Community Poll Asks Electors to Vote on the Future Leadership of Coorong District Council

This October Coorong District Council electors will be asked to vote on an important question; should the principal member (Mayor) of Council be elected by the community or chosen by the Councillors?

From 6 October 2021, ballot papers will be posted to all Coorong electors asking them to vote on this question.

The community poll will remain open until midday on Tuesday, 26 October 2021. To ensure each vote is counted, community members are encouraged to fill out their ballot papers and return them via post or to any Council office as soon as possible.

Currently Coorong District Council is represented by nine councillors, who are responsible for electing the Mayor from within the elected member body.

Coorong District Council’s Mayor Paul Simmons strongly encourages the community to get involved and exercise their right to have their say.

“This is our community’s chance to decide how the Council’s principal member should be elected”, says Mayor Paul Simmons.

The poll is the result of a representation review, which Coorong District Council commenced in early 2021.

South Australian councils are required under the Local Government Act 1999 to conduct an elector representation review every eight years, and examine whether a council would benefit from alteration to its composition, including methodology for election of the Mayor, the number of councillors and whether wards are appropriate.

Asking electors to consider the method of electing the Mayor through a community poll is the final step in this process. Should the community support the proposal to change to an elected Mayor, the new leadership format will come into effect at the November 2022 Local Government elections.

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Contact:

Bridget Mather
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COORONG DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 1300 785 277 | E: bmather@coorong.sa.gov.au