average number of voters per councillor for that local council
3. ensuring communities of interest are as fairly represented as possible.
2019 electoral representation reviewThe 2019 representation review for Moyne Shire Council commenced on Wednesday 23 January
2019.
Current electoral structureMoyne Shire Council currently comprises seven councillors elected from an unsubdivided
electoral structure. Prior to the last representation review in 2007, Moyne Shire Council was
comprised of 10 councillors elected from five two-councillor wards.
Visit the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au to access a copy of the 2007 review final report.
Preliminary submissionsAt the close of preliminary submissions at 5.00 pm on Wednesday 20 February 2019, the VEC
had received 12 submissions for the representation review of Moyne Shire Council. These
submissions can be viewed from the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au and a list of those people or
organisations who made a submission is available at Appendix 2.
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VEC optionsThe following options are being considered by the VEC:
Option A (preferred option)
Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from an unsubdivided electoral structure.
Option B (alternative option)
Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from five wards (two two-councillor wards and three single-councillor wards).
Option C (alternative option)
Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from three wards (two two-councillor wards and one three-councillor ward).
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BackgroundLegislative basisThe Act requires the VEC to conduct a representation review of each local council in Victoria
before every third general council election, or earlier if gazetted by the Minister for Local
Government.
The Act specifies that the purpose of a representation review is to recommend the number of
councillors and the electoral structure that provides ‘fair and equitable representation for the
persons who are entitled to vote at a general election of the Council.’1
The Act requires the VEC to consider:
the number of councillors in a local council
whether a local council should be unsubdivided or subdivided.
If a local council should be subdivided, the VEC must ensure that the number of voters
represented by each councillor is within plus-or-minus 10 per cent of the average number of
voters per councillor for that local council.1 On this basis, the review must consider the:
number of wards
ward boundaries
number of councillors that should be elected for each ward.
Public engagement
Public information program The VEC conducts a public information program to inform the community of the representation
review, including:
public notices printed in local and state-wide papers
public information sessions to outline the review process and respond to questions from
the community
a media release announcing the commencement of the review
coverage through the local council’s media
advertising on the VEC’s social media
contact with community groups and networks
ongoing information updates and publication of submissions on the VEC website
1 Section 219D of the Local Government Act 1989.
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a submission guide to explain the review process and provide background information on
the scope of the review.
Public consultationPublic input is accepted by the VEC in:
preliminary submissions at the start of the review
response submissions to the preliminary report
a public hearing that provides an opportunity for people who have made a response
submission to expand on this submission.
Public submissions are an important part of the process but are not the only consideration during
a review. The VEC ensures its recommendations are in compliance with the Act and are formed
through careful consideration of public submissions, independent research, and analysis of all
relevant factors.
The VEC’s principlesThree main principles underlie all the VEC’s work on representation reviews:
1. Taking a consistent, State-wide approach to the total number of councillors.
The VEC is guided by its comparisons of local councils of a similar size and category to
the council under review. The VEC also considers any special circumstances that may
warrant the local council having more or fewer councillors than similar local councils.
2. If subdivided, ensuring the number of voters represented by each councillor is within plus-or-minus 10 per cent of the average number of voters per councillor for that local council.
This is the principle of ‘one vote, one value’, which is enshrined in the Act. This means
that every person’s vote counts equally.
3. Ensuring communities of interest are as fairly represented as possible.
Each local council contains a number of communities of interest. Where practicable, the
electoral structure should be designed to ensure they are fairly represented, and that
geographic communities of interest are not split by ward boundaries. This allows elected
councillors to be more effective representatives of the people and interests in their
particular local council or ward.
Developing recommendationsThe VEC bases its recommendations for particular electoral structures on the following
information:
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internal research specifically relating to the local council under review, including the
Australian Bureau of Statistics and .id data2; voter statistics from the Victorian electoral
roll; and other State and local government data sets
the VEC’s experience conducting previous electoral representation reviews of local
councils and similar reviews for State elections
the VEC’s expertise in mapping, demography and local government
careful consideration of all input from the public in written submissions received during
the review
advice from consultants with extensive experience in local government.
Deciding on the number of councillorsThe Act allows for a local council to have between 5 and 12 councillors but does not specify how
to decide the appropriate number.3 In considering the number of councillors for a local council,
the VEC is guided by the Victorian Parliament’s intention for fairness and equity in the local
representation of voters under the Act.
