MASSIVE population growth in the western suburbs has triggered a proposal for sweeping changes to state electoral boundaries.
Victoria’s Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) last week released proposed new boundaries to help rebalance the number of voters living in each electorate.
The electorate of Footscray, currently held by Labor MP Marsha Thomson, has been redrawn to take in an area reaching into Sunshine West.
The suburbs of Seddon and Kingsville would move into
the neighbouring Williamstown electorate, held by Labor MP Wade Noonan.
The first redistribution since 2005 would not affect Footscray and Williamstown’s status as Labor strongholds.
Mr Noonan said the proposed boundaries better reflected the communities and issues shared by each area and split fewer suburbs in half than the existing borders.
“It appears to more appropriately reflect the suburb groupings. I think there are some benefits to there being one MP for one suburb. The Seaholme part of the electorate would sit within Altona and I think that is a more appropriate alignment.”
Mr Noonan said he was already very familiar with some of the key issues in Seddon and Kingsville, such as the need for a new high school and moving freight traffic off residential streets.
“I have a very strong understanding about the issues important to the people living in these areas and I feel very comfortable that I will be a very strong voice for the people of the Williamstown electorate.”
Ms Thomson is disappointed to be losing Kingsville and Seddon to Williamstown but is ready for picking up West Sunshine.
“There have been some very important issues I have been committed to in these areas, issues around SkyHigh [a group fighting for a high school in the Seddon, Kingsville, Yarraville area] and the road issues,” she said.
“I assume there will be some different issues to address. But my representation in these areas doesn’t stop and it is not going to stop – I have still got a lot of things I will be looking to do.”
Both MPs intend to contest the election next year.
Across Victoria, seats have been scrapped in Doncaster and Rodney in the state’s north, replaced by new seats in west and north-west growth corridors.
More than 1.1 million people – or 30 per cent of Victorian voters – would move to different seats.
The proposed state electoral boundaries are available on the EBC’s website at ebc.vic.gov.au.
Public feedback about the proposed boundaries can be lodged until July 29.
Final boundaries will be published in October and apply at the next state election in November next year.
