Electoral structure review of Hepburn Shire

Notice of preliminary submission period

Notice of preliminary submission period

An electoral representation advisory panel is reviewing the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council under the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).

The electoral representation advisory panel is an independent body appointed by the Minister for Local Government to make a recommendation to the Minister on electoral structures for councils requiring a review. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is providing administrative and technical support to the panels.

Under the Act, all rural shire councils must now have electoral structures that are either:

• unsubdivided

• divided into single councillor wards

• divided into multi-councillor wards with an equal number of councillors per ward.

The review of Hepburn Shire Council will consider the appropriate:

• number of councillors

• electoral structure.

If the council is subdivided, the review will consider the appropriate:

• number of wards

• ward boundaries

• number of councillors per ward

• ward names.

Council

Making a submission

You are invited to make a preliminary submission to the panel to have your say on the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council. Submissions open at 9 am on Wednesday 8 February 2023.

You can view a submission guide and council factsheet to help you write your submission on the VEC website. The website also features a public submission tool, which you can use to map your proposed electoral structure and make a submission.

The panel will consider these submissions before releasing a preliminary report, outlining possible options for the electoral structure of Hepburn Shire Council.

You must make your submission by 5 pm on Wednesday 1 March 2023:

• online at vec.vic.gov.au

• by email: Hepburn.ERAPSubmissions@vec.vic.gov.au

• by post: VEC, Level 11, 530 Collins Street, Melbourne

VIC 3000

Public information sessions

Online public information sessions to explain the processes and open the preliminary submissions period will be held on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February 2023.

For more information please visit vec.vic.gov.au.

Public information sessions:

• 12 pm, Monday 6 February 2023

• 6 pm, Tuesday 7 February 2023

Please visit vec.vic.gov.au to register

Preliminary submissions close 5 on Wednesday 1 March 2023