7.10 Electoral Representation Review - Proposed In- Principle Council Position

Council Agenda 25/02/19

Abstract

The Local Government Act 1989 (the Act) requires the Victorian Electoral Commission (the VEC) to conduct electoral representation reviews (ERR) before every third council election, approximately every 12 years. The last ERR for Boroondara City Council (BCC) was in 2008. Following 2008 review, the VEC’s final recommendation was for BCC to remain with ten single -councillor wards with minor changes to ward boundaries.

The ERR will examine:

 whether BCC has the appropriate number of councillors  whether BCC should be unsubdivided, with councillors elected from the whole local council, or subdivided into wards  if subdivided, the number of wards, ward boundaries and the number of councillors per ward.

Councillors have informally indicated their preference for a single member ward structure, as the most suitable structure for effective representation of their constituents.

Officers' recommendation

That Council resolve to

1. To give in principle support to single-councillor wards in the electoral representation for Boroondara.

2. To make a preliminary submission to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) as part of the preliminary submissions stage of the electoral representation review for the Boroondara City Council.

City of Boroondara 1049 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Responsible director: David Thompson Governance ______

1. Purpose

The purpose of this report is for Council to determine an in principal position on the electoral representation for Boroondara City Council (BCC) in the Electoral Representation Review (ERR) being conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).

2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan

The ERR will determine the number of wards, the ward boundaries, ward names and the number of councillors for the City of Boroondara in time for the Council elections scheduled for October 2020. The ERR will provide the citizens of Boroondara with the opportunity to shape the electoral representation for Boroondara for the next 12 years.

This report is consistent with the strategy within the Council Plan 2017-21 to “Ensure Council is open, transparent, inclusive and accountable to the community through sound governance practices for making and implementing decisions".

3. Background

The Minister for Local Government has given has given notice that electoral representation reviews of 31 councils must be completed by 24 April 2020. The electoral representation review for BCC must be completed by 31 December 2019.

The Local Government Act 1989 (the Act) requires the VEC to review each council before every third general election. Representation reviews occur approximately every 12 years, and the last review for BCC was in 2008. Following 2008 review, the VEC’s final recommendation was for BCC to remain with ten single -councillor wards with minor changes to ward boundaries.

The VEC commenced the electoral representation review (ERR) for BCC on 13 February 2019. A representation review ensures that the electoral structure of a local council provides fair and equitable representation for all voters. A review considers:

 whether a local council has the appropriate number of councillors  whether the local council should be unsubdivided, with councillors elected from the whole local council, or subdivided into wards  if subdivided, the number of wards, ward boundaries and the number of councillors per ward.

When the review is complete, the VEC makes a final recommendation to the Minister for Local Government. Any changes to the electoral structure of the council then apply at the next general election.

City of Boroondara 1050 Council Agenda 25/02/19

4. Outline of key issues/options

The ERR will determine the number of wards, the ward boundaries, ward names and the number of councillors for BCC in time for the Council elections scheduled for October 2020.

Summary of 2008 Review The last electoral representation review for BCC took place in 2008. Prior to the review, BCC had ten councillors elected from ten single-councillor wards.

Following the 2008 review, the VEC’s final recommendation was for BCC to remain with ten single-councillor wards with a minor change to ward boundaries.

The VEC’s recommendation was based on the following considerations:

 the City of Boroondara’s large voter population, compact size as an urban council and its relatively low rate of population growth  while there were differences in the level of socio-economic disadvantage experienced in various areas within the City of Boroondara, this disadvantage was not as severe or as widespread as it was in other metropolitan councils  strong community support for the existing number of councillors and ward structure  BCC’s investment into public consultation processes meant single-ward councillors were knowledgeable on broader issues as well as local issues.

The VEC’s preliminary recommendation was for BCC to increase to 11 councillors. Comparing the City of Boroondara with similar local councils, the VEC found that the city’s population was within the range of metropolitan local councils served by 11 councillors. However, most submissions (including BCC’s submission) argued that 10 councillors and the single-ward structure had worked well. Although there were distinct senses of place within the City of Boroondara, the VEC also found that there was not the same demographic diversity and socio-economic complexity that existed in other metropolitan local councils. Low forecasted population growth and relatively limited socio- economic complexity within the local council area contributed to the VEC’s final decision to recommend that the Council continue with 10 councillors.

Electoral Structures of all Victorian Councils The electoral structures of all Victorian councils is set out in Attachment 1.

Positive and Less Positive Features of Electoral Structures There are a number of positive and less positive features with different electoral structures. These are set out in Attachment 2.

Electoral Structure for Boroondara Councillors have informally indicated their preference for a single member ward structure, as the most suitable structure for effective representation of their constituents.

City of Boroondara 1051 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Based upon the analysis of the current boundaries and voter numbers for BCC changes will be required to ensure compliance with the Act. To do so, officers will be required to conduct a more detailed review of ward boundaries and population demographics, in order to demonstrate the existence of distinct communities of interest which are appropriate to single-councillor representation, by focusing on communities with:

 common interests or concerns;  a sense of identity distinguishable from other communities;  common needs; or  who can be defined by the physical geography or natural and or arterial boundaries.

In identifying communities of interest, officers will need to pay particular attention to identifying localised socio-economic characteristics, which can be used to define communities of interest, for example, communities characterised by:

 similar age and family profiles, e.g. high proportions of young children, elderly or retired persons or single parent families.  similarities in terms of demand for services such as maternal & child health centres or aged care facilities.  populations employed in similar, or mutually dependant industries.  significant cultural diversity, such as communities with high proportions of residents born overseas and/or non-English-speaking residents.  significant localised cultural or religious similarities.  higher levels of home ownership or purchase, or conversely areas with a significant proportion of residents in rental or public housing.  significant disparity in household incomes from the broader community.  central focal points which establish strong connections between residents in a localised community.  higher levels of property development, similar types of development or housing density.

5. Consultation/communication

Much of the information to be provided to the Boroondara community on the ERR process will be delivered by the VEC. The VEC has produced a Local Council Representation Review Submission Guide for BCC. A copy of the guide is at Attachment 3. This guide outlines the review process and the opportunities for public input, and provides important information about the issues that submissions may address. It also includes specific information about BCC and sample submissions to help the community prepare their own submission.

The following advice from the VEC sets out the key dates in their review timeline:

City of Boroondara 1052 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Advertisements are also placed in the Herald Sun and local newspapers notifying the public of the review.

Thursday 14 Public information session February 2019 A public information session was held at 7.00 pm on Thursday 14 February 2019 in the Zelman Room at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

Anyone interested in making a submission or with questions about the review process was urged to attend.

Wednesday 13 Closing date for preliminary submissions March 2019 Preliminary submissions must reach the VEC by 5.00 pm on this date.

Response submissions open The VEC accepts written submissions from the public that respond to the recommendations contained in the preliminary report. You can also nominate to discuss your response submission at a local public hearing.

Wednesday 8 Closing date for response submissions May 2019 Response submissions must reach the VEC by 5.00 pm on this date.

Tuesday 14 Public hearing May 2019 A public hearing is scheduled to be held at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 14 May 2019 in the Zelman Room at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

Members of the public who have nominated to discuss their response submission will be given the opportunity to expand on their views for up to 10 minutes.

The hearing will not be held if there are no requests to speak.

Wednesday 5 Final report published June 2019 Following the public hearing, the VEC considers all the evidence it has gathered and publishes a final report for the Minister for Local Government containing a recommended electoral structure. The report is publicly available from the VEC by visiting vec.vic.gov.au or calling 131 832, and also for inspection at Council offices.

