By XAVIER SMERDON
WERRIBEE looks set to become its own State Government electorate after a review of the current district boundaries found too many people were living in the Tarneit and Altona electorates.
As revealed by Star in March this year, the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) was conducting a redivision of Victorian electoral borders.
The EBC handed down its findings last week and argued that 12 new electorates should be formed across Victoria, including one in Werribee and one in St Albans.
The Werribee electorate will be made up of part of the current Lara and Tarneit electorates and will be comprised of almost 39,000 voting-aged residents.
It will include the suburbs of Werribee, parts of Wyndham Vale, Werribee South, Cocoroc, Little River and Quandong.
The St Albans electorate will be made up by parts of the Derrimut, Footscray, Keilor, Kororoit and Niddrie districts and will be comprised of more than 45,000 voting-aged residents.
Both sides of politics had previously called for a new electorate in Wyndham, with Member for Tarneit, Tim Pallas, saying that it would mean more advocacy for the West.
“The growth in the outer West is one of the reasons why a review of the borders is occurring and if it leads to an additional seat in the western suburbs that’s a good thing,” Mr Pallas said.
“We need more representation and another voice in the West.”
MP Tim Pallas will now need to choose if he keeps the seat of Tarneit or runs for the new Werribee electorate.
“I now need to make a judgement of which of the two I’d like to represent.”
“I don’t know which one that will be yet, I’ll obviously have to consult with the party and members of the community.”
“I can tell you that it won’t be a political decision because the two seats are very comparable in political advantages, but they do have very, very different issues facing them.”
“I have great affection for both electorates.”
“It’s good news for the people of the West because it means they are about to get another voice.”
The EBCs findings and proposals are now open for public review and after public meetings are held, final boundaries will be released in early October this year.
They will take effect at the State election on 24 November 2014. For more information visit www.ebc.vic.gov.au
