COUNTRY residents of Ararat Rural City aired concerns at a public information session held by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
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The Thursday night session explained the review process, and was almost solely attended by country residents.
The review will look at the structure of the council, including whether the number of councillors provides fair representation and whether the municipality should remain un-subdivided.
The public submission period opened Wednesday and will remain open until 5pm February 27.
Following that a preliminary report will be released, followed by a response period until the 5pm April 24.
One Moyston resident, who chose to remain anonymous, said her concern was primarily about rates.
“What do we get for our rates? Nothing,” she said.
“It’s of great concern from our end – people in Ararat must be comfortable.”
Another resident, from Lake Bolac, said she felt country residents felt they were not adequately represented.
“The majority (attending) were rural people so the Ararat people are obviously not concerned – they’re happy and they must feel confident,” she said.
“Whereas we feel quite threatened.
“The demographics have changed so much (in 12 years) that our situation has become much more important to us because the number of people who live and work there has been decimated.”
VEC Registrar Keegan Bartlett said that the VEC will present a “preferred model” informed by submissions.
“We need to look to the community and we need to hear from the community through the review,” he said.
“These types of reviews happen every 12 years and are a part of a healthy democracy.
Mr Bartlett said the review would seek an electoral structure that will be sustainable for another 12 years.
Any changes to the current council structure would come into affect after the next council election in 2020.
The last review took place in 2007 and the VEC received only 11 preliminary submissions and 13 responses.
Councillor Jo Armstrong hoped the VEC would receive a more robust response this time.
“I’m not a proponent of an argument for or against (change) – I’d just like to see higher engagement in the process,” she said.
Current council mayor Councillor Peter Beales hoped to see younger people engage with that process.
“We need a broader spectrum of ages,” he said.
Submissions can be submitted by post, online or by email at ararat.review@vec.vic.gov.au.
Post to:
Victorian Electoral Commssion
Level 11, 530 Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000.
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