If the VEC’s recommendation is accepted, it will take effect at the next general election in October 2020.

However, it will be of critical importance that Council ensure the community is fully engaged in the process and well informed. Appropriate provision has been made in the 2018/2019 Council budget for a community engagement program.

Preliminary discussions with councillors have commenced on the ERR and the general feedback from councillors indicated a preference for a single member ward structure as the most suitable structure for BCC.

City of Boroondara 1053 Council Agenda 25/02/19

6. Financial and resource implications

The VEC has advised that the anticipated cost of the ERR is approximately $50,000. This cost has been provided for in the 2018/2019 Council budget. The costs of the community engagement program are not known and it is anticipated that these costs will not exceed $30,000.

7. Governance issues

Officers involved in the preparation of this report have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

There are no implications for rights prescribed in Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities anticipated to flow directly as a consequence of this report.

The Act provides that a councillor does not have a conflict of interest in regard to a submission to an electoral representation review.

8. Social and environmental issues

The ERR provides the citizens of Boroondara with the opportunity to shape the electoral representation for BCC for the next 12 years.

There are no social or environmental issues anticipated to flow directly as a consequence of this report.

Manager: David Thompson, Governance

Report officer: David Thompson, Manager Governance and Krysten Forte, Coordinator Governance

City of Boroondara 1054 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 Annex 1: Electoral structures of all Victorian councils

The tables below are sorted by current estimates of voters in descending order for each category (Metropolitan Melbourne; Interface; Regional Centres; and Country Victoria).

Metropolitan Melbourne

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018

1 two-councillor ward Brimbank City 123 194,319 127,517 135,931 11 12,357 3 three-councillor wards

Boroondara City * 60 167,231 125,742 133,357 10 13,335 10 single-councillor wards

1 three-councillor ward Moreland City 51 162,558 109,744 132,790 11 12,071 2 four-councillor wards

1 two-councillor ward Monash City 81 182,618 120,779 123,695 11 11,245 3 three-councillor wards

Kingston City * 91 151,389 105,316 120,893 9 13,432 3 three-councillor wards

Melbourne City 36 135,959 104,929 119,595 9^ 13,288 Unsubdivided

Knox City 114 154,110 116,335 118,678 9 13,186 9 single-councillor wards

Whitehorse City * 64 162,078 111,384 115,486 10 11,548 5 two-councillor wards

Darebin City * 53 146,719 96,334 114,820 9 12,757 3 three-councillor wards

Frankston City 131 134,143 95,979 109,662 9 12,184 3 three-councillor wards

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1055 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Metropolitan Melbourne continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018

Glen Eira City 38 140,875 97,582 106,440 9 11,826 3 three-councillor wards

Greater Dandenong 1 two-councillor ward 130 152,050 93,970 103,754 11 9,432 City * 3 three-councillor wards

Banyule City * 63 121,865 90,094 97,447 7 13,921 7 single-councillor wards

Moonee Valley City 44 116,671 88,394 94,682 9 10,520 3 three-councillor wards

Stonnington City 25 103,832 77,494 93,754 9 10,417 3 three-councillor wards

Port Phillip City 20 100,863 85,439 93,106 9 10,345 3 three-councillor wards

Manningham City * 114 116,255 85,748 87,820 9 9,757 3 three-councillor wards

Maroondah City * 61 110,376 77,739 86,282 9 9,586 3 three-councillor wards

Yarra City 20 86,657 65,512 81,669 9 9,074 3 three-councillor wards

2 two-councillor wards Bayside City * 36 97,087 67,702 77,557 7 11,079 1 three-councillor ward

2 two-councillor wards Hobsons Bay City 65 88,778 63,363 69,683 7 9,954 1 three-councillor ward

2 two-councillor wards Maribyrnong City 31 82,288 52,543 65,202 7 9,314 1 three-councillor ward

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1056 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Interface

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 1 single-councillor ward Casey City * 407 299,301 165,057 212,291 11 19,299 5 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Mornington 723 154,999 153,332 161,497 11 14,681 1 two-councillor ward Peninsula Shire 2 three-councillor wards 1 three-councillor ward Wyndham City 541 217,122 104,278 151,786 11 13,798 2 four-councillor wards 1 three-councillor ward Whittlesea City * 489 197,491 110,011 148,487 11 13,498 2 four-councillor wards 1 three-councillor ward Hume City 503 197,376 112,157 144,959 11 13,178 2 four-councillor wards Yarra Ranges Shire 2,447 149,537 113,596 118,812 9 13,201 9 single-councillor wards 1 two-councillor ward Melton Shire 527 135,443 85,682 99,690 9 11,076 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward 1 two-councillor ward Cardinia Shire * 1,281 94,128 53,794 77,196 9 8,577 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward Nillumbik Shire * 435 61,273 45,659 48,969 7 6,995 7 single-councillor wards

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1057 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Regional Centres

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 1 two-councillor ward Greater Geelong City 1,247 233,429 188,585 200,616 11 18,237 3 three-councillor wards Greater Bendigo City 3,048 110,477 78,399 91,665 9 10,185 3 three-councillor wards Ballarat City 740 101,686 77,625 84,783 9 9,420 3 three-councillor wards 1 single-councillor ward Latrobe City 1,426 73,257 53,817 58,849 9 6,538 2 two-councillor wards 1 four-councillor ward Greater Shepparton 2,422 63,837 44,701 46,359 9 5,151 Unsubdivided City Mildura Rural City 22,330 53,878 39,443 41,305 9 4,589 Unsubdivided Mitchell Shire * 2,864 40,918 29,817 33,781 9 3,753 3 three-councillor wards Wodonga City 433 39,351 29,002 32,230 7 4,604 Unsubdivided Warrnambool City 120 33,655 26,116 27,497 7 3,928 Unsubdivided Wangaratta Rural 3 single-councillor wards 3,639 28,310 22,094 23,168 7 3,309 City 1 four-councillor ward Horsham Rural City 4,249 19,642 16,048 16,454 7 2,350 Unsubdivided Benalla Rural City * 2,375 13,861 10,934 12,131 7 1,733 Unsubdivided Ararat Rural City * 4,230 11,600 9,141 9,311 7 1,330 Unsubdivided

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1058 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Country Victoria

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 Bass Coast Shire 864 32,804 42,592 46,280 9 5,142 3 three-councillor wards Wellington Shire 10,989 42,983 42,355 43,171 9 4,796 3 three-councillor wards East Gippsland Shire 20,931 45,040 38,318 43,123 9 4,791 Unsubdivided * Baw Baw Shire 4,031 48,479 37,654 42,184 9 4,687 3 three-councillor wards Macedon Ranges 1,747 46,100 33,175 38,413 9 4,268 3 three-councillor wards Shire 1 single-councillor ward Surf Coast Shire 1,560 29,397 29,535 34,547 9 3,838 2 two-councillor wards 1 four-councillor ward 3 single-councillor wards Campaspe Shire * 4,519 37,061 28,118 30,984 9 3,442 2 three-councillor wards South Gippsland 3,305 28,703 27,654 29,505 9 3,278 3 three-councillor wards Shire 3 single-councillor wards Moorabool Shire 2,110 31,818 21,487 27,856 7 3,979 1 four-councillor ward Moira Shire * 4,045 29,112 22,307 25,086 9 2,787 Unsubdivided Colac Otway Shire * 3,433 20,972 19,198 20,750 7 2,964 Unsubdivided Golden Plains Shire * 2,704 21,688 14,228 18,567 7 2,652 Unsubdivided Glenelg Shire * 6,212 19,557 16,333 17,570 7 2,510 Unsubdivided Mount Alexander 4 single-councillor wards 1,529 18,761 15,411 16,826 7 2,403 Shire 1 three-councillor ward

