DIVISIVE PLAN: Bellarine community criticises proposed new council structure

BELLARINE residents have hit out at proposals to split tight-knit communities into separate council wards in a new electoral subdivision.

Local submitters to the structure review were nearly unanimous in their criticism of the proposed new boundaries.

Objectors have called for a delay in the structure review until after 2024 to allow for more extensive consultation, or special treatment for the Bellarine to avoid changes recently legislated by the state government.

Councillors, community groups and residents argued the region had been well served by its present three-councillor ward that took effect in 2017 following the council’s dismissal the previous year.

The Electoral Representation Advisory Panel (ERAP) has proposed three models for the subdivision.

In order, they are:

• Splitting St Leonards from Indented Head and Portarlington and instead include it with Leopold and Moolap
• Pairing St Leonards and Indented Head with Armstrong Creek, or
• Divide Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads across three wards with boundaries at the Barwon River and Grubb Road.

Bellarine Ward councillor Jim Mason was among the local residents to argue against the idea during submissions last month.

“This single ward with three councillors has over six years proven to be effective and fostered collaboration amongst councillors, assisted in diverse areas of interest such as sport, environment and the arts,” his submission stated.

“My appreciation of the proposal is that there is a strong desire by the Bellarine community to maintain the status quo – a single ward with three councillors.

“Further, the three models proposed are unsatisfactory in that they all split communities and townships inappropriately.”

Cr Mason also referenced the Combined Bellarine Communities Association that formed under the present structure and jointly lobbied councillors and MPs on key issues.

The CBCA’s submission echoed Cr Mason’s views.

“We believe that representation and governance have improved since the period of administration and the resumption of council elections in 2017,” the CBCA stated.\

“The CBCA argues that a return to the single councillor wards of the period 1995-2016 is a retrograde step, and is unlikely to lead to improved council and councillor accountability or community engagement.”

The ERAP is undertaking a structure review of the City of Greater Geelong that will take effect for next year’s council elections.

Geelong is required to shift to a single-councillor ward system ahead of the 2024 ballot under the 2020 Local Government Act.

The laws mean the existing Bellarine Ward will be scrapped for smaller divisions.

Panellists are required to keep the population of each ward within 10 per cent of the municipality’s average, and reflect shared interests between communities as much as practicable.

The ERAP is due to provide a final recommendation and report to the government by August 30.

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne will make the final decision on new ward boundaries.