By Jessica Micallef
Voters in Hume could find themselves in different wards ahead of the council’s October elections.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is reviewing Hume’s boundary structure and in a preliminary report released last month recommended changes to all of Hume’s wards – Jacksons Creek, Aitken and Meadow Valley.
According to the VEC, the change is required due to the voter-to-councillor ratios in all wards being more than 10 per cent above or below the average voter-to-councillor ratio. Based on current enrolments, proposed boundary changes would impact 12,464 voters in Hume.
The VEC suggests sections of Attwood and Westmeadows (Meadow Valley ward) located to the west of Mickleham Road, sit in the Jacksons Creek ward.
The report also proposes parts of the Aitken ward, including Roxburgh Park, the area east of the Craigieburn railway line and south of Craigieburn Road East, comprising of Campbellfield, Somerton and part of Craigieburn, become part of the Meadow Valley ward
As a result of the changes, 15.1 per cent of Aitken ward voters would be in Meadow Valley ward and 4.8 per cent of Meadow Valley voters would fall into the Jacksons Creek ward.
The report does not propose any changes to councillor representation of any ward.
The council’s acting corporate services director Fadi Srour said the council had considered the VEC’s subdivision review and would not be making a formal submission on the matter.
Residents can make a submission to the VEC’s proposed boundary changes. Submissions close on Wednesday, March 25 at 5pm.
A final report is expected to be published on Wednesday, April 22.
To have your say and to view the report, visit: bit.ly/2TgQha5
