Extra councillors for Melbourne
The Victorian Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has announced she has accepeted the recommendations of the final report of the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on its electoral represenations of the review of the Melbourne City Council.
As a consequence the Melbourne City Council will have the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and 9 Councillors elected to an unsubdivided municipality at council elections on 27 October this year. This is an increase of two Councillors over the current arrangements.
"I'm satisfied the VEC has complied with public consultation process set out in the Act, has given due consideration to the submissions it received and that its recommendations will provide fair and equitable representation for the MCC," Mrs Powell said.
The VEC review of the Council's electoral structure was initiated at the request of the MCC.
"Since the last electoral review of the MCC in 2001 there have been substantial changes to the municipality with the incorporation of Docklands and parts of Kensington increasing the population substantially.