By David Kavanagh | posted on August 29, 2019
THE Shire of Jerramungup has lodged an official objection to the Western Australian Electoral Distribution Commission about proposed changes to its electoral boundaries.
Jerramungup councillors voted unanimously to submit their opposition to the Commission, which is in the process of revising electoral boundaries in time for the March 2021 state election, at a Council Meeting last Wednesday.
The changes as they currently stand would see the Shire cede from the District of Albany and be absorbed by the agriculture District of Roe.
Roe District would in turn lose the shires of Kulin, Wikepin and Cuballing to balance elector numbers in the Central Wheatbelt.
In his report to Council recommending the objection, Chief Executive Officer Martin Cuthbert wrote the move would have “detrimental effects” on the work the Shire had put into building a strong relationship with Albany.
He wrote Jerramungup had benefitted from “the marginal status of the seat … and the prevalence of a number of common strategic issues” since it joined the Albany District in 2015.
“We have successfully yielded desirable outcomes when lobbying for improvements to State Infrastructure and Services within the region,” he wrote.
“The Shire of Jerramungup believes it does not share a community interest with the majority of the Roe District.”
Mr Cuthbert also referenced the South Coast Alliance Inc, which Jerramungup formally joined earlier this year to coordinate economic, tourism and advocacy efforts with the City and the Shires of Denmark and Plantagenet.
City of Albany CEO Andrew Sharpe told the Weekender the Alliance focused on collaboration between local governments “irrespective of electoral boundaries”.
“Which electorate the Shire of Jerramungup sits within is ultimately a matter for the state, but we have no objections to their wish to stay within the Seat of Albany,” he said.
“Whatever the outcome, the Alliance will continue to invite them to the table and partner with them on Alliance initiatives just like it does with other members … that are in different electorates.”
The Electoral Act 1907 requires WA’s state electoral boundaries to be reviewed once in the life of each Parliament.
The deadline for written objections to the Commission expired on Monday afternoon.
Final boundaries will be published in late November.