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1059 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Country Victoria continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 3 single-councillor wards Hepburn Shire * 1,470 15,330 13,649 15,727 7 2,246 2 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Swan Hill Rural City * 6,117 20,584 14,386 14,749 7 2,107 1 four-councillor ward Murrindindi Shire * 3,889 13,732 13,727 14,570 7 2,081 7 single-councillor wards Moyne Shire * 5,478 16,495 12,420 14,424 7 2,060 Unsubdivided Indigo Shire 2,044 15,952 12,920 13,725 7 1,960 Unsubdivided 4 single-councillor wards Corangamite Shire 4,407 16,051 13,397 13,584 7 1,940 1 four-councillor ward Southern Grampians 6,652 15,944 13,151 13,436 7 1,919 Unsubdivided Shire * Alpine Shire 4,787 12,337 11,562 11,929 7 1,704 Unsubdivided Central Goldfields 3 single-councillor wards 1,534 12,995 11,017 11,446 7 1,635 Shire 1 four-councillor ward 2 single-councillor wards Northern Grampians 5,918 11,439 10,540 10,882 7 1,554 1 two-councillor ward Shire * 1 three-councillor ward 3 single-councillor wards Strathbogie Shire 3,302 10,274 9,268 10,182 7 1,454 2 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Mansfield Shire * 3,843 8,584 9,429 10,014 5 2,002 1 two-councillor ward

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1060 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Country Victoria continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 2 single-councillor wards Gannawarra Shire 3,732 10,549 9,031 9,044 7 1,292 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward Loddon Shire 6,694 7,516 7,669 7,651 5 1,530 5 single-councillor wards Pyrenees Shire 3,433 7,238 7,145 7,497 5 1,499 5 single-councillor wards 2 two-councillor wards Yarriambiack Shire 7,158 6,674 6,094 6,024 7 860 1 three-councillor ward 2 two-councillor wards Buloke Shire * 8,004 6,201 6,149 5,773 7 824 1 three-councillor ward Towong Shire 6,673 5,985 5,512 5,525 5 1,105 Unsubdivided Hindmarsh Shire 7,527 5,721 5,040 4,913 6 818 3 two-councillor wards Queenscliffe Borough 36 2,853 4,245 4,400 5 880 Unsubdivided * West Wimmera Shire 9,107 3,903 3,890 3,824 5 764 Unsubdivided * The local council is undergoing an electoral representation review by the VEC during 2019–20, the current estimate of voters is based on information provided by council in 2018. ^ Councillors other than the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.1 1061 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Structure of the local council Your submission may also address the structure of Boroondara City Council, which can be:

x unsubdivided, with all councillors elected ‘at large’ by all of the voters in the local council, or

x subdivided into wards, with one or more councillors elected by the voters in each ward. If the local council is subdivided, your submission may also address:

– the number of wards

– what the ward boundaries should be

– the name of each ward and

– how many councillors should be elected for each ward.

This section provides information about these different electoral structures.

Unsubdivided councils

More positive features Less positive features

Promotes the concept of a council-wide focus May lead to significant communities of interest with councillors being elected by, and and points of view being unrepresented. concerned for, the local council as a whole, rather than parochial interests.

Gives residents and ratepayers a choice of May lead to confusion of responsibilities and

councillors to approach with their concerns. duplication of effort on the part of councillors. Each voter has the opportunity to express a Large numbers of candidates might be preference for every candidate for the confusing for voters. Council election. Removes the need to define internal ward May lead to councillors being relatively boundaries. inaccessible for residents in parts of the local council. If a councillor resigns or is unable to May be difficult for voters to assess the complete their term, a replacement councillor performance of individual councillors.

is elected through a countback system, negating the need for a by-election. If only a few candidates contest the general election, the countback system may elect a

candidate who only polled a small percentage of the vote.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.2 1062 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Subdivided councils There are three ways to divide a council into wards:

x single-councillor wards with just one councillor representing each ward

x multi-councillor wards with several councillors representing each ward

x combinations of the two.

Unsubdivided Single-councillor Multi-councillor Combination

Single-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

Councillors are more likely to be truly local Councillors may be elected on minor or representatives, easily accessible to parochial issues and lack a council-wide residents and aware of local issues. perspective. Major geographical communities of interest Ward boundaries may divide communities of

are likely to be represented. interest and may be difficult to define. Voters may have a restricted choice of

candidates in elections for individual wards. Small populations in each ward may make ward boundaries more susceptible to change as a result of population growth or decline. Where major groups support candidates in multiple wards, it is possible that one group can dominate the council.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.2 1063 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Multi-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

Can accommodate a large community of Groups may form within the council leading to interest. possible division between councillors.

Focus on issues may be broader than in Very specific local issues may not be single-councillor wards (though councillors addressed.

may have a more local focus than in an unsubdivided local council). Councillors may be more accessible than in In very large wards, councillors may not be an unsubdivided local council. Electors have accessible for residents in parts of the ward. a choice of councillors. Councillors may share workloads more Duplication may occur if councillors do not

effectively. communicate or share their workloads. Ward boundaries should be easy to identify and less susceptible to change as a result of

population growth or decline than in single councillor wards.

A combination of multi-councillor and single-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

A large community of interest can be Electors in single-councillor wards may feel included within a multi-councillor ward and a under-represented because they only have smaller community of interest can be one councillor, leading to a perception of

included within a single-councillor ward. This unfairness. structure accommodates differences in population across a local council, and allows small communities to be separately represented. Clear ward boundaries are more likely. Different vote counting systems within the

same local council may seem inconsistent. Different quotas would be required to elect councillors in multi-councillor and single-

councillor wards, leading to a perception of inequality.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.2 1064 Council Agenda 25/02/19

BOROONDARA

CITY COUNCIL February 2019

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1065 Council Agenda 25/02/19

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1066 Council Agenda 25/02/19

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1067 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Contents

ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE: WHY THE REVIEW MATTERS ...... 1 REVIEW TIMELINE ...... 2 TYPES OF SUBMISSION ...... 3 Stage one: preliminary submissions ...... 3 Stage two: response submissions ...... 3 Public hearing ...... 3 HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION ...... 4 Submission methods ...... 4 Submission checklist ...... 5 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN YOUR SUBMISSION ...... 6

Number of councillors...... 6 Structure of the local council ...... 8 Unsubdivided councils ...... 8 Subdivided councils ...... 9 Single-councillor wards ...... 9 Multi-councillor wards ...... 10 A combination of multi-councillor and single-councillor wards ...... 10 Electoral structures and vote counting ...... 11 Communities of interest ...... 12 Ward boundaries ...... 12 Ward names ...... 13 HOW RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FORMED ...... 14

Limitations of the review ...... 14 SUMMARY OF 2008 REVIEW OF BOROONDARA CITY COUNCIL ...... 15 2015 subdivision review ...... 16 Map: current boundaries and voter numbers ...... 17 Map: voter numbers by locality ...... 18 BOROONDARA CITY COUNCIL AT A GLANCE ...... 19 Statistical profile ...... 22 ANNEX 1: ELECTORAL STRUCTURES OF ALL VICTORIAN COUNCILS ...... 23 ANNEX 2: SAMPLE SUBMISSIONS ...... 30 Stage one: preliminary submission samples ...... 30 Stage two: response submission samples ...... 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1068 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 One vote, one value: why the review matters

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is committed to the principle of ‘one vote, one value’, which is enshrined in the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act). This means that every person’s vote counts equally. The Act requires the VEC to conduct electoral representation reviews before every third council election, approximately every 12 years. Unscheduled reviews can also take place when required.

