The current ward boundaries (above left) and proposed ward boundaries (above right).
Camera IconThe current ward boundaries (above left) and proposed ward boundaries (above right). Credit: Supplied/Supplied

City of Cockburn backs wards shake-up

Bryce LuffCockburn Gazette

On Thursday, councillors backed a realignment of boundaries for Cockburn’s three-ward system.

The City will retain its West, Central and East ward titles, but they will be split more evenly to ensure balanced councillor representation across Cockburn’s 167sq km of land and 110,000 residents.

Under the scenario, labelled option one throughout the public consultation process, South Lake and Cockburn Central will move from East ward to Central ward.

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The West and Central ward boundaries will be extended to follow the Stock Road and Rockingham Road alignment through to the City’s boundary with Kwinana.

The recently developed section of Munster west of Rockingham Road will be annexed from Central ward to become part of West ward.

In a report to councillors, governance and community services director Don Green said the model offered a good balance of councillor representation across the whole local government area.

“In effect, this outcome will provide the redrawn Central ward with the majority of the current elector base, but not to the extent that it will unduly impact on the ratio criteria, which is endeavoured to represent an equitable distribution of electors to councillors between and within each ward,” he said.

Mr Green said population forecast data available to the City meant he was confident councillor-elector ratios would equalise in the future.

He said the plan also best accounted for communities of interest, economic factors and demographic trends.

Each ward would contain three councillors.

The City received a letter from the Local Government Advisory Board in August calling for a review of its wards to ensure balanced councillor representation.

Four proposals were put out for public comment. The City will submit option one to the advisory board, which will then provide advice to Local Government Minister Paul Miles.

Changes would need to be made by mid-2017 befire local government elections in October.