With the local government elections just over three months away, Central Coast Council is setting things in motion and will hold two information sessions in coming weeks.
As the region prepares to welcome back elected councillors, voters will also be required to vote in a referendum on polling day, September 14, to determine the future number of Central Coast councillors and wards.
Voters will be asked to respond yes or no to the referendum question: Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast councillors from 15 to nine?
If the constitutional referendum result is positive, it will result in just nine councillors being elected at the election in 2028, with the number of wards in the region reduced from five to three.
Boundaries of the three new wards would be determined only if the referendum question is passed.
Council resolved to hold the referendum in 2021 following community consultation where 78 per cent of respondents indicated they would support a reduction in the number of councillors and wards.
“However, the referendum was postponed until the 2024 Council elections due to the public inquiry and Council being in administration,” CEO David Farmer said.
“As we move towards a re-elected council, Council will have run three consecutive surpluses and repaid $100M of its emergency debt.
“Importantly also, we have a comprehensive councillor induction program to ensure our newly elected representatives are fully informed and supported to carry out their roles effectively.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart, who will bow out following the September election, is urging the community to read and understand the referendum’s key arguments for and against the reduction in the number of councillors to inform their vote and influence how they would like to be represented in the future.
“This important decision is in the community’s hands, with the outcome of the referendum coming into effect from the 2028 Council term,” he said.
Council has held two information sessions on the election and referendum, with a further two sessions now confirmed.
These include a session on Saturday, June 22, hosted by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, which will focus on encouraging women to consider standing for local government.
The Getting Women Elected session will be held from 1pm-4pm at the Erina Centre, Erina.
To register, search Getting women elected at www.eventbrite.com.au
Another session will be held from 6pm-8pm on Tuesday, July 16, at Erina Trust Community Hall, 27 Karalta Rd, Erina.
To register, search Central Coast Council at www.eventbrite.com.au
All information about the coming election, including polling locations and candidate information can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website in the lead-up to the elections.
Information about the constitutional referendum and councillor information sessions, can be found by searching for ‘election and referendum’ at www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
The election itself will be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission, which will include information including candidate profiles and voting options on its website.
If reducing the wards from 5 to 3 will get The Woy Woy Peninsula a better deal than it has had in the past 45 years that I have lived here then I am all for it. But is there any guarantee that Council monies will not be spent mainly in Terrigal as usual?