Representation reviews are a key mechanism to ensure that all voters in a local council have their concerns and interests fairly and equitably represented. The electoral representation review will examine:

x the number of councillors

x whether the structure of the local council should be subdivided into wards or unsubdivided, and

x if subdivided:

– the number of wards

– what the ward boundaries should be

– the name of each ward and

– how many councillors should be elected for each ward.

Input from members of the public is a valued part of the review process. There are three main opportunities for you to have your say:

1. in a preliminary public submission

2. in a response submission to the preliminary report and

3. if you have requested to speak in your response submission, at a public hearing to be held in your local area.

This guide outlines the review process and the opportunities for public input, and provides important information about the issues that submissions may address. It also includes specific information about Boroondara City Council and sample submissions to help you prepare your own submission.

Page 1 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1069 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 Review timeline

This timeline shows the major milestones in the review process. The opportunities for you to have your say have been highlighted in bold.

Wednesday 13 Preliminary public submissions open February 2019 The VEC accepts written submissions from the public at the start of the review. All submissions are carefully considered and taken into account before the preliminary report is prepared. Advertisements are also placed in the Herald Sun and local newspapers notifying the public of the review. Thursday 14 Public information session February 2019 A public information session will be held at 7.00 pm on Thursday 14 February 2019 in the Zelman Room at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. Anyone interested in making a submission or with questions about the review process is urged to attend. Wednesday 13 Closing date for preliminary submissions March 2019 Preliminary submissions must reach the VEC by 5.00 pm on this date.

Wednesday 10 Preliminary report released April 2019 The preliminary report outlines the options which provide fair and equitable representation. The report includes consideration of preliminary public submissions. The report is publicly available from the VEC by visiting vec.vic.gov.au or calling 131 832 and also for inspection at Council offices. Response submissions open The VEC accepts written submissions from the public that respond to the recommendations contained in the preliminary report. You can also nominate to discuss your response submission at a local public hearing. Wednesday 8 Closing date for response submissions May 2019 Response submissions must reach the VEC by 5.00 pm on this date.

Tuesday 14 Public hearing May 2019 A public hearing is scheduled to be held at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 14 May 2019 in the Zelman Room at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. Members of the public who have nominated to discuss their response submission will be given the opportunity to expand on their views for up to 10 minutes. The hearing will not be held if there are no requests to speak. Wednesday 5 Final report published June 2019 Following the public hearing, the VEC considers all the evidence it has gathered and publishes a final report for the Minister for Local Government containing a recommended electoral structure. The report is publicly available from the VEC by visiting vec.vic.gov.au or calling 131 832, and also for inspection at Council offices. If the VEC’s recommendation is accepted, it will take effect at the next general election in October 2020.

Page 2 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1070 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Types of submission

Any person or group, including the Council itself, can make a submission to the VEC.

The VEC accepts submissions at two stages of the review process:

Stage one: preliminary submissions Preliminary submissions should address the number of councillors and the electoral structure of Boroondara City Council. At this stage, the VEC welcomes suggested models that consider the issues outlined in the ‘Issues to consider in your submission’ section of this guide.

Stage two: response submissions Response submissions must address the models proposed by the VEC in the preliminary report. Generally, other models will not be considered at this stage.

Examples of public submissions made in previous reviews can be found in Annex 2 of this guide. However, it is important to note that your submission can be in any format and address any of the relevant issues in the proposed options.

Public hearing Response submissions should indicate whether the person making the submission wishes to speak at a public hearing in support of their submission. At this hearing, those who have nominated to discuss their submission will be given 10 minutes to speak. The hearing will not be held if there are no requests to speak.

Page 3 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1071 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 How to make a submission

All submissions, including those sent by post, must be received at the VEC by 5.00 pm on the day of the submission deadline, as detailed in the ‘Review timeline’.

The VEC can only accept submissions that include a full name, address and contact number.

All submissions will be published on the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au and made available for public inspection at the VEC office (Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne). The VEC will remove personal information such as address, contact number, and signature, if applicable, from all public copies. However, the full name and locality of submitters will be displayed.

See the ‘Submission checklist’ on the next page for a quick guide to the possible content of a submission.

If you complete your submission online, you will also have the opportunity to use the VEC’s Boundary Builder. This web application allows users to define local council ward boundaries and numbers of councillors using actual voter numbers to ensure that there is fair representation in your proposed model.

Submission methods Submissions can be made via:

The online submission form at vec.vic.gov.au

Email at [email protected]

Post to Victorian Electoral Commission Level 11, 530 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Page 4 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1072 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Submission checklist This checklist provides you with an idea of the range of issues you might consider in your submission. See the ‘Issues to consider on your submission’ section on the next page for an explanation of these steps.

Before you send your submission: 9

Have you included your full name, address and a contact number? (If you are completing an online submission you will be prompted to include this information after writing your submission.)

Do you understand that your submission will be made public, including your full

name and locality?

If you are making a submission about the number of councillors (see page 6)

Does your submission suggest a number of councillors between 5 and 12?

If the number of councillors you have suggested varies substantially from

numbers in similar local councils, have you explained why?

If you are making a submission about the electoral structure (see page 8)

Have you indicated whether you want the local council to be subdivided or

unsubdivided?

Have you explained why your preferred structure would best suit the local

council?

If you think that the local council should be subdivided into wards (see page 9)

Have you indicated whether you want single-councillor wards, multi-councillor

wards or a combination of both?

Have you indicated where the ward boundaries should be located and provided

reasons for these proposed boundaries?

Have you considered the number of voters in the proposed wards?

If you have suggested ward names, have you given reasons for those names?

If you are making a response submission to the preliminary report

Does your submission address the options recommended in the preliminary

report?

Have you indicated whether or not you would like to speak about your

submission at the public hearing?

Page 5 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1073 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Issues to consider in your submission

Your submission may address one or both of the following issues:

x the number of councillors (between 5 and 12), and

x the structure of the electorate (subdivided or unsubdivided).

You may make a submission in support of the current structure in the local council, or in support of a different electoral structure and/or number of councillors. It is important that your submission provides reasons for your preferences.

This section provides an overview of issues for you to consider before making your submission.

Number of councillors When making a submission about the number of councillors, there are three important guidelines that the VEC follows that you need to bear in mind. These are that:

1. The number of councillors is between 5 and 12.

The Act allows for a local council to have between 5 and 12 councillors. As the number of voters in each local council varies significantly, and as populations change over time, the VEC applies the requirements for fairness and equity in a logical way—those local councils that have a larger number of voters generally have a higher number of councillors.

2. The number of voters represented by each councillor is fair and equitable across the local council.

If the local council is divided into wards, the number of voters represented by each councillor must be within 10% of the average number of voters per councillor across the local council. This is called the ‘legislative equality requirement’, which ensures the principle of ‘one vote, one value’.

EXAMPLE 1:

A subdivided local council has 100,000 people eligible to vote and a total of 10 councillors. The ward boundaries for this local council should be structured to ensure that each councillor represents the equivalent number of voters, approximately 10,000 (plus or minus 10%).

Page 6 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1074 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

EXAMPLE 2:

A local council is subdivided into two wards, with 21,000 people eligible to vote and a total of seven councillors. Ward A has a voting population of 12,000 and Ward B has a voting population of 9,000. On this basis, Ward A should have four councillors, and Ward B should have three councillors. Each councillor then represents the equivalent number of voters (3,000).