The starting point in deciding the number of councillors appropriate for a local council is
comparing the council under review to other local councils of a similar type and size. Generally,
those local councils that have a larger number of voters will have a higher number of councillors.
Often large populations are more likely to be diverse, both in the nature and number of their
communities of interest and the issues of representation.
However, the VEC also considers the particular circumstances of each local council which could
be cause for more or less councillors, such as:
the nature and complexity of services provided by the Council
geographic size and topography
population growth or decline
the social diversity of the local council.
Deciding the electoral structureThe Act allows for a local council ward structure to be unsubdivided—with all councillors elected
‘at-large’ by all voters or subdivided into a number of wards.
If the local council is to be subdivided into wards, there are three options available:
1. single-councillor wards
2 .id is a consulting company specialising in population and demographic analysis and prediction information products in most jurisdictions in Australia and New Zealand.3 Section 5B(1) of the Local Government Act 1989.
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2. multi-councillor wards or
3. a combination of single-councillor and multi-councillor wards.
A subdivided electoral structure must involve internal ward boundaries that provide for a fair and
equitable division of the local council.
The Act allows for wards with different numbers of councillors, as long as the number of voters
represented by each councillor is within plus-or-minus 10 per cent of the average number of
voters per councillor for that local council (Principle 2). For example, a local council may have
one three-councillor ward with 15,000 voters and two single-councillor wards each with 5,000
voters. In this case, the average number of voters per councillor would be 5,000.
Over time, population changes can lead to some wards in subdivided local councils having larger
or smaller numbers of voters. As part of the review, the VEC corrects any imbalances and takes
into account likely population changes to ensure ward boundaries provide equitable
representation for as long as possible.
In considering which electoral structure is most appropriate, the VEC considers the following
matters:
the VEC’s recommendation at the previous representation review and the reasons for
that recommendation
the longevity of the structure, with the aim of keeping voter numbers per councillor within
the 10 per cent tolerance for as long as possible (Principle 2)
communities of interest, consisting of people who share a range of common concerns,
such as geographic, economic or cultural associations (Principle 3)
the number of candidates in previous elections, as outcomes from previous elections
indicate that large numbers of candidates can lead to an increase in the number of
informal (invalid) votes
geographic factors, such as size and topography
clear ward boundaries.
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Public submissions (preliminary)The VEC received 12 preliminary submissions by the deadline for submissions at 5.00 pm on
Wednesday 20 February 2019. These submissions can be viewed from the VEC website at
vec.vic.gov.au and a list of those people or organisations who made a submission is available at
Appendix 2.
The matrix below provides an overview of preferences in the preliminary submissions. Detailed
analysis of the submissions follows.
Submitter wanted fewer
wards
Submitter wanted ward
number to remain
unchanged
Submitter wanted more
wards
Submitter did not comment on
number of wards
Submitter wanted fewer councillors
Submitter wanted
councillor number to
remain unchanged
2 2*
Submitter wanted more councillors
1 7*
Submitter did not comment on number of councillors
1 1^
* Some submissions nominated a preference for more than one option.
^ The submission commented on services provided by Moyne Shire Council and is outside the scope of this review.
Number of councillors Three submissions stated that they wanted councillor numbers to remain the same at seven. Of
these, Moyne Shire Council noted that the current number of councillors was comparable with
similar sized rural councils, was consistent with a modest rate of projected population growth and
placed the Shire in the top quartile for voter representation. The Proportional Representation
Society of Australia (Victoria-Tasmania) Inc. (PRSA) advocated seven councillors (or five if it
could be justified and was acceptable to the local community), preferring an odd number on the
basis that it upholds the principle of majority support leading to majority representation. Kelvin
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Goodall submitted that increasing the number of councillors would be the most effective way to
facilitate multi-member wards, but agreed that seven councillors was consistent with comparable
rural councils and modelled a multi-councillor ward structure based on current councillor
numbers.
The majority of submissions (8 out of 12) proposed increasing the number of councillors to
between a range of eight and ten. Half of these preferred a ten-councillor local council while the
others opted for eight- or nine-councillors. These submitters were generally of the view that
increasing councillor numbers would provide the most effective and fairest form of
representation. One submitter advocated a ten-councillor local council because of Moyne Shire’s
large geographical area, while another suggested increasing councillor numbers to nine for the
same reason and added that the current number of councillors gives the impression that some of
the smaller towns are not represented. One submitter suggested eight councillors, though mainly
in reference to subdividing the local council into four wards, while another submitter was unsure
about the exact number of councillors—seven, nine or ten—but felt that councillor numbers
should be determined according to a subdivided structure and whether an odd number of
councillors was preferred.
