Submission says yes to Colac, no to Cox

THE Colac Otway Shire is formally opposing the removal of Colac from the federal electorate of Corangamite as well as the renaming of the seat itself.

At a special council meeting last week, Colac Otway councillors voted to make a submission to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) redistribution committee against the change from “Corangamite” to “Cox” and against the redrawing of boundaries that would see Colac and district fall into the neighbouring seat of Wannon.

Under the AEC’s proposal, the southern part of the shire and some of its eastern flank would be retained in Cox.

As part of its submission against the proposed redistribution, the shire has put up an alternative that would see Bannockburn and the Golden Plains Shire as far up as Linton transferred to Wannon, and Corangamite extended east to include the Bellarine Peninsula.

Colac Otway mayor Joe McCracken said the council’s proposal made more sense, still allowed for the desired number of electors in each of the seats and protected the council’s strategic alliances.

“Our council and the communities have strong, undeniable relationships with the Geelong area and almost no tangible relationship with the Wannon electorate to our west,” he said.

“It is our view that splitting Colac Otway Shire across two diverse and contrasting electorates would introduce unnecessary complexities in terms of our work to advocate for the prosperity of our communities.

“All our government services, including important areas such as health and education are linked to Geelong.”

Cr McCracken said the duplication of the Princes Highway between Colac and Geelong further strengthened the council’s connectivity with the Geelong region.

“A second electoral office has been opened in Colac for the Member for Corangamite, which provides our communities with wonderful access. Imagine if, as proposed, Colac was in the south-eastern corner of Wannon – a 36,000-square kilometre electorate with its headquarters in Hamilton.

“Council voted to seek that the AEC convene a public hearing in Colac prior to determining a decision to give the community the opportunity to demonstrate their opposition to the boundary changes.”

Incumbent Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson has again spoken out against the possible changes to her electorate, supporting a petition on change.org calling for all of Colac Otway Shire to remain in Corangamite.