Have your say on proposed electoral changes for Corangamite
Published on 30 April 2018
Proposed AEC electoral boundary changes / Corangamite
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has issued its report on the proposed boundary changes to the Federal Electoral Divisions impacting on Colac Otway Shire.
The report can be viewed at https://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2017/vic/index.htm
The AEC has invited public comment on the proposed changes relating to the Division of Corangamite which impacts on Colac Otway Shire.
Colac Otway Shire Council convened a public meeting held on Thursday 19 April 2018 to gain feedback from the community on the AEC report.
At the Community Meeting the Colac Otway Shire Council presented an alternative to the boundary proposal which Council will vote on at a Special Council Meeting on Wednesday 2 May 2018
The alternative proposal may be viewed here: Colac Otway Shire Council – alternative to AEC boundary proposal
Map of alternative boundaries may be viewed here: Colac Otway Shire Council - map of alternative boundaries
The public meeting determined the following motion:
Motion passed at Community Meeting convened by Colac Otway Shire Council on 19 April 2018
- We the members present at this public meeting strongly oppose the proposed electoral boundary changes as put forward by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on the following grounds:
- The proposed changes do not meet the AEC’s own criteria with regard to the ‘community interest’ in that we have little or no affinity with the communities to our west as we currently do to our east, in particular Geelong.
- All our government services, including important areas such as health and education, are linked to Geelong with which we will soon have a completed duplicated highway from Colac which will enable a vastly improved commuting between the two towns.
- We are currently well served by our hard-working Member of Parliament who has recently opened a second electoral office in Colac. We will not have ready access to our Federal Member if we are isolated in the far south-east corner of the approximately 36,000 square kilometre electorate of Wannon.
- The proposal will split the Colac Otway Shire in to two different electorates creating the need to negotiate such things as funding for the Shire’s needs with two different Federal Members of Parliament. This situation will create a ‘them and us’ situation which is not at all desirable.
I therefore request the Colac Otway Shire Councillors to convey these concerns and our total objection to these unacceptable boundary changes to the Australian Electoral Commission.
2. We further request that the Colac Otway Shire Council seeks the retention of the name Corangamite for the Division as a Federation Seat which reflects a greater affinity to the nature of the Electoral Division than the name of Cox.
3. That this meeting determines its strong endorsement of the Alternative Proposal for Electoral Boundaries for Corangamite presented to the meeting by Colac Otway Shire Council.
Moved by Phil Edge
Seconded by Keith Armistead
Carried by vote at the Community Meeting – Thursday 19 April, 2018
Members of the public wishing to comment on the AEC report proposal for the seat of Corangamite, including the name change to Cox, are urged to make a submission to the AEC at https://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2017/vic/index.htm
Should any further information be sought on the AEC proposal or the alternative proposal to be considered by Colac Otway Shire Council at a Special Meeting on Wednesday 2 May 2018 please contact Council on 5232 9400.
Click the following link for further information on ways to lodge an objection or comment on objection