Of the submissions that advocated increasing the number of councillors, a perceived lack of
representation was the key issue, with most proposals suggesting that increasing councillor
numbers would improve local representation. As such, most discussed increasing the number of
councillors in connection to a subdivided electoral structure based on geographical communities
of interest.
Electoral structure A large proportion of submissions desired a subdivided electoral structure, with many of these
suggesting that the previous structure of five wards provided fairer representation. Amongst
these submissions, there was a clear preference for single-councillor wards, while two
submissions proposed a multi-councillor ward structure. There was less support from submitters
for remaining unsubdivided.
Unsubdivided
Three submissions supported maintaining an unsubdivided electoral structure. The PRSA
advocates proportional representation as the fairest and most effective approach and
recommended an unsubdivided structure as the only way proportional representation could
effectively be applied to a seven- or five-councillor local council. Moyne Shire Council submitted
that the current structure encouraged a unified, team approach for council and its strategic
direction, and suggested that subdivision might encourage a segmented or individual approach
to these matters. The Council also viewed the spread of councillors from across the Shire as
important for equal and fair representation and believed this had been achieved in recent
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elections. Another submission suggested an unsubdivided electoral structure as the best way to
balance the needs of ratepayers and locally responsive representation, stating that the best
candidates tend to get elected under the current structure.
Single-councillor
All of those (four submitters) who proposed a ten-councillor local council recommended an
electoral structure comprising ten single-councillor wards. They felt this was the best structure to
facilitate local representation. One submission suggested that the current unsubdivided electoral
structure did not represent all communities and that ten single-councillor wards was the best
approach to equitable representation. Two submitters commented that most councillors either
lived in or tended to favour the major townships, particularly Port Fairy, with one suggesting that
the Council did not equally represent all ratepayers and the whole local council area. Both
submitters suggested that a structure of ten single-councillor wards would be the best way to
ensure equal representation for all electors and geographical communities of interest, especially
those in the north of the Shire. Another submitter felt that councillors elected within ten single-
councillor wards would be more accessible and responsive to local residents and local interests.
In proposing seven, nine or ten single-councillor wards as more appropriate to the size of the
local council area and its demographics, one submission was of the view that such an electoral
structure would make councillors more accessible and accountable to voters.
Multi-councillor
One submission proposed an electoral structure of three wards (one three-councillor and two
two-councillor wards) as the best way to improve local representation and to address a
perception of a concentration of councillors in and around Port Fairy and the south of the Shire.
The proposal consists of a two-councillor ward encompassing the northern regions; a south-east
central ward consisting of three councillors, and includes Koroit and extends to the Shire’s south-
eastern boundary; and a two-councillor south-west ward encompassing Port Fairy and extending
to the south-western border of the Shire. This was considered an appropriate electoral structure
to provide distinct geographical communities of interest in the north and south with fair
representation. Another submitter felt that subdividing the local council into wards was the most
democratic form of local government and proposed an electoral structure of four two-councillor
wards. This submitter felt that more effective and equitable representation was provided under
the pre-2007 structure of wards.
Mixed
There were no submissions proposing a mixed structure of single- and multi-councillor wards.
However, on account of the information collected as part of the review process and research
conducted by the VEC, a mixed structure was explored and modelled.
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The VEC’s findings and optionsPreliminary report findings
Number of councillorsThe VEC takes a consistent, state-wide approach to the total number of councillors and is guided
in its recommendations by comparing local councils of a similar size and category to the council
under review. As the below table indicates, Moyne Shire Council fits comfortably in the middle of
the seven-councillor band for Country Victorian councils.
Comparable Country Victorian councils to Moyne Shire Council
Local councilPopulation
(2016 Census)
Number of voters at last
review
Current estimate of
votersNumber of councillors
Number of voters per councillor
Colac Otway Shire* 20,972 19,198 20,750 7 2,964
Glenelg Shire* 19,557 16,333 17,570 7 2,510
Murrindindi Shire* 13,732 13,727 14,570 7 2,081
Moyne Shire* 16,495 12,420 14,424 7 2,060
Indigo Shire 15,952 12,920 13,725 7 1,960
Alpine Shire 12,337 11,575 11,929 7 1,704
Northern Grampians Shire* 11,439 10,540 10,882 7 1,554
Moyne Shire covers an area of 5,478 square kilometres and has a current population of 16,495.
