By Vanessa Chircop
HOBSONS Bay Councillors discussed the Victorian Electoral Commission’s preliminary report regarding the city’s electoral representation review at the last council meeting.
The Local Government Act 1989 requires the VEC to conduct a review of each municipality at least every 12 years.
In its report, the VEC recommended that the structure of Hobsons Bay City Council remain unchanged with seven single-councillor wards, retaining current boundaries.
Each councillor expressed differing opinions on the recommendation with some councillors happy with the way things are and others wanting to see change.
Cr Peter Hemphill suggested the current ward system was confusing with some wards covering several suburbs but named after the main suburb of that ward.
“It can be very confusing to the people who live there as to who is there representative,” he said.
A public hearing will be held 6.30pm on 22 March at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre.
A final report containing the VEC’s recommendation to the Minister for Local Government will be released on 11 April.
