Boundary riders

By EMMA SUN
MOUNT Evelyn community groups are calling for council ward boundary changes to be delayed until after the council elections.
The move comes after the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) had given residents an extra month to make submissions on an amended report for the Billanook and Chandler ward boundary changes.
The Friends of Mount Evelyn Aqueduct recently wrote a letter to the VEC arguing against the proposed changes, which include moving part of Mount Evelyn from McKillop Road and Monbulk Road.
President and Mount Evelyn resident Jan Heald said about a quarter of the 6.4 kilometre Aqueduct Linear Trail, which runs from Hunter Road through to York Road, will be split into the Chandler Ward should the change go ahead.
“The Mount Evelyn Aqueduct Trail Reserve is of historical and heritage value to the town of Mount Evelyn and it also contains important indigenous flora and fauna,” she said.
“The Friends of Mount Evelyn Aqueduct have always received strong support from our local councillor in preserving and protecting this important part of Mount Evelyn.”
She argued that residents had not been given enough time to submit to the addendum report under the Local Government Act 1989, which said “any person may make a written submission by the date specified in the notice, being a date not less than 28 days after the notice is published.”
“As this did not occur until April 3, the ‘not less than 28 days’ would make that closing date for submissions May 1 and that April 18 is only half of the time allowed for under the relevant legislation,” she said.
Franc Smith from the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA) said it was fantastic the VEC had taken locals’ opinions into account, but asked for the process to be delayed due to the legislative requirements.
“We’re not asking for it to be abandoned but that due respect is given to legislative requirements.”
Despite the objections, the VEC has also received a number of submissions in support of the changes.
Mount Evelyn resident Geoff Brown said the move was a great idea.
“I would strongly agree with the boundary changes in the Yarra Ranges and how it will happen, as the wards are too big now and the councillors can’t handle what (they) have.”
Richard and Bev Doig of Mount Evelyn also expressed their support for the changes, stating they had “merit”.
Public submissions for the report are now closed.
The VEC stated the Subdivision Review Report will be released on Thursday 26 April, which will contain a full discussion of all the issues that have been brought up.