Elector Representation Review

Have your say on Council's future ward structure and Elected Member composition.

Background

The Local Government Act 1999 (the Act) indicates that Council must undertake a ‘representation review’ to determine whether its community would benefit from an alteration to its composition or ward structure. This generally occurs every eight years as set by the Minister. The District Council of Grant is required to undertake and complete this representation review between April 2024 and April 2025.

The District Council of Grant currently comprises a total of ten Elected Members; one Mayor and nine Ward Councillors. One Councillor represents the Tarpeena Ward, one Councillor represents the Port MacDonnell Ward and seven Councillors represent the Central Ward.

This composition has been in effect since 1999/2000.

The below table shows the current distribution of electors between the existing wards:

What is proposed?

Council agreed at its Special Meeting on Tuesday 3 September 2024 to present a no ward structure / one Council area to the District Council of Grant community which comprises ten Elected Members; one Mayor and nine Area Councillors.

Given Council's existing Central Ward contains approximately 76% of the Council area and is represented by seven of the nine ward Councilors, it was identified that the current ward structure is unequal.

The District Council of Grant wants to ensure that communities from smaller townships and localities are adequately represented on Council. It is proposed that Elected Members will represent the Council area as a whole and all the communities (large and small) ensuring fair and adequate representation of the community, if wards are abolished.

Find out more

• Read the Elector Representation Review Report
• Attend a Drop-In Session:
  • In person: Thursday 10 October at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport | 5:00pm to 6:00pm
  • In person: Thursday 10 October at the Port MacDonnell Community Complex | 7:00pm to 8:00pm
  • *Online: Wednesday 16 October via Microsoft Teams | 5:00pm to 6:00pm
    • Registration is essential for the online session and encouraged for the in person sessions. Register your attendance here.

*Please note this Drop-In Session is dependent on online registration numbers.

Have your say

District Council of Grant community members are invited to have their say on the proposed future ward structure and composition. Feedback can be submitted by:

• Completing the online feedback form below (registration / account sign-in required)
• Emailing info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
• Writing a letter or completing a hard copy feedback form address to the District Council of Grant, PO Box 724, Mount Gambier SA 5290

Community members who submit feedback may speak to their submission in person at a Council forum or meeting. Those wishing to do so must indicate this in their written submission.

Submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm Tuesday 22 October 2024.

Next steps

Council will review feedback submitted during the consultation period at an Elected Member workshop in late October 2024. A summary of this feedback will then be presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Monday 18 November 2024. Based on community feedback, a recommendation will also be presented at this meeting to endorse the proposed no ward structure and associated composition or adjust the ward structure and composition for a secondary consultation.

Pending outcomes detailed above, the final ward structure and composition will be submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Australia for review and approval.