Ward move for residents

By EMMA SUN
PART of Mount Evelyn will be moved from Billanook Ward to Chandler Ward under the final Subdivision Review Report which was released by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) last Thursday.
Residents living in Mount Evelyn in the boxed area between McKillop Road and Monbulk Road will be represented by Chandler Ward in time for October’s council elections should be report be approved by local government minister Jeanette Powell.
Electoral Commissioner Steve Tully said the VEC considered a range of information, including submissions made in response to its Proposed Ward Boundaries and Addendum reports.
“The recommended new ward boundaries have been designed to allow the ‘one vote, one value’ principle to apply at the October local council elections,” he said.
Yarra Ranges Council Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said that while it was not the ideal result, it was great that the VEC took a step back from its original plan to segregate more of Mount Evelyn by using Clegg Road as the boundary.
“It’s not what I wanted and it’s frustrating to know that we couldn’t have access to how the data was configured regarding Billanook being well and truly over (voter numbers) by 2016,” he said.
“I didn’t want to lose any part of it but I have to absolutely congratulate Franc Smith from the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA) in articulating the community interest and the fact that Melba Support Services and the two primary schools remain part of Mt Evelyn’s structure.
“It’s still a good outcome and I’m very pleased that I’ve still got those three very important entities.
“I’m sorry I’ve lost some sections to Chandler (Ward) but at the end of the day the VEC is the umpire and we have to abide by their decision.”
MEEPPA’s Franc Smith said he was disappointed that the VEC decided to cut part of Mount Evelyn but was pleased it took some of his points into account.
“I think that’s a positive but they would never have done that if I hadn’t gone there to a public meeting and sat there with one person with my submission,” he said.
“My whole reason for going there and doing it is I do not want to see Mount Evelyn split again like it has in the past.
“We are the largest township outside the three major activity centres in Lilydale, Chirnside and Mooroolbark and Mount Evelyn’s got a history of people who care about where they live.
“Overall I am disappointed but I am pleased we went the first time and we won back at least another 300 people and, more importantly, we won back some of our traditional centres of learning, which are an integral part of the history of the town.”