VEC to be congratulated for enhancing local democracy

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has released its final report in the representation review of Maroondah City Council. It is pleasing to see that the VEC has rejected council’s failed attempt to retain the status quo and has instead found that three multi-member wards electing three councillors each would provide a higher standard of democracy and representation for the City of Maroondah.

The model adopted by the VEC was the second alternative option within the preliminary report. This change, which will take effect from the Council elections in November this year, will see an increase to nine councillors.

The councillor for Loughnan’s Hill Ward argued that the current structure divided more than it united communities of interest. He cited the division between Loughnan’s Hill and Clocktower Wards as indicative of this, saying that this creates an artificial barrier and that the municipality had moved beyond simply dealing with ward-specific issues.

He stated that the communities around the Croydon activity centre and Ringwood Transit City are going to experience significant change and they will need good representation in preparation for this and as this occurs.

It is encouraging that the VEC recognised the importance of uniting our community. The new model with larger wards unites communities of interest and ensures that areas such as the Ringwood Transit City and Croydon Activity Centre will have consistent representation through being included within the one council ward. Likewise Ringwood south of Maroondah Highway, will no longer be divided along Wantirna Road, ensuring that Ringwood residents will have consistent representation within council.

He argued that since all three preliminary options presented significant change it was timely to recommend a structure that more broadly reflects both geographic and non-geographic communities of interest and is less sensitive to problems related to voter number deviations.

While Council chose to enter into petty arguments with the VEC over proposed growth rates, it is encouraging that the commission focused on the needs of the community. Under the new model, the ward of Loughnan’s Hill has been merged with Mullum and includes part of Clocktower and Yarrunga wards providing consistent representation throughout Ringwood and Ringwood North.

The opportunity for fair and equitable representation is an important component of community support for and participation in the decision-making processes of the Council. The VEC considers it important that the community have the opportunity to elect a council that can reflect and represent the City’s diversity and local communities according to voters’ wishes.

The VEC is to be congratulated for seeing through the council’s attempt to maintain a structure that divides rather than unites communities. The new model will ensure a higher standard of democracy for Maroondah through combining communities with equitable representation.