A ratepayers group is urging residents in the Serpentine Jarrahdale to take the time to look over a review of the shire’s ward boundaries before it is too late to have a say.
Residents have until December 7 to submit their submissions to council in regards to five factors, which include community of interest, physical and demographic features, demographic trends, economic factors and the ration of councillors to electors in the various wards.
Depending on the feedback received council could look at changing or reducing the number of elected members representing a ward, decreasing or increasing the number of wards by changing existing ward boundaries or abolishing wards altogether.
Currently the southern ward, which represents the suburbs of Oldbury, Mundijong, Whitby, Karrakup, Mardella, Hopeland, Serpentine, Keysbrook and Jarrahdale has three councillors and the northwest ward of Cardup, Oakford and Darling Downs has three councillors.
The north ward, which represents 8817 electors in Byford has four councillors.
Serpentine Jarrahdale Ratepayers and Residents Association president Alan Clarkson said it was most important that all residents read the discussion papers to enable them to make an informed submission to the council.
“We need to have a balanced representation in all wards and not have over representation in one area,” he said.
“Serpentine Jarrahdale is more than one or two towns.
“It is vital that any change in the wards and numbers of councillors per ward is configured to give equal representation.”
The Local Government Advisory Board encourages council to complete its review of the ward boundaries within an eight-year period however where councils are experiencing rapid changes in population like many areas in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale it recommends the review be completed more frequently.
The Serpentine Jarrahdale council last conducted a review of the ward boundaries in 2010 for the 2011 Local Government ordinary elections.
