The report issued on Wednesday 17 June was the result of a review of each municipality in Victoria which is conducted before every third Council general election. The review looked at the number of councillors and the electoral structure of the council – either unsubdivided or divided into wards.
The purpose of the review is to ensure the number of voters represented by each councillor is within 10 per cent of the average number of voters per councillor for that municipality. it also ensures the VEC takes a consistent state-wide approach and communities are fairly represented.
The VEC received 11 submissions on the three options outlined in the preliminary report, of which Option C was the preferred by Greater Shepparton City Council. This option is the current structure of seven councillors elected from an unsubdivided municipality. The VEC decided after considering all submissions that Option A with nine councillors from an unsubdivided municipality was the best structure for Greater Shepparton.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Dennis Patterson said the result was not what Council had endorsed in both of their submissions which went to Council meetings on 17 March and 19 May and submitted to the VEC.
“Seven councillors allowed for effective, streamlined decision making. We are able to represent our communities and are more than accessible to our residents. An increase in councillor numbers would cause an additional financial burden on Council and ratepayers of some $67,500 annually,” said Cr Patterson.
“While our preferred option was seven councillors we are happy to work with nine,” said Cr Patterson.
Greater Shepparton City Council covers an area of 2,422 square kilometres and has a population of 62,784 of which 44,701 are eligible voters with 58 per cent based in Shepparton.
