Elector Representation Review
Section 12(4) of the Local Government Act 1999 requires Council to conduct an Elector Representation Review at least once in every eight year period. Coorong District Council is required to complete its next representation review by October 2021.
A representation review is held to determine whether a council community would benefit from an alteration to its composition or ward structure, and must examine all aspects of the composition of the council. The process reviews the methodology of the election of the Mayor, the number of Council Members (including the number of Council Members per ward) and whether wards are appropriate.
Community Poll - Have Your Say
From 6 October 2021 onwards, all electors within Coorong District Council will receive ballot papers asking you an important question:
Should the principal member (Mayor) of Coorong District Council be chosen by the Councillors or elected by the community?
We encourage all Coorong residents to vote in the poll when you receive your ballot papers in early October 2021.
Following community consultation, it is proposed that the principal member (Mayor) be elected by the community, rather than be elected by Councillors from within the Chamber. In order for this change to take effect, a poll of Coorong residents must be conducted to reaffirm the proposal.
All electors within the Coorong District Council will soon receive ballot papers (via post), asking to them vote on this question. It is important that Coorong electors exercise their right to have their say in this decision, and return their ballot papers as soon as possible via post or to any Council office (during normal office hours) before midday on Tuesday, 26 October 2021.
Should the community support the Council proposal to change to an elected Mayor, the change will come into effect at the Local Government elections in November 2022 (along with the elimination of Council wards, and the number of Councillors to be reduced to seven area Councillors plus the Mayor).
Stage 1 (now complete)
At the 6 April 2021 Special Council meeting, Council endorsed the commencement of six weeks community consultation on the Elector Representation Review Options Paper.
Members of the community were invited to make a written submission expressing their views on the future composition and structure of Council. The consultation period for the Elector Representation Review Options Paper closed on 31 May 2021 and results were tabled at a Special Council Meeting held on 15 June 2021.
Stage 2
Stage 2 consultation concluded on Friday 30 July 2021, and Council endorsed its final proposal as follows:
- The principal member of Council be a Mayor elected by the community.
- The Council area not be divided into wards (i.e. wards be abolished).
- The future elected body of Council comprise the Mayor and seven (7) area councillors, all of whom shall represent the whole of the Council area and shall be elected by the community at council-wide elections.
Representation Review Report - Interim Measures
Council has prepared a supplementary Representation Review Report which details the review process, public consultation undertaken, and the proposals Council considers should the required poll of the community regarding the proposal to change the principal member of Council from a Chairperson (with the title of Mayor) to an elected Mayor be unsuccessful. Council proposes the following alternative be carried into effect (as an interim measure) at the next scheduled periodic Local Government election in November 2022.
- The principal member of Council continue to be a Chairperson (with the title of Mayor) who is selected by and from amongst the elected members.
- The Council area not be divided into wards (i.e. wards be abolished).
- The future elected body of Council comprise eight (8) area councillors, all of whom shall represent the whole of the Council area and shall be elected by the community at council-wide elections.
A copy of the second Representation Review Report is available to view here, and for inspection at the Council offices.
Written submissions are invited from interested persons and should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 339, Tailem Bend 5260 or emailed to council@coorong.sa.gov.au by close of business on Friday, 22 October 2021. Alternatively, electronic submissions can be made via online survey.
Information regarding the elector representation review can be obtained by contacting the Acting Director – Community and Corporate, on telephone 1300 785 277 or email council@coorong.sa.gov.au
Further Information
Following conclusion of the community poll Council will consider a final report at a Special Council Meeting (end of October) and submit its final proposal to the Electoral Commissioner for certification.
Further information regarding the Elector Representation Review can also be obtained by contacting Coorong District Council on 1300 857 277 or email council@coorong.sa.gov.au.