THE Victorian Electoral Commission have begun a review into the structure of Kingston Council.
The electoral representation review will determine whether Kingston Council has an appropriate number of councillors, and whether it should remain subdivided into wards. If it is determined that council should remain split into wards, the number of wards and how many councillors per ward will also be reviewed.
Kingston Council currently has nine councillors split into three wards.
Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately said that reviews into council structures are generally required every 12 years. The last review of Kingston Council by the VEC was in 2007.
“The opportunity to have your say doesn’t come around too often, so it’s important to have a broad range of community members contributing to the shape of their local democracy,” Mr Gately said.
“If you are interested in the future electoral structure of your local area, I encourage you to get involved. Public submissions are a vital part of the review process, providing valuable local knowledge and perspectives.”
A public information session will be held at 6pm on Thursday, 20 June at the council chambers in Cheltenham.
The VEC will release its preliminary report on 14 August. Changes to the electoral structure of Kingston Council will not apply until the next general election in 2020.
