The abolishment of Grant District Council’s current ward system is expected to go out to community consultation later this month.


During a special meeting held last week, elected members debated whether to realign the current three-ward boundaries or abolish all wards.


The council has decided to support in principle the council area not be divided into wards.


Currently council has a three-ward structure – Central, Tarpeena and Port MacDonnell.


The decision is expected to go out to community consultation later this month following council’s September monthly meeting, being held next Monday.


A report will be tabled to adopt the draft review report and proceed to public consultation. The matter was triggered by a legislative review which occurs every eight years.


However, changes were also recommended due to the current ward borders quota requirements.


Under the Local Government Act 1999, ward quota requirements state the number of electors represented by a councillor must not vary by more than 10%.


According to the report tabled at the special meeting, the Port MacDonnell ward has a current -8.13% variance and was not sustainable for the future projected population growth.


In his report, chief executive Darryl Whicker said the current ward structure was no longer recommended as a viable option long-term for fair and equitable elector representation.


“Historically, this ward structure was introduced in an effort to smooth the transition for communities following the amalgamation of Mount District Council Gambier and Port District Council MacDonnell in 1996,” he said.


“The Act requires council must observe the number of electors represented by a councillor must not vary from the ward quota by more than 10%.


“Unfortunately, because the variance for the Port MacDonnell ward is currently -8.13%, which is approaching the 10% quote tolerance limit, it is unlikely to remain within the tolerance until the next representation review.”


Mr Whicker said this may leave the ward “underrepresented”.


“At a minimum, ward boundaries would need to be altered,” he said.


Council last completed a review of its elector representation between April 2016 – April 2017.


At this review it was resolved the council area retain its three wards and the elected body comprising a total of nine ward councillors and the Mayor.


At the recent special meeting, elected members were presented with two alternatives – to change the borders of the existing wards which would include renaming the new wards, or abolish all wards and progressing as a single council.


The two preferred options were included for council’s consideration and further detailed in the discussion paper tabled at the meeting.


The first option proposed nine councillors and no wards.


“This option would see the removal of a ward structure, and nine ‘area councillors’ who are elected to represent the whole council area,” Mr Whicker said.


“This option automatically absorbs any fluctuations in elector numbers and as such the provision of the Act relating to quota tolerance limits does not apply.”


The second option proposed nine councillors and three realigned wards.


“This option would see the retention of a three ward, nine councillor structure. However with realigned ward boundaries, based on existing district boundaries,” Mr Whicker said.


“This option balances representation and allows for ratio fluctuations within the tolerance limits for the period until at least the next scheduled review.


“It should be noted that as a result, it would no longer be appropriate to retain the current naming convention, and council would need to consider what names most aptly represent the new ward boundaries.”


This review is required to be undertaken and completed during the period April 2024 – April 2025.


An initial information briefing session was conducted with elected members on April 22, while further information and briefing sessions were held on August 12 and August 20 (online).


“At that time council also considered the attached detailed discussion paper which contained five ward structure options, as examples of how the council area could be divided into wards, as well as information pertaining to the key review issues and details relating to the ‘no ward’ option,” Mr Whicker said.


The report presented at the special meeting enabled council to formally consider those options and provide an ‘in principal’ preferred option in preparation of the review report, which will be presented to council for endorsement for public consultation purposes.


“Any new arrangements come into effect at the next periodic election, in this case November 2026,” Mr Whicker said.


Cr Barry Kuhl sought approval to suspend meeting procedures for 10 minutes with the purpose to further discuss the resolution prior to voting.


Elected members debated a number of options, with some opting for different boundaries and another having no wards at all.


Councillors Kuhl, Megan Dukalskis and Brad Mann voted in favour, while Crs Rodney Virgo and Gavin Clarke voted against. Cr Virgo called for division.


Apologies from the meeting came from Crs Bruce Bain, Kathleen Greene and Karen Turnbull, while Peter Duncan arrived at conclusion of the meeting.


Mayor Kylie Boston said council decided in principle to progress to consultation with the community on a one council ward proposal with elected members representing the entire district.


“The preferred model will go to the next council meeting to be voted on along with a method of the consultation,” Mayor Boston said.


“We are required to go out to community consultation but it does give us a chance to share with the community that we have to do these things as part of what we do.


“Council’s core business is to represent its community and to meet its expectations so this is a vital legislative process and it is imperative we get community feedback and endorsement on the other side of it as well.


“At a minimum they have got one councillor that is involved and understands them but at a maximum they can engage with anybody in the council they know.


“When the report comes to council, ratepayers are going to be able to see the complexity of what we have to do.


“We have got to have the community in the forefront of what we are actually doing and it has to benefit our community.”


Mayor Boston encouraged all ratepayers to provide feedback on the proposal including positive and negative opinions.


“We are very much one community and that was how I felt when I went around seeing everybody while we were in that election process.”