The VEC also takes into account likely population changes to ensure ward boundaries provide equitable representation until the next review is conducted (reviews take place approximately every 12 years). Population and development forecasts for the local council are provided in the ‘Boroondara City Council at a glance’ section of this guide.

3. A consistent, State-wide approach is taken to the total number of councillors.

When reviewing a council, the VEC is guided by its comparisons with local councils of a similar size and category (Metropolitan Melbourne; Interface; Regional Centres; and Country Victoria). Please see the tables in Annex 1 for relevant data on Boroondara City and similar local councils.

The VEC also considers any special circumstances that may warrant the local council having more or fewer councillors than similar local councils. These might include:

x significant population growth within the local council

x an especially mobile or transient population

x cultural and linguistic diversity within the community

x socio-economic disparities

x a large proportion of one demographic who may have special interests and needs

x the number of non-residents and company nominees

x a wide geographic distribution of voters within a large local council

x a large number of communities of interest (see ‘Communities of interest’ section).

Page 7 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1075 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Structure of the local council Your submission may also address the structure of Boroondara City Council, which can be:

x unsubdivided, with all councillors elected ‘at large’ by all of the voters in the local council, or

x subdivided into wards, with one or more councillors elected by the voters in each ward. If the local council is subdivided, your submission may also address:

– the number of wards

– what the ward boundaries should be

– the name of each ward and

– how many councillors should be elected for each ward.

This section provides information about these different electoral structures.

Unsubdivided councils

More positive features Less positive features

Gives residents and ratepayers a choice of May lead to confusion of responsibilities and

is elected through a countback system, negating the need for a by-election. If only a few candidates contest the general election, the countback system may elect a

candidate who only polled a small percentage of the vote.

Page 8 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1076 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Subdivided councils There are three ways to divide a council into wards:

x single-councillor wards with just one councillor representing each ward

x multi-councillor wards with several councillors representing each ward

x combinations of the two.

Unsubdivided Single-councillor Multi-councillor Combination

Single-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

are likely to be represented. interest and may be difficult to define. Voters may have a restricted choice of

Page 9 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1077 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Multi-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

Can accommodate a large community of Groups may form within the council leading to interest. possible division between councillors.

Focus on issues may be broader than in Very specific local issues may not be single-councillor wards (though councillors addressed.

effectively. communicate or share their workloads. Ward boundaries should be easy to identify and less susceptible to change as a result of

population growth or decline than in single councillor wards.

A combination of multi-councillor and single-councillor wards

More positive features Less positive features

same local council may seem inconsistent. Different quotas would be required to elect councillors in multi-councillor and single-

councillor wards, leading to a perception of inequality.

Page 10 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1078 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Electoral structures and vote counting According to law, the structure of the council determines the vote counting system. You may wish to consider the impact of these counting systems in making your submission.

In single-councillor wards, the preferential system applies, which means a candidate must achieve an absolute majority (50% plus one) of the formal votes to be elected, otherwise the outcome will be determined based on preferences.

In multi-councillor wards or in unsubdivided local councils, proportional representation applies, and candidates are elected in proportion to their support within the electorate. The required quota of votes is reached by dividing the total number of formal votes by the number of vacancies plus one. Therefore, unlike the preferential vote counting system where only the candidate with the majority of votes is elected, other candidates representing groups or issues that have significant minority support may also be elected.

EXAMPLE:

An unsubdivided local council has seven councillor positions and therefore uses proportional representation. In this local council, any candidate achieving greater than 12.5% of the vote will be elected.

Visit the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au/Elections/CountingTheVotes.html for more detailed information on the preferential and proportional counting systems.

Page 11 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1079 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Communities of interest Communities of interest are groups of people who share a range of common concerns or aspirations. They are different from ‘interest groups’ or ‘pressure groups’ that identify themselves based on a limited number of issues.

Communities of interest may occur where people are linked with each other geographically (e.g. a town or valley) or economically (e.g. people working in similar industries or mutually-dependent industries). Communities of interest may also appear where people share a number of special needs because of similar circumstances, such as new immigrants (who may not have strong English language skills, and require assistance with housing and finding employment); particular ethnic groups; retirees; or job seekers.

Communities of interest are an important consideration in electoral representation reviews as they have particular needs from their local council. In such cases, it is important the communities of interest have the opportunity to be fairly represented by their council. There are a number of ways to take account of communities of interest, depending on how they are distributed geographically.

If a community of interest… Then fair representation may be achieved by:

is in the same geographic area creating a ward with boundaries reflecting that (e.g. a town) community of interest. is widespread across the local creating multi-councillor wards with proportional council (e.g. job seekers) representation. is one of a number of small combining the communities of interest via an communities of interest unsubdivided structure, so that any elected councillor would be responsible to all of these groups.

Ward boundaries Ward boundaries must ensure that the statutory equality requirement is met—the number of voters represented by each councillor must be plus or minus 10% of the average number of voters per councillor across the local council.

Because representation reviews are scheduled approximately every 12 years, population growth areas often need to be spread across a number of wards to ensure that the voter-councillor ratios remain acceptable during this time. Fewer wards mean a larger average number of voters per ward and a greater tolerance to population changes.

Boundaries should always take into account communities of interest and should follow clear lines (major roads, rivers, significant landmarks and existing locality boundaries) where possible.

Page 12 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1080 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Ward names The VEC welcomes suggestions for ward names. The names must be relevant and specific to the ward to avoid any possible confusion with other wards. Some popular approaches include using:

x place names

x compass directions

x historic buildings

x natural features present in the ward

x names of pioneers and former prominent citizens

x Aboriginal names

x native flora or fauna.

Page 13 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1081 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 How recommendations are formed

The VEC is an impartial statutory authority and conducts the reviews independently of councils and the State Government.

Public submissions are an important part of the review process, but there are several other important considerations. The recommendation is not based on a ‘straw poll’ of the number of submissions supporting a particular option, but holistically takes into account:

x internal research specifically relating to the local council under review

x the VEC’s experience conducting previous electoral representation reviews of local councils and similar reviews for State elections

x the VEC’s expertise in special analysis, demography and local government

x careful consideration of all input from the public in written and verbal submissions received during the review and

x advice from consultants with extensive experience in local government.

Limitations of the review It is important to note that an electoral representation review cannot deal with the external boundaries of a local council or decide whether a local council should be divided or amalgamated with other local councils.

In addition, a review cannot consider the vote counting system used in local council elections. The counting system is determined by the structure of the local council—in single-councillor wards, the preferential system applies, and in multi-councillor wards or in unsubdivided local councils, proportional representation applies. See the ‘Electoral structures and vote counting’ section.

Page 14 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1082 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 Summary of 2008 review of Boroondara City Council

The last electoral representation review for Boroondara City Council took place in 2008. Prior to the review, Boroondara City Council had ten councillors elected from ten single-councillor wards.

Following the 2008 review, the VEC’s final recommendation was for Boroondara City Council to remain with ten single-councillor wards with a minor change to ward boundaries.

The VEC’s recommendation was based on the following considerations:

x the City of Boroondara’s large voter population, compact size as an urban council and its relatively low rate of population growth

x While there were differences in the level of socio-economic disadvantage experienced in various areas within the City of Boroondara, this disadvantage was not as severe or as widespread as it was in other metropolitan councils

x strong community support for the existing number of councillors and ward structure

x Boroondara City Council’s investment into public consultation processes meant single- ward councillors were knowledgeable on broader issues as well as local issues.

