City of Whittlesea’s electoral structure will be amended prior to the October 2024 local government elections following review.
City of Whittlesea will adopt a 11 single-councillor ward structure with model one boundaries.
The ward names are Bundoora, Epping, Ganbu Gulinj, Kirrip, Lalor, Mernda, Mill Park, North, Painted Hills, South Morang and Thomastown.
However, Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland said the state government’s decision to implement a large north ward ignored the pattern of booming population in the northern suburbs.
Mr Mulholland and Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Region Wendy Lovell submitted to the Victorian Electoral Commission that a single North Ward encompassing the entire northern half of the City of Whittlesea would leave residents underrepresented and likely to be contrary to the representation requirements laid out in the Local Government Act 2020.
The submission was based on demographic projections commissioned by City of Whittlesea which project Donnybrook, for example, to grow its population 27.37 per cent per annum.
Mr Mulholland said this meant by July 1, 2024 Donnybrook’s population would have reached around 7089, taking the new North Ward up to around 16,668 electors/residents and bringing the North Ward near to the 10 per cent electors cap provided under the Local Government Act.
On the same projections by October 1, 2024 Donnybrook alone would put the new North Ward well above the cap specified.
“One single ward and councillor for the entire northern half of the City of Whittlesea is ludicrous,” Mr Mulholland said.
“It flies in the face of clear population statistics and will leave local residents badly underrepresented.”
Ms Lovell wants the North Ward population fixed.
“Just one elected councillor for the highest growing population areas across half of the entirety of the City of Whittlesea is fundamentally undemocratic,” she said.
“I call on the State Government and VEC to urgently fix this before this year’s local government elections.”
However, in its submission the panel were satisfied the models were based on accurate forecasting stating that Mr Mulholland and Ms Lovell based their calculations on population data which included sections of the population not entitled to vote – such as those under the age of 18.
The full electoral structure report is available at localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/electoral-representation-advisory-panels-eraps.
