Redrawn electorate boundaries pose potential risks

REDRAWN electoral boundaries could have financial implications for Surf Coast towns including Torquay and Jan Juc according to a local expert.

Executive secretary of Torquay Commerce and Tourism, Robert Skehan, said the town’s current position in the South Barwon electorate puts them in a better position to receive grants for much-needed infrastructure.

Under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act 1982 boundaries must be readdressed every eight years to ensure each district has the same number of voters.

As a result of the rapid growth in South Barwon towns such as Armstrong Creek, the electorate is currently home to more voters than it is entitled to.

Redivision of the state’s electoral boundaries are now under consideration with talks that Torquay and Jan Juc could be rezoned into the electorate of Polwarth which has been a safe Liberal seat since 1976.

This is just one of many revisions put forward to the Electoral Boundaries Commission, with the state body now calling on the public to have its say.

“Absolutely it is great to live in a marginal federal and state electorates, the opportunity for infrastructure particularly at election time is very substantial,” Mr Skehan said.

“In my experience the government are less likely to splash cash at safe seats particularly ones in the opposition.

“It is always better to chase funding from a local member in government and there is an inclination to make promises in marginal seats.”

While Mr Skehan said the move to Polwarth would place all Surf Coast towns in the same electorate, he is concerned that losing Darren Cheeseman’s representation could be detrimental to keeping developers out of Spring Creek.

“I think Darren has been every effective, he has supported a lot of Torquay issues from a community point of view and things like the Spring Creek development might be impacted by this shift,” Mr Skehan said.

The proposed Spring Creek development has been the subject of debate for at least a decade,
with Mr Cheeseman taking a staunch position on the matter.

Mr Cheeseman was voted into the position during the 2018 election after promising the community there would be no growth in the area if he were to be elected.

“The support Darren has given to those community groups who are trying to get a permanent boundary road is probably going to have bigger impact,” Mr Skehan said.

“The main infrastructure issues at the moment are the pool which has been going on for a fair while but I don’t think there would be much change in terms of roads that is significant.”

The Surf Coast Shire Council has encouraged community members to contribute their ideas about electorate boundaries to www.ebc.vic.gov.au/CurrentRedivision.

Stage One submissions will remain open for public comment until 5pm on March 1, 2021.