New lines drawn for some voters ahead of state election

THE state election is just over five weeks away, and residents in the Geelong region should double-check their address to see if they are voting in the same electorate as last time or a different one.

There have been some changes to the seats of South Barwon, Bellarine Geelong, Lara and Polwarth following the redivision of electoral boundaries, which was finalised late last year, and the new borders officially take effect on November 1.

The District of Geelong (held by Labor’s Christine Couzens) gained a wedge to the east including Moolap but grew much larger to the west than first proposed by the redivision, and now takes in Fyansford as well as pushing as far out as Murgheboluc, Bannockburn and just south of Lethbridge.

The District of Bellarine (held by Labor’s Lisa Neville, who is stepping down at this election) is unchanged apart from having its western boundary pulled back from Coppards Road to a line generally defined by Clifton Avenue in Moolap and Staceys and Blackrock roads in Connewarre.

The District of Lara (held by Labor’s John Eren, who is also retiring) is almost entirely the same, except that the new boundary will not include the water of Limeburners Bay, near Avalon.

The biggest change is in the District of South Barwon (held by Labor’s Darren Cheeseman), which has lost Torquay, Jan Juc, Bellbrae and Paraparap, but has not shrunk as much as originally proposed.

South Barwon previously stretched as far south as Murgheboluc, Moriac, Gnarwarre and Bells Beach, and the redivision first proposed to have the border stop at Waurn Ponds, Mount Duneed and Breamlea. Now, the border is defined by a relatively straight line between Bremlea to the east and just short of Modewarre to the west, leaving in towns such as Moriac, Mount Moriac, and Gnarwarre.

South of this line is now part of the District of Polwarth (held by Richard Riordan for the Liberals), which has gained Torquay, Jan Juc and Bellbrae but has shrunk to the north and west and no longer includes towns including Bannockburn, Mortlake, Terang, Skipton and Rokewood.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission – an independent statutory body supported by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) – conducted the redivision of electoral boundaries for both houses of Parliament to ensure that each vote in Victorian state elections has an equal value and that each elector is represented equally.

To vote the November 26 state election, you will need to be correctly enrolled by 8pm on November 8.

To enrol, check or update your details, head to vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment