Residents of Hepburn Shie are encouraged to have their say on the future electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council, in response to the Victorian Electoral Commission releasing three preliminary options.

An independent electoral representation advisory panel is reviewing electoral structures across the state, including Hepburn’s, considering if the council has an appropriate number of Councillors, should be one large unsubdivided area, or should be subdivided into wards.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said “Hepburn Shire currently has seven councillors across five wards. This structure is no longer compliant with changes that were introduced as part of the Local Government Act 2020.”

“This is the community’s chance to let the advisory panel know their thoughts about how they prefer to see the electoral structure represented,” he said.

Using feedback provided via an initial investigation period, the independent electoral representation advisory panel has provided three models for residents to consider:

• Model 1 – An unsubdivided electoral structure (no wards) with seven councillors elected from across the Shire
• Model 2 – A subdivided electoral structure with a total of four wards and eight councillors (two councillors from each ward)
• Model 3 – A subdivided electoral structure with a total of seven wards and seven councillors, one councillor from each ward

“Council will also carefully consider the options,” said Cr Hood.

Submissions for Hepburn Shire Council close at 5pm on Wednesday 19 April and a public hearing will take place at 10am on Wednesday 26 April.