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Legislative Assembly
 
Ballarat electoral representation review

02 September 2015
Adjournment
SHARON KNIGHT  (ALP)

 


Ms KNIGHT (Wendouree) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Local Government. The action I seek is that the minister update me and my community about the next steps in the electoral representation review of Ballarat City Council, which is currently being conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission. I note that preliminary submissions closed last Wednesday, 26 August, and that submissions have been made by Mr Gary Fitzgerald, Mr Peter Berlyn, Mr Grant Tillett, Ms Eileen McGhee, the Buninyong and District Community Association, the Buninyong RSL sub-branch, the Proportional Representation Society of Australia (Victoria-Tasmania) Inc., and the City of Ballarat itself.

A properly functioning council is vital to a regional city like Ballarat. The council is an important economic driver with a forecast revenue of over $200 million for 2015–16, including $23 million of road construction and maintenance, as well as important investments, such as the Ballarat West employment zone. The council is also an important employer for Ballarat, accounting for just over 600 effective full-time positions. I request that the minister provide for me and my community an update about the next steps in the review, how community members can get involved and how this review will help to ensure that the city of Ballarat is delivering for the community.