Wards ‘push’ grows

SURF Coast’s “forgotten” communities want their own ward councillors from a review of the shire’s electoral structure, according to representatives.
They believe the existing structure of regional councillors puts too much focus on Torquay and Jan Juc at the expense of smaller centres such as Lorne and Winchelsea.
The Independent reported last week that Victorian Electoral Commission was reviewing the shire ahead of council elections in 2012. The review would consider issues such as the number of councillors, whether they should be regional or ward-based and boundaries.
Torquay councillor Ron Humphrey called last week for a return to ward councillors so representation was spread evenly around the shire.
Lorne Community Associa-tion’s Peter Spring said his community felt ripped off under the existing structure.
“We’re about as geographically remote from the new council offices as you can get and the community feels we’re the forgotten end of the shire in many respects,” Mr Spring said.
“The feedback I’ve had from community members is that they would like to see more local representation.”
Mr Spring said a ward councillor could help residents finally get a fair return on paying “some of the highest rates in Victoria”, he said.
“The view is that we are not necessarily getting our fair share in terms of investment in infrastructure or support of local initiatives. At the same time residents have had to pay via special charge schemes for streetscape redevelopment and drainage works over and above their rates.”
Lorne has been without a resident councillor for the past two council terms.
Winchelsea resident and former Surf Coast councillor Lindsay Schroeter backed a move to wards.
“A ward councillor for Winchelsea would be all right,” he said.
“All the focus and spending is on the coast. They spent $20 million on a Taj Mahal (new council offices) that will end up costing $40 million in a swamp at Torquay.”
Mr Schroeter also recommended a cut in councillor numbers.
“Colac Otway’s a bigger shire and they’ve only got seven to Surf Coast’s nine.”