Ward calls fall on deaf ears at VEC

ERIN PEARSON
VICTORIAN Electoral Com-mission has recommended against splitting Surf Coast’s municipal structure into wards.
But the commission also included two options for creating wards in a preliminary report this week on its review of the shire’s electoral structure.
The commission’s preferred option A was for the shire to remain unchanged, with nine councillors serving on a regional basis without wards.
The majority of submissions supported dividing the municipality into four wards with councillors for each.
Eight of the 14 submissions said Lorne residents felt abandoned, with council “heavily focused” on Torquay to the “detriment of others”.
Others said councillors lacked understanding of issues facing rural residents, with all the incumbents living in towns on the coast.
“Several submissions mentioned the distinct geographic communities of interest (coastal, rural and urban) that make up the shire and stated they would benefit from dedicated representation,” the report said.
Councillor Ron Humphrey slammed the commission for favouring an unchanged structure.
“I’m bitterly disappointed the VEC wouldn’t listen to the majority of submitters,” he said.
“Our residents in rural areas are in a dire situation. They feel like outcasts.”
Local Government Act 1989 requires the commission to conduct electoral reviews at least every 12 years. The act specifies the purpose is to advise on “fair and equitable representation” for voters.
Mayor Dean Webster said in his submission that councillors should be reduced to five or seven on higher pay to “compensate them for the amount of time that’s required to be an effective councillor”.
He said higher pay would also attract younger candidates.
The existing structure had produced councillors aged “nearly 60” who failed to represent the shire’s demographic, he said.
“The current situation suits older retired or semi-retired candidates…why would a young professional or student give up three or four days a week for $20,000.”
Both of the commission’s B and C ward options recommended nine councillors divided between Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea wards.
Both gave Lorne one councillor and Anglesea two. Option B gave Torquay five councillors and Winchelsea two, while C alloted four to Torquay and one to Winchelsea.
Submissions on the preliminary report close March 8.