It has 14,424 voters, which are represented by seven councillors, making the average number of
voters per councillor 2,060. This ratio is consistent with similar Country Victorian councils.
Population forecasts suggest a modest rate of growth at about 0.5% annually from 2011 to 2031,
most of which is expected to take place in Port Fairy and surrounding suburbs. The population is
evenly distributed throughout Moyne Shire with approximately 53% of the population living
outside of the major towns of Port Fairy, Koroit, Mortlake, Macarthur and Woolsthorpe.
The key argument of preliminary submissions for increasing the number of councillors was the
geographical size of the council and the distribution of its population across a large area.
Councillors representing larger geographical areas do have travel times to consider, which might
be lessened through a great number of councillors. However, the current and anticipated
population of Moyne Shire Council is consistent with similar seven-councillor municipalities of
comparable size.
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Geographical size is one of many factors considered by the VEC when recommending the
number of councillors. The VEC also considers the various services provided by councils,
population growth and decline, population distribution, and the social composition of the local
council, including cultural diversity and social disadvantage.
The Shire rates well on measures of social and community well-being and fares better than other
localities in relation to social and economic disadvantage. The council’s population is largely
culturally and linguistically similar, with many residents born in Australia and speaking English-
only at home. Some residents were born overseas, mainly from the United Kingdom and New
Zealand, with smaller numbers from the Philippines, Netherlands and Germany. There are
currently no special circumstances, such as a high rate of projected population growth or
significant social disparities, that would warrant increasing the current number of councillors.
It was also suggested in preliminary submissions that a greater number of councillors would
provide fairer representation for the populations dispersed throughout the local council area and
for those outside of the major towns or population centres, particularly the north and north-west.
The VEC is not convinced that increasing the number of councillors will increase the spread of
nominated and elected candidates. It is also of the view that with exception of the north and
north-west a reasonable spread of candidates and elected councillors has been achieved in
recent elections. Drawing from historical election data, the VEC identified the location of
candidates and councillors in the last three general elections. Currently, there are two councillors
from Port Fairy and one each from Mortlake, Mailor’s Flat, Garvoc, Pura Pura and Woolsthorpe.
At the 2012 election, three councillors were elected from Port Fairy, with the remaining coming
from Illowa, Woolsthorpe, Mailor’s Flat and Mortlake. In 2008, the seven elected councillors were
from Port Fairy, Panmure, Mortlake, Woolsthorpe, Koroit and Mailor’s Flat, and one from outside
the Shire. Therefore, increasing the number of councillors would not necessarily translate to
improved representation for parts of the north.
The VEC considers that seven councillors is appropriate for the size and population of Moyne
Shire Council to achieve fair and equitable representation.
Electoral structureThe VEC has developed three viable models, taking into account:
the preliminary submissions
detailed research, including information on population projections over the coming
decade, and the identification of communities of interest.
Option A proposes a no change option, comprising an unsubdivided electoral structure with all
councillors elected by voters from across the Shire on the basis of proportional representation.
Option B looks to capture key geographical communities of interest, including those in the north-
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west, north-east and south-east. Option B is similar to the alternative option put forward at the
2007 representation review,4 with slightly different ward boundaries to accommodate population
change. Option C was captured from a preliminary submission and looks to resolve the
perceived need for greater representation of northern voters and their particular interests
expressed by some preliminary submitters.
In developing viable alternatives to the current electoral structure, the VEC accepts the local
interest expressed through preliminary submissions for introducing a subdivided electoral
structure. The VEC notes the number of submissions that were particularly concerned that
issues of voters outside the major towns are not being fairly represented, prioritising the need to
guarantee representation for voters in the north and north-west of the Shire. For these reasons
two models (Option B and Option C) were developed that address these concerns.
Option A: seven councillors elected from an unsubdivided electoral structure
The VEC’s analysis of the last three general elections shows that the current electoral structure
is achieving a fair distribution of councillors elected from across the Shire. While there was a
notable push for more local elected representatives through preliminary submissions to this
review, particularly from submitters concerned with representation for the north and north-west
areas of the Shire, the desire for local representation for these areas has not translated into
putting candidates forward at the last three elections. The broad distribution of voters across
Moyne Shire combined with the characteristics of proportional representation gives candidates
with a moderate level of support from their local area a good chance of being elected.
