Councillor representation and electoral boundaries - a review

This is an opportunity for you as a resident to give feedback on the number of Councillors and the number of divisions you think will best represent you in governing the City.

Council is taking this opportunity to ask residents:

  • Firstly, in relation to divisions, whether you want to continue with the current model of single member divisions or change to multi-member divisions or have no divisions at all; and
  • Secondly, in relation to Councillor numbers, whether you want to continue with the current model of a Mayor and 10 Councillors or increase or reduce the number of Councillors.

    • Why are we doing this?

    Currently, Caloundra City has 10 electoral divisions. Each one must have a similar number of electors, give or take a 10% tolerance.

    With the growth in population, the difference in number of electors in each division is currently greater than 10% in five divisions.

    As the March 2008 Local Government elections draw nearer, Council must advise the Local Government Minister whether our divisions are within that tolerance. Council may also suggest new boundaries that accommodate a more equal distribution of electors across divisions.

    In addition, Council resolved on 7 December 2006 to conduct public consultation concerning the size and composition of the elected Council for the 2008 elections.

    Table: Voter numbers per division as at January 2007

    Division

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    7

    8

    9

    10

    Enrolled Voters

    5090

    6440

    5814

    6610

    5107

    5841

    5058

    7405

    5671

    6205

    Lower Q-10%)

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    5332

    Quota (Q)

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    5924

    Upper (Q+10%)

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    6516

    Within Tolerance

    No

    Yes

    Yes

    No

    No

    Yes

    No

    No

    Yes

    Yes

    The options

    There are nine options proposed for consideration. Residents can propose other options for Council consideration.

    To find out what the options are, including the advantages and disadvantages of each, you can:

    After you read the options, Council invites you to have your say by completing the survey.

    Have your say

    Council has a statutory deadline to advise the Local Government Minister of its compliance in regards to voter numbers and tolerances by 1 March 2007. In addition, Council is seeking community views on the configuration, assignment and composition of the elected Council. This community consultation is now underway.

    We invite you to view the options and have your say on your preference, either by completing the online survey or printing out the postage paid survey to return to us.

    For more information, contact Council on (07) 5420 8200, send us an email (Subject: Councillor representation and electoral boundaries) or visit the Customer Service Centre at 1 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.

    Consultation workshops

    Consultation workshops are planned to provide opportunity for residents in different localities of the City to examine the explanatory material relatiing to the options. Displays of the relevant material and indicative maps will be available at these workshops.

    Residents will also have the opportunity to discuss the material and options with the workshop facilitator and to offer comments and feedback on both composition of the Council in terms Councillor numbers and configurations of divisions.

    The independent facilitator is conducting four public consultation workshops as follows:

    Time

    Date

    Venue

    5pm - 9pm

    Tuesday 22 January

    Beerwah Community Hall
    14 Turner Street, Beerwah

    5pm - 9pm

    Wednesday 24 January

    Maleny Showgrounds Pavillion Maleny-Stanley River Road, Maleny

    5pm - 9pm

    Wednesday 31 January

    Lake Kawana Community Centre Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina

    5pm - 9pm

    Thursday 1 February

    Caloundra Cultural Civic Centre Minchinton Street, Caloundra

    Discussion paper and brochure

    To view pdfs you can download Adobe Acrobat for free.

    pdf icon Have Your Say: Councillor Representation and Electoral Boundaries - a review (brochure) (PDF 238kb)

    A discussion paper will be available here soon.

    The discussion paper is also available from Caloundra City Libraries and Council’s Customer Service Centre.

    For more information contact Council on (07) 5420 8200.

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