The VEC’s preliminary recommendation was for Boroondara City Council to increase to 11 councillors. Comparing the City of Boroondara with similar local councils, the VEC found that the city’s population was within the range of metropolitan local councils served by 11 councillors. However, most submissions (including Boroondara City Council’s submission) argued that 10 councillors and the single-ward structure had worked well. Although there were distinct senses of place within the City of Boroondara, the VEC also found that there was not the same demographic diversity and socio-economic complexity that existed in other metropolitan local councils. Low forecasted population growth and relatively limited socio-economic complexity within the local council area contributed to the VEC’s final decision to recommend that the Council continue with 10 councillors.

During the review the VEC initially considered that Boroondara City Council move to larger multi- councillor wards to better reflect communities of interest and to allow for representation of the diversity within the local council as its preferred option.

A large number of submissions from the community (including Boroondara City Council’s submission) disagreed with the VEC’s preliminary preferred option to move to multi-councillor wards. These submissions argued that single-councillor wards had adequately captured local communities of interests, and that multi-councillor wards were not only too large, but risked dividing existing communities of interest. Loss of local representation was a key concern, as the

Page 15 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1083 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

VEC heard there was an expectation that councillors were familiar with very local issues and that councillors were easily accessible to community members.

The VEC heard that Boroondara City Council’s investment into public consultation processes, its governance processes, and the support given to single-ward councillors meant that single-ward councillors were more likely than not to be across a range of broader as well as local issues. The VEC took into account these views and its final recommendation reflected no change to Boroondara City Council’s electoral structure and its number of councillors. The VEC recommended a change to ward boundaries to better capture communities of interest.

Visit the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au to access a copy of the 2008 review final report.

2015 subdivision review The Act allows for a subdivision review to be conducted between scheduled representation reviews to correct enrolment imbalances among wards. A subdivision review was required for the Boroondara City Council in 2015 to restore Glenferrie Ward’s enrolment to within the allowable plus or minus 10% deviation from the average for the Council. It was noted in the subdivision review report that single-councillor wards are less able to absorb population change than other electoral structures, particularly where growth within a local council area is uneven and ward enrolments are changing at different rates. Currently, three of Boroondara City Council’s wards (Glenferrie, Junction and Maranoa) have enrolments deviating outside the acceptable tolerance. Refer to the map on the next page for a breakdown of the current ward enrolments and deviations.

Visit the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au to access a copy of the 2015 subdivision review final report.

Page 16 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1084 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Map: current boundaries and voter numbers The map below details the current boundaries and voter numbers.

Electoral profile

Current estimate of voters 133,357 Voter density (voters/km2) 2,223 Average number of voters per 13,335 councillor

Page 17 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1085 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Map: voter numbers by locality The map below details the voter numbers by locality. This information is useful if your submission considers ward boundaries.

Page 18 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1086 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 Boroondara City Council at a glance

The City of Boroondara is a predominantly residential area located in Melbourne’s inner-east, approximately between five and 10 kilometres from the central business district. The local council is bordered by watercourses and parklands that include the Yarra River, Gardiners Creek and Yarra Bend Park. It is home to an estimated population of 167,231.1

The local council covers about 60 square kilometres encompassing the suburbs of Ashburton, Balwyn, Balwyn North, Camberwell, Canterbury, Deepdene, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Kew East – and parts of Glen Iris, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills.2

While primarily residential in nature, the City of Boroondara also has a number of educational and private and public health-care facilities. Some of Boroondara’s key features include the Swinburne University of Technology (Hawthorn Campus), the Camberwell Junction shopping area, the Glenferrie Road shopping area (Hawthorn), the Kew Junction shopping area, Studley Park, Yarra Bend Park, and a concentration of private schools.3

In 2016, the City of Boroondara had a lower proportion of pre-schoolers and a higher proportion of persons at post-retirement age than Greater Melbourne.4 Older people are distributed relatively evenly throughout the local council area but comprise higher proportions of the populations in Camberwell, Canterbury, Deepdene and Balwyn.5 Conversely, there are some suburbs with a higher proportion of pre-schoolers and lower proportion of older people, including Ashburton, Glen Iris, Hawthorn East, Kew East and Surrey Hills.6 The median age of residents in the City of Boroondara is 38 years, similar to 36 years for Greater Melbourne.

Thirty-one per cent of residents in the City of Boroondara were born overseas which is slightly less than Greater Melbourne at about 34%.7 Recent arrivals are concentrated in Hawthorn and Hawthorn East. The suburbs of Balwyn, Balwyn North and Kew also have a slightly higher percentage of residents born overseas compared to the rest of the council area.8 Twenty-seven

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘2016 Quickstats: Boroondara’, http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA21110?op endocument, accessed 29 January 2019. 2 City of Boroondara, Annual Report 2016-17, City of Boroondara, 2017, p. 4. 3 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: about the profile areas’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/about, accessed 30 January 2019. 4 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: service age groups’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/service-age-groups, accessed 31 January 2019. 5 See for example, .id, ‘Canterbury: service age groups’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/service- age-groups?WebID=140, accessed 31 January 2019. 6 .id, ‘Service age groups’ category for suburbs in Boroondara. See for example, .id, ‘Ashburton: service age groups’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/service-age-groups?WebID=100, accessed 31 January 2019. 7 Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘Greater Melbourne (GCCSA) (2GMEL)’. 2016 Census. See also, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘Boroondara (C) (LGA) (2110), 2016 Census. 8 See individual suburb profiles from: .id, ‘City of Boroondara: overseas arrivals’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/overseas-arrivals?WebID=10, accessed 1 February 2019. Page 19 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1087 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 per cent of people in the City of Boroondara speak a language other than English at home. The top three languages spoken at home are Mandarin, Cantonese and Greek. The largest change in recent years is an increase in the number of residents speaking Mandarin.9 Of people in Boroondara born overseas, 11% were not proficient in English, which is lower than 13% for Greater Melbourne residents born overseas.10

Young adults and tertiary students are more prevalent in the west of the local council area, especially in Hawthorn and Hawthorn East due to Swinburne University and easy access to other tertiary education facilities in Melbourne. Established and mature families are more likely to be concentrated in the eastern side of the city.11

Median weekly incomes for residents in the City of Boroondara are significantly higher compared to median weekly incomes for Greater Melbourne and for Victoria. The personal median weekly income in Boroondara is $869 (for Greater Melbourne it is $673) and the median weekly income for households in Boroondara is $2,083 (for Greater Melbourne it is $1,542). The personal and household median weekly incomes for Victorians are $644 and $1,419 respectively.

The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) measures the relative level of socio-economic disadvantage in areas across Australia. It is based on a range of Census characteristics.12 According to the SEIFA, Boroondara’s population has significantly less indicators of socio- economic disadvantage compared to Greater Melbourne and Victoria overall. There are some differences across Boroondara’s suburbs however. Glen Iris, Canterbury and Surrey Hills tend to experience lower levels of socio-economic disadvantage, while Ashburton and parts of Balwyn and Balwyn North have more indicators of socio-economic disadvantage relative to other parts of Boroondara.13

Boroondara’s population is forecasted to grow steadily at an annual rate of under 1% and is projected to increase by 40,315 persons by 2041 (representing about 23% growth).14

Boroondara’s population growth continues to be affected by various factors. For example, many areas in Boroondara command higher property prices, and first-time homebuyers and those wishing to buy family housing tend to move out to more affordable areas in Greater Melbourne.