Notwithstanding the above, the VEC has also found no evidence suggesting that electors from
Port Fairy are or have been disproportionately represented on Moyne Shire Council. It is noted
that while councillors under any electoral structure are required to decide on behalf of the whole
of the council area, the current unsubdivided electoral structure means that councillors on Moyne
Shire Council are also directly accountable to all voters across the Shire at each general
election.
The current electoral structure appears to be delivering elected members that are effectively
responding to issues in relation to council-wide and non-geographic communities of interest.
While the VEC’s research identified differences between some localities, particularly the rural
regions in the north and south-east of the council and the major population centres in the south,
such as Port Fairy and surrounding suburbs, shared and common interests are evident. These
include concerns about development along the coastal regions and across the Shire in the form
of wind farms. The VEC is of the view that balancing regional development and growth with
concerns around protecting natural habitats and managing the impact of development on local
communities benefits from a municipality-wide approach to council decision-making; mutual
4 View the final report from the 2007 representation review on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au.
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interests between tourism and more traditional forms of economic activity, such as agriculture,
likewise benefits from the current unsubdivided electoral structure and a system of proportional
representation that provides a voice to majorities and large minorities.
An unsubdivided structure provides increased choice of candidates for voters and avoids the risk
of uncontested elections, which is more common in single-councillor wards (and was observed in
Moyne Shire Council, under the previous electoral structure, during the 2002 and 2004 general
elections). Since adopting the unsubdivided electoral structure in 2007, voters have had a large
pool of candidates to choose from in each successive election.
Importantly, an unsubdivided electoral structure avoids the problem of ward boundaries dividing
communities of interest. This is particularly important for the southern areas, where voter density
is greatest and population growth could spill over into adjoining areas, potentially dividing
communities of interest under a subdivided electoral structure.
Option B: Subdivided—seven councillors elected from two two-councillor wards and three single-councillor wards)
Option B provides an electoral structure which collects each of the main geographical
communities of Moyne Shire Council into separate wards. The number of councillors is assigned
according to enrolled voters, with one councillor each for the north-west, north-east and south-
east wards, and two each for the south-west (including Port Fairy) and central wards (including
Koroit and surrounds). The electoral structure promotes local representation based on the notion
that elected councillors will be knowledgeable about more local issues and more accessible to
voters. The smaller electorates in this option reduce the geographical area and number of voters
each councillor represents, thereby assisting to relieve some of the workload involved with
councillors having to traverse the entire council area to connect with constituents under the
current unsubdivided electoral structure.
An electoral structure similar to Option B was also proposed as an alternative model at the last
Representation Review of Moyne Shire Council in 2007. The present model has slight boundary
adjustments to accommodate population change and projected population growth, and to keep
Koroit and adjacent localities together on account of their similar interests. As such, Option B
ensures that ward enrolments are likely to be sustainable and the voter-to-councillor ratios will
remain within the accepted tolerance until, at least, the next scheduled representation review in
2030-31.
The wards in Option B are generally defined by geographical communities of interest: the town of
Port Fairy and surrounds, extending south-west; in the centre, Koroit and surrounding townships;
the largely rural south-east, including Peterborough, which is geographically distinct and
relatively isolated from the rest of the Shire; the north-west, including Macarthur, which is
primarily rural and defined largely by farming interests; and the north-east, including Mortlake,
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which is also rural and mainly farming country. While the north-west and north-east areas share
a similar sociodemographic profile, it was noted during the 2007 review that these communities
tend to interact north-south in the Shire rather than east-west, and gravitate toward separate
towns outside of the Shire, including Hamilton and Warrnambool, respectively. The VEC’s
analysis for this review found these north-south and Hamilton/Warrnambool links largely remain,
but also that the northern communities are feeling increasingly isolated from the coastal regions
of the Shire.
While Option B facilitates dedicated representation for the north, there is an underlying risk of
uncontested or failed elections for the single-councillor wards at future elections. This is
particularly the case given the electoral history preceding the current unsubdivided electoral
structure and the VEC’s observation that there have been no candidates from the north-west of
the Shire since before the 2008 general election.
Option C: Subdivided—seven councillors elected from one three–councillor ward and two two-councillor wards.
Option C was proposed and mapped in a preliminary submission by Kelvin Goodall, who made a
compelling case for considering it as a viable model. The VEC made slight adjustments to Mr
Goodall’s suggested boundaries to accommodate current and projected enrolments within the
accepted tolerances.
