THE Greens are tipped to make a run for Hobsons Bay Council in October following the Victorian Electoral Commission’s support for multi-councillor wards.
The VEC has recommended a change from seven single-councillor wards to one three-councillor ward and two two-councillor wards.
It also recommended that ward names be changed to Wetlands, Cherry Lake and Strand.
It is thought the Greens’ biggest support base is in Strand ward, which covers the existing Williamstown, Williamstown North and Spotswood wards.
Hobsons Bay Greens branch convener Diana Rice hinted that proportional representation voting might encourage the Greens to run.
“It’s more likely with proportional representation that smaller parties like the Greens, and independents, will go to election,” she said.
Liberal Party member Wajde Wade Assaf, who defected from the Greens and is likely to run for the council, said he supported the move to multi-councillor wards. “[You] get better representation for people,” he said.”
Before 2004, Hobsons Bay was divided into four wards, each represented by two councillors. Current councillors Angela Altair and Peter Hemphill represented Hall ward. Cr Altair, an independent, said the move to multi-member wards could work. “I’ve served under both systems. As long as councillors work co-operatively, you can make it work for the benefit of constituents.”
Former Hobsons Bay mayor Brad Matheson, who may attempt a council comeback, said multi-member wards unified suburbs and precincts that had been previously divided by “senseless” ward boundaries. “It allows for councillors to work together in wards, thus taking the pressure off the individual workload of councillors,” he said.
Electoral Commissioner Steve Tully said the VEC had considered the municipality’s demographics and growth potential and the electoral structure of similar municipalities before making its recommendation.
Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell will consider the report. If it’s endorsed, the changes will be put in place for October’s council election.
Details: vec.vic.gov.au