9 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: language spoken at home’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/language, accessed 31 January 2019. 10 Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘Greater Melbourne (GCCSA) (2GMEL)’. 2016 Census. See also, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ‘Boroondara (C) (LGA) (2110), 2016 Census. 11 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: drivers of population change’, .id, https://forecast.id.com.au/boroondara/drivers- of-population-change, accessed 1 February 2019. 12 SEIFA was developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to rank areas in Australia according to relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage – reflected in characteristics such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. 13 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: SEIFA by profile areas’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/seifa- disadvantage-small-area, accessed 31 January 2019. 14 id, ‘City of Boroondara: population summary’, .id, https://forecast.id.com.au/boroondara/population- summary, accessed 1 February 2019. Page 20 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1088 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

There is also pressure for residential expansion from people wishing to move into the area from neighbouring areas of Greater Melbourne, and also from overseas, interstate and regional Victoria. While there are limits to the scale of development over many existing residential areas in Boroondara, the proportion of medium and high density housing has grown in recent years to 45%, compared to 33% for Greater Melbourne.15

15 .id, ‘City of Boroondara: population highlights’, .id, https://profile.id.com.au/boroondara/highlights-2016, accessed 1 February 2019. Page 21 of 31

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1089 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Statistical profile

Boroondara City Greater Melbourne*

Size Area (km2) 60 9992 Population 167,231 4,714,387 Population density (people/km2) 2945.9 471.8 Forecast population annual growth rate 2021-2031 (%)^ 0.7 1.7 Forecast population 2031^ 199,300 6,058,800 Population profile Born overseas (%) 30.9 33.8 Language other than English spoken at home (%) 27 32.3 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (%) 0.2 0.5 Median age 37.7 35.7 Age groups (% of total population) 0–14 years 17.3 18.4 15–24 years 15.3 13.7 25–44 years 26.5 30.9 45–64 years 25.3 23.2 65+ years 15.6 13.6 Economic profile Workforce participation (% of population aged 15+) 62.9 61.9 Unemployment rate (% of workforce) 5.6 6.8 Median personal weekly income 869 673 Low income earners—$499 gross or less per week (%) 21 26.6 High income earners—$2,000 gross or more per week (%) 18.7 8.5 Major industries (% of workforce) Health care and social assistance 14.2 12 Retail trade 9.4 10.1 Manufacturing 4.5 7.7 Construction 4.5 8.2 Education and training 10.5 8.6 Agriculture, forestry and fishing 0.4 0.6 Accommodation and food services 6.3 6.5 Public administration and safety 4.2 5 Transport, postal and warehousing 2.4 5 Professional scientific and technical services 15.0 9 Financial and insurance services 7 4.5 All data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) unless indicated. ^ Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria in Future 2016, 2016. * The Greater Melbourne and Rural/Regional Victoria (Rest of Vic) regions are defined by the ABS as Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and are designed to represent the functional extent of capital cities. They include the people who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, but live in the small towns and rural areas surrounding the city. Within each State and Territory, the area not defined as being part of the Greater Capital City is represented by a Rest of State region.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1090 Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Council Agenda City Boroondara City Council 2019 of

Boroondara Annex 1: Electoral structures of all Victorian councils

The tables below are sorted by current estimates of voters in descending order for each category (Metropolitan Melbourne; Interface; Regional Centres; and Country Victoria).

Metropolitan Melbourne

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018

1 two-councillor ward Brimbank City 123 194,319 127,517 135,931 11 12,357 3 three-councillor wards Attachment

Boroondara City * 60 167,231 125,742 133,357 10 13,335 10 single-councillor wards

1 three-councillor ward

7.10.3 Moreland City 51 162,558 109,744 132,790 11 12,071 2 four-councillor wards

1 two-councillor ward Monash City 81 182,618 120,779 123,695 11 11,245 3 three-councillor wards

Kingston City * 91 151,389 105,316 120,893 9 13,432 3 three-councillor wards

Melbourne City 36 135,959 104,929 119,595 9^ 13,288 Unsubdivided

Knox City 114 154,110 116,335 118,678 9 13,186 9 single-councillor wards

Whitehorse City * 64 162,078 111,384 115,486 10 11,548 5 two-councillor wards

Darebin City * 53 146,719 96,334 114,820 9 12,757 3 three-councillor wards

Frankston City 131 134,143 95,979 109,662 9 12,184 3 three-councillor wards 25/02/19 1091

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of Boroondara Metropolitan Melbourne continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018

Glen Eira City 38 140,875 97,582 106,440 9 11,826 3 three-councillor wards

Greater Dandenong 1 two-councillor ward 130 152,050 93,970 103,754 11 9,432 City * 3 three-councillor wards

Banyule City * 63 121,865 90,094 97,447 7 13,921 7 single-councillor wards

Attachment Moonee Valley City 44 116,671 88,394 94,682 9 10,520 3 three-councillor wards

Stonnington City 25 103,832 77,494 93,754 9 10,417 3 three-councillor wards

7.10.3 Port Phillip City 20 100,863 85,439 93,106 9 10,345 3 three-councillor wards

Manningham City * 114 116,255 85,748 87,820 9 9,757 3 three-councillor wards

Maroondah City * 61 110,376 77,739 86,282 9 9,586 3 three-councillor wards

Yarra City 20 86,657 65,512 81,669 9 9,074 3 three-councillor wards

2 two-councillor wards Bayside City * 36 97,087 67,702 77,557 7 11,079 1 three-councillor ward

2 two-councillor wards Hobsons Bay City 65 88,778 63,363 69,683 7 9,954 1 three-councillor ward

2 two-councillor wards

Maribyrnong City 31 82,288 52,543 65,202 7 9,314 25/02/19 1 three-councillor ward 1092

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of Boroondara Interface

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 1 single-councillor ward Casey City * 407 299,301 165,057 212,291 11 19,299 5 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Mornington 723 154,999 153,332 161,497 11 14,681 1 two-councillor ward Peninsula Shire 2 three-councillor wards 1 three-councillor ward Attachment Wyndham City 541 217,122 104,278 151,786 11 13,798 2 four-councillor wards 1 three-councillor ward Whittlesea City * 489 197,491 110,011 148,487 11 13,498 2 four-councillor wards 7.10.3 1 three-councillor ward Hume City 503 197,376 112,157 144,959 11 13,178 2 four-councillor wards Yarra Ranges Shire 2,447 149,537 113,596 118,812 9 13,201 9 single-councillor wards 1 two-councillor ward Melton Shire 527 135,443 85,682 99,690 9 11,076 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward 1 two-councillor ward Cardinia Shire * 1,281 94,128 53,794 77,196 9 8,577 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward Nillumbik Shire * 435 61,273 45,659 48,969 7 6,995 7 single-councillor wards

25/02/19

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of Boroondara Regional Centres

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 1 two-councillor ward Greater Geelong City 1,247 233,429 188,585 200,616 11 18,237 3 three-councillor wards Greater Bendigo City 3,048 110,477 78,399 91,665 9 10,185 3 three-councillor wards Ballarat City 740 101,686 77,625 84,783 9 9,420 3 three-councillor wards 1 single-councillor ward Latrobe City 1,426 73,257 53,817 58,849 9 6,538 2 two-councillor wards Attachment 1 four-councillor ward Greater Shepparton 2,422 63,837 44,701 46,359 9 5,151 Unsubdivided City 7.10.3 Mildura Rural City 22,330 53,878 39,443 41,305 9 4,589 Unsubdivided Mitchell Shire * 2,864 40,918 29,817 33,781 9 3,753 3 three-councillor wards Wodonga City 433 39,351 29,002 32,230 7 4,604 Unsubdivided Warrnambool City 120 33,655 26,116 27,497 7 3,928 Unsubdivided Wangaratta Rural 3 single-councillor wards 3,639 28,310 22,094 23,168 7 3,309 City 1 four-councillor ward Horsham Rural City 4,249 19,642 16,048 16,454 7 2,350 Unsubdivided Benalla Rural City * 2,375 13,861 10,934 12,131 7 1,733 Unsubdivided Ararat Rural City * 4,230 11,600 9,141 9,311 7 1,330 Unsubdivided

