On the line: VEC releases final report on changes to Surf Coast Shire’s ward boundaries

THE Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has bowed to “significant opposition” to its proposed new ward boundaries of the Surf Coast Shire council and instead put forward more modest changes.
The VEC released its final report into the local council subdivision review for the shire last week.
The Local Government Act 1989 requires the VEC to conduct a subdivision review to ensure the equitable representation of all voters in a local council.
Under the “equality requirement”, the number of voters per councillor in each ward must be within 10 per cent (either above or below) of the average number of voters per councillor across the local council.
Before the review, Lorne Ward had a deviation of nearly 13 per cent below the average and Anglesea Ward was 10.09 per cent below the average.
In response to the VEC’s preliminary report, submitters argued against the proposal to move the Anglesea-Lorne Ward boundary to Painkalac Creek, as it would divide the township of Fairhaven from Aireys Inlet.
Many submitters were also opposed to adjusting the Torquay Ward boundary so that some voters in Torquay would be, or continue to be, in Winchelsea Ward.
The new recommended changes are to extend Lorne Ward’s boundary north to Cape Otway Road, move Anglesea Ward’s boundary north to Gundrys Road and the Great Ocean Road (taking in Bells Beach and Bellbrae) and pull part of Torquay Ward’s boundary back to a line defined by Spring Creek and Beach Road.
The VEC’s final report states the commission “recognises that there are strong geographic communities of interest within Surf Coast Shire, with the physical and socio-economic characteristics between different parts of the shire reinforced by people’s sense of identification with their own area”.
“However, by law, the equality of voters by numbers is paramount; the number of voters per councillor in any ward cannot vary by more than 10 per cent from the average for the shire.
“In a subdivision review, the VEC cannot change the number of councillors for wards, as some submitters urged. This means that ward boundaries will inevitably cut across communities of interest to some extent.
“The VEC considers that on balance, the recommended ward boundary changes reflect communities of interest and respond appropriately to the concerns raised in submissions. Ward boundary changes to Torquay Ward are unavoidable and the VEC considers these changes to involve a minimal level of disruption to voters and on balance to be fair and equitable.”
To read the full report and see maps of the proposed boundaries, head to vec.vic.gov.au/reviews/SurfCoastrr.html