Electoral structure reviews begin for 16 more Victorian councils

Wednesday 21 June 2023

For immediate release

Throughout 2023–24, 39 Victorian local councils are undergoing electoral structure reviews. From next week, preliminary reports will begin to be released for the 16 councils under review in round 2 of the program.

The Local Government Act 2020 introduced several changes, including that all metropolitan, interface and regional city councils must now have single-councillor ward electoral structures.

The reviews are conducted by 2 electoral representation advisory panels appointed by the Minister for Local Government to make a recommendation to the minister on electoral structures for councils under review. Acting Electoral Commissioner Dana Fleming is a member of one of the 2 panels.

'Under the Act, these councils must move to single-councillor ward electoral structures,' Ms Fleming said.

'The panels are considering the appropriate number of councillors and wards for each council, the location of ward boundaries and ward names.'

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) provides technical and administrative support to the panels.

The 16 councils in round 2 have been divided into 4 groups, with 4 councils in each group. For each group of councils, there will be public information sessions to announce the reviews, explain the process, and open the submissions period.

The panels encourage all Victorians, particularly those in the local council areas under review, to contribute to the review process and have their say.

People interested in making a response submission to the preliminary report can map their proposed electoral structure online using the public submission tool available on the VEC website as part of their submission.

Media information

Electoral representation advisory panel members

Panel 1

  • The Hon. Frank Vincent AO KC (Chair)
  • Ms Liz Williams PSM
  • Acting Deputy Electoral Commissioner Ms Máiréad Doyle (delegate of Electoral Commissioner).

Panel 2

  • Ms Julie Eisenbise (Chair)
  • Mr Tim Presnell
  • Acting Electoral Commissioner Ms Dana Fleming.

Additional members’ pool

The following members may act as substitutes for either panel:

  • Ms Prue Digby
  • Ms Janet Dore
  • Ms Louise Martin
  • Mr Kelvin Spiller.

Council review information – round 2

Group 4 councils

  • Ballarat City Council
  • Horsham Rural City Council
  • Greater Bendigo City Council
  • Mildura Rural City Council.

Key dates

  • Public information sessions: 12 noon on Monday 26 June and 6 pm on Tuesday 27 June
  • Preliminary report published and response submissions period opens: Wednesday 28 June
  • Response submissions close: 5 pm on Wednesday 19 July.

Group 5 councils

  • Greater Shepparton City Council
  • Wodonga City Council
  • Greater Geelong City Council
  • Warrnambool City Council.

Key dates

  • Public information sessions: 12 noon on Monday 3 July and 6 pm on Tuesday 4 July
  • Preliminary report published and response submissions period opens: Wednesday 5 July
  • Response submissions close: 5 pm on Wednesday 26 July.

Group 6 councils

  • Wangaratta Rural City Council
  • Yarra City Council
  • Latrobe City Council
  • Frankston City Council.

Key dates

  • Public information sessions: 12 noon on Monday 10 July and 6 pm on Tuesday 11 July
  • Preliminary report published and response submissions period opens: Wednesday 12 July
  • Response submissions close: 5 pm on Wednesday 2 August.

Group 7 councils

  • Port Phillip City Council
  • Glen Eira City Council
  • Stonnington City Council
  • Monash City Council.

Key dates

  • Public information sessions: 12 noon on Monday 17 July and 6 pm on Tuesday 18 July
  • Preliminary report published and response submissions period opens: Wednesday 19 July
  • Response submissions close: 5 pm on Wednesday 9 August.

Attributions

When reporting on the electoral structure reviews, please attribute them to the Electoral Representation Advisory Panel, not the VEC.

This panel is appointed by the Minister for Local Government to advise on the most suitable electoral structure for councils that need to be reviewed.

Although the VEC provides administrative and technical support to the panel it is not responsible for conducting the reviews or appointing the panel members.