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of Boroondara Country Victoria

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 Bass Coast Shire 864 32,804 42,592 46,280 9 5,142 3 three-councillor wards Wellington Shire 10,989 42,983 42,355 43,171 9 4,796 3 three-councillor wards East Gippsland Shire 20,931 45,040 38,318 43,123 9 4,791 Unsubdivided * Baw Baw Shire 4,031 48,479 37,654 42,184 9 4,687 3 three-councillor wards Macedon Ranges Attachment 1,747 46,100 33,175 38,413 9 4,268 3 three-councillor wards Shire 1 single-councillor ward Surf Coast Shire 1,560 29,397 29,535 34,547 9 3,838 2 two-councillor wards 7.10.3 1 four-councillor ward 3 single-councillor wards Campaspe Shire * 4,519 37,061 28,118 30,984 9 3,442 2 three-councillor wards South Gippsland 3,305 28,703 27,654 29,505 9 3,278 3 three-councillor wards Shire 3 single-councillor wards Moorabool Shire 2,110 31,818 21,487 27,856 7 3,979 1 four-councillor ward Moira Shire * 4,045 29,112 22,307 25,086 9 2,787 Unsubdivided Colac Otway Shire * 3,433 20,972 19,198 20,750 7 2,964 Unsubdivided Golden Plains Shire * 2,704 21,688 14,228 18,567 7 2,652 Unsubdivided Glenelg Shire * 6,212 19,557 16,333 17,570 7 2,510 Unsubdivided 4 single-councillor wards Mount Alexander 25/02/19 1,529 18,761 15,411 16,826 7 2,403 Shire 1 three-councillor ward 1095

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of Boroondara Country Victoria continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 3 single-councillor wards Hepburn Shire * 1,470 15,330 13,649 15,727 7 2,246 2 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Swan Hill Rural City * 6,117 20,584 14,386 14,749 7 2,107 1 four-councillor ward Murrindindi Shire * 3,889 13,732 13,727 14,570 7 2,081 7 single-councillor wards Moyne Shire * 5,478 16,495 12,420 14,424 7 2,060 Unsubdivided Attachment Indigo Shire 2,044 15,952 12,920 13,725 7 1,960 Unsubdivided 4 single-councillor wards Corangamite Shire 4,407 16,051 13,397 13,584 7 1,940 1 four-councillor ward 7.10.3 Southern Grampians 6,652 15,944 13,151 13,436 7 1,919 Unsubdivided Shire * Alpine Shire 4,787 12,337 11,562 11,929 7 1,704 Unsubdivided Central Goldfields 3 single-councillor wards 1,534 12,995 11,017 11,446 7 1,635 Shire 1 four-councillor ward 2 single-councillor wards Northern Grampians 5,918 11,439 10,540 10,882 7 1,554 1 two-councillor ward Shire * 1 three-councillor ward 3 single-councillor wards Strathbogie Shire 3,302 10,274 9,268 10,182 7 1,454 2 two-councillor wards 3 single-councillor wards Mansfield Shire * 3,843 8,584 9,429 10,014 5 2,002 1 two-councillor ward 25/02/19 1096

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of Boroondara Country Victoria continued

Current Population Number of Number of estimate of Number of Local Council Area (km2) (2016 voters at voters per Electoral Structure voters as at councillors Census) last review councillor 2018 2 single-councillor wards Gannawarra Shire 3,732 10,549 9,031 9,044 7 1,292 1 three-councillor ward 1 four-councillor ward Loddon Shire 6,694 7,516 7,669 7,651 5 1,530 5 single-councillor wards Pyrenees Shire 3,433 7,238 7,145 7,497 5 1,499 5 single-councillor wards 2 two-councillor wards Attachment Yarriambiack Shire 7,158 6,674 6,094 6,024 7 860 1 three-councillor ward 2 two-councillor wards Buloke Shire * 8,004 6,201 6,149 5,773 7 824 1 three-councillor ward 7.10.3 Towong Shire 6,673 5,985 5,512 5,525 5 1,105 Unsubdivided Hindmarsh Shire 7,527 5,721 5,040 4,913 6 818 3 two-councillor wards Queenscliffe Borough 36 2,853 4,245 4,400 5 880 Unsubdivided * West Wimmera Shire 9,107 3,903 3,890 3,824 5 764 Unsubdivided * The local council is undergoing an electoral representation review by the VEC during 2019–20, the current estimate of voters is based on information provided by council in 2018. ^ Councillors other than the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

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Page 29 of 31 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019 Annex 2: Sample submissions

Any person or group can make a submission to the VEC. There are many matters to be considered when determining the electoral structure of a local council and you might like to take all issues into account or just focus on one issue you wish to bring to the attention of the review.

The sample submissions below should be considered as examples only to assist you in preparing your own submission. Submissions discussing or proposing ward boundaries can include maps or diagrams, but this is not required. Remember, there are no right or wrong ways to develop your submissions—just be sure your submission is limited to the scope of the review and includes reasons for your preferences.

Stage one: preliminary submission samples

Sample 1

The current number of councillors is appropriate for the local council under review, and is sufficient to provide fair and equitable representation for locals. The number of councillors is consistent with comparable regional local councils, and there are no major forecasts in population growth or increased communities of interest that would justify more councillors.

In terms of electoral structure, I strongly support the continuation of the unsubdivided structure. In 2004, before the Council was unsubdivided, there were seven single-member wards. One of the key issues with this structure was a tendency toward there not being a whole-of-Shire development agenda. Having five councillors who look after the needs of the entire Shire has greatly improved strategic planning and development for all areas of the Shire.

Sample 2

The council currently has five councillors, which is not enough to serve the current population— increasing to seven councillors would be more representative. Similarly, an electoral structure that includes multi-wards or is unsubdivided would allow for greater representation for the public. The current structure comprises five single-councillor wards. My experience has been that when a councillor is overworked or not interested in an issue, going to a councillor outside the ward is the only option.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1098 Council Agenda 25/02/19

Local Council Representation Review - Submission Guide Boroondara City Council 2019

Stage two: response submission samples

Sample 1

I support the preferred option outlined in the preliminary report that recommends increasing the number of councillors from seven to nine, and changes the electoral structure to include three wards, each with three councillors. This electoral structure reflects the growing population of the council area, and the three wards will ensure that all voters are fairly represented in the electorate. I don’t wish to propose ward name changes. I don’t wish to speak at the public hearing.

Sample 2

I do not agree with the preferred option outlined in the preliminary report, which recommends creating two two-councillor wards and one three-councillor ward—rather than the current seven single-councillor wards. I believe this does not accurately reflect the communities of interest in the council area, which are determined largely by location. Each ward represents a unique part of the council area and voters know which councillor to go to. I believe this would be lost under the proposed structure. I would like to speak at the public hearing in support of my submission.

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1099 Council Agenda 25/02/19

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1100 Council Agenda 25/02/19

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1101 Council Agenda 25/02/19

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1102 Council Agenda 25/02/19

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City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1103 Council Agenda 25/02/19

City of Boroondara Attachment 7.10.3 1104