Like Option B, the model is subdivided according to major geographical communities of interest:
the large north ward encapsulates large-scale faming activities, such as sheep and cattle grazing
and cropping, and has a similar history of settlement; the south-west ward focuses on Port Fairy
and tourism interests; and the central south-east ward has a mixture of residential development,
tourist activities, and agriculture to the south-east, namely dairying. In all wards there is a good
chance that councillors will be elected on more local issues and that they will be more accessible
to their communities. Councillors within the same ward might also work together and share
workloads more effectively.
The VEC’s analysis shows that multi-councillor wards have much less chance than single-
councillor wards of being uncontested at elections. However, there is still no guaranteed local
representation for the north-west of the Shire under this option, which was a principal concern
among those preliminary submitters that supported a subdivided electoral structure. As
discussed earlier in this report, unlike the north-west communities, the north-east of the Shire
has put up candidates at recent elections, so without a local candidate from the north-west of the
Shire, the area will remain unrepresented by a local councillor.
The north ward in Option C also takes in a very large geographical area and spans multiple
communities of interest, which may be problematic if local issues are a determining factor in
election results. In much the same way, the south-east central ward encompasses several
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distinct communities, including Koroit and surrounds, coastal plains, and dairy farming in the
south-east and Peterborough, which sits at the eastern most point of the Shire. The VEC has
observed that few candidates have come from the south-east of the Shire since before the 2008
general election, suggesting that the two-councillor south-east ward may also not achieve the
desired local representation.
OptionsThe VEC is required by the Act to include a preferred option and may include one or more
alternative options for the electoral structure in the preliminary report. The VEC considers that all
the options outlined below offer fair and equitable representation for voters. Please see Appendix
1 for detailed maps of these options.
Option A (preferred option)Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from an unsubdivided electoral structure.
Option B (alternative option)Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from five wards (two two-councillor wards and three single-councillor wards).
Option C (alternative option)Moyne Shire Council consist of seven councillors elected from three wards (two two-councillor wards and one three-councillor ward).
Ward namesThe VEC has suggested ward names to identify wards in Option B and Option C. The VEC
invites comments from the community on these ward names as part of submissions responding
to the preliminary report.
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Next stepsResponse submissionsAny person or group, including the council, can make a submission to the VEC in response to
the options contained in this report. Response submissions to the preliminary report should
address the models proposed by the VEC within this report. Response submissions must be
received by the VEC by 5.00 pm on Wednesday 17 April 2019. Late submissions will not be
accepted.
Submissions must include the full name, address and contact telephone number of the submitter.
Submissions without this information cannot be accepted.
Submission methodsSubmissions can be made via:
The online submission form at vec.vic.gov.au
Email at [email protected]
Post toVictorian Electoral CommissionLevel 11, 530 Collins StreetMelbourne VIC 3000
Public access to submissionsTo ensure transparency in the electoral representation review process, all submissions will be
available for public inspection at the:
VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au
VEC office at Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne.
The VEC will remove personal information such as address, phone number and signature, if
applicable, from all public copies. However, the full name and locality of submitters will be
displayed.
Public hearingThere is an opportunity for people or organisations who have made a response submission to
speak about their submission at the public hearing. The public hearing is scheduled to be held at
4.00 pm on Wednesday 24 April 2019 at the Port Fairy Community Services Centre, 16 Atkinson
Street, Port Fairy. If you wish to speak at the public hearing, you must indicate this on your
response submission. If there are no requests to speak at the hearing, it will not be held.
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Final reportFollowing the public hearing, the VEC considers all the evidence it has gathered and publishes a
final report for the Minister for Local Government containing a recommended electoral structure.
The report is scheduled to be published on Wednesday 15 May 2019. Any changes resulting
from the final report will apply at the October 2020 general election.
The final report will be available from the VEC by visiting vec.vic.gov.au or calling 131 832 and
for inspection at the offices of Moyne Shire Council.
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Appendix 1: Option mapsThe following maps are included in this report:
Map Page
Option A (preferred option) 19
Option B (alternative option) 20
Option C (alternative option) 21
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Local Council Representation Review – Preliminary Report Moyne Shire Council 2019
Appendix 2: List of preliminary submissionsTwelve preliminary submissions were received in total. Submissions were made by:
Paul Bucci
Hamish Cumming
Lachlan Cumming
Ann & Andrew Gardner
Kelvin Goodall
Heather Hicks
John Howard
Geoffrey Humble
Christine Jelbart
Paul Lewis
Moyne Shire Council
Proportional Representation Society of Australia (Victoria-Tasmania) Inc.
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