Final state electoral boundaries released

VICTORIA’S Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) has released its final state electoral boundaries, and there are big changes in both Geelong and South Barwon.

Published online this morning and tabled in Parliament, the new boundaries will not take effect for more than a year and will apply at the next state election, scheduled for November 26, 2022.

As earlier flagged by the redivision, the District of South Barwon (held by Labor’s Darren Cheeseman) is still losing Torquay, Jan Juc, Bellbrae and Paraparap, but the electorate will not shrink as much as originally announced. South Barwon previously stretched as far 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 southern extent of the electorate 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 the Liberals’ Richard Riordan), which has also shrunk to the north and west and no longer includes towns including Bannockburn, Mortlake, Terang, Skipton and Rokewood.

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, 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) 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) is almost entirely the same, except that the new boundary will not include the water of Limeburners Bay, near Avalon.

The EBC 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.

The proposed boundaries were released on June 30 and members of the public had until 5pm on July 30 to submit written suggestions and objections.

The EBC received 127 written suggestions and objections.

To read all submissions, head to the EBC’s website at ebc.vic.gov.au/CurrentRedivision/ViewSubmissions.html