Central Coast Council will recommend to the Office of Local Government that the long-touted referendum on the number of councillors be conducted along with the next election of councillors next September.
Administrator, Rik Hart, said this approach would reduce the cost and inconvenience imposed on the community.
Hart said the move would result in an overall saving to Council of $1.4M.
“The decision to hold a public inquiry meant that the local government election scheduled for the Central Coast in September 2021 needed to be postponed until late 2022,” he said at Council’s October 26 meeting.
“Whilst my door has always been open to the community in my role as the Administrator, I believe it’s important to restore democracy for the Central Coast region with a representation of councillors.
“I will now write to the Minister for Local Government recommending that the next general election for Central Coast Region be conducted in September/October 2022 in conjunction with the Constitutional Referendum, with the results of the referendum to apply in the 2024 local government election.”
The referendum will ask Central Coast voters to determine the following question: Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from 15 to nine? This will result in three Wards with each Ward electing three councillors.
The community can stay up to date with the status and news around the referendum on Council’s website.
Terry Collins