Coastal shift

VICTORIA’s major political parties are calling for Torquay and Jan Juc to be removed from the South Barwon electorate.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission has released 58 submissions lodged by members across the state with the majority calling for a coastal revamp.

Twenty-five submissions were made in relation to the South Barwon electorate, with 14 of them calling for the Surf Coast towns to be moved in the electorate of Polwarth.

South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman said the redistribution process would not affect the Distinctive Area Landscape process.

Mr Cheeseman called on the community to let their position be known during the redistribution process.

Despite publicly calling for the towns of Torquay and Jan Juc to remain in South Barwon, Mr Cheeseman was unable to convince state Labor to support his stance.

“I love the Surf Coast community and I love to represent them, and I will represent all my constituents on the current boundaries until the new boundaries take effect,” he said.

Concerns have been raised as to what will happen to the Spring Creek valley, which Mr Cheeseman vowed to protect upon election.

“I can assure the community that the outcome of the Distinctive Landscape process will not be affected by any electoral redivision,” he said.

“I would also anticipate that the Distinctive Landscape process would likely be finalised before the Electoral Boundaries Commission releases the final results of the redivision.”

Under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act 1982, boundaries for state government seats are adjusted every eight years to ensure equal voters in each district.

Due to the rapid growth in towns such as Armstrong Creek, the South Barwon electorate is now home to more voters than it is entitled to.

Following party consultations, the Victorian Greens labelled the redivision “appropriate”.

“The one consistent message we have received is for the creation of an electorate that unites the Great Ocean Road from Torquay at least as far as Port Campbell,” the submission states.

Despite Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan opposing the shift, his party has also called for the Surf Coast Shire to join the electorate.

“While it is unfortunate that another rural district is increasingly becoming urbanised on the fridge of Geelong, it is necessary for Polwarth to absorb the high growth areas surrounding Geelong,” the Liberals said.

“Consideration should be given at a future redivision for the creation of an additional district in the Geelong region and for the District of Polwarth to return to covering the rural areas to the west of Geelong.”

Despite the majority of submissions calling for the redistribution, Torquay and Jan Juc residents have opposed the move, claiming the township does not share similar community interests with the rural seat of Polwarth.

The submission lodged by Greater Torquay Alliance said: “We have very little in common and very few direct links with the Colac region whereas we have much greater alignment with other parts of South Barwon like Geelong and Waurn Ponds where a lot of us work, play sport and go shopping.

“Polwarth has been a safe Liberal seat since 1976, whereas South Barwon has been more marginal since at least 2006, so this indicates another difference in the values and interests of voters.”

Other residents have suggested Torquay and Jan Juc need to remain in the marginal seat to get access to more infrastructure to support the anticipated population growth.

3228 Residents Association (3228 RA) has called for alternative redistributions including moving Highton from South Barwon to the Geelong electorate.

“If Torquay and Jan Juc were incorporated into Polwarth, then they would be on the outskirts of the district where there is a separation of connectivity,” 3228RA said.

“No distinct transit corridor exists between the other major centres of Polwarth and Torquay and Jan Juc, whereas we have a direct transit corridor to Geelong’s southern suburbs.”

Stage two submissions will open to the public on June 30 following the release of the proposed boundaries.