PARTS of Melton and Moorabool will be split into five electorates under proposed changes to state electoral boundaries.
Melton and Moorabool suburbs are now divided into three electorates: Melton, Macedon and Ballarat East.
After next year’s state election, Melton and Moorabool residents could be represented by members for Melton, Macedon, Buninyong, Sunbury and Kororoit.
The revisions were among dozens revealed by the Electoral Boundaries Commission last week.
Under Victorian law, electorates should contain equal numbers of voters, not varying by more than 10 per cent from the state average.
If the changes are approved, Diggers Rest will be incorporated into the Sunbury electorate and Macedon will include Toolern Vale, Blackwood and Coimadai.
The Kororoit electorate will take on Mount Cottrell, Ravenhall and Plumpton. The Buninyong electorate will include Ballan, Myrniong, Parwan and Balliang.
Melton Labor MP Don Nardella said that, if elected, he would represent a geographically smaller area. “Melton will lose a lot of country area; it basically becomes more compact,” he said.
“The areas we will lose are terrific communities that I love representing, and that’s the sad part.
“I’ll still continue to represent them. I won’t abandon them. The community in Myrniong is terrific.”
Melton council chief executive Kelvin Tori said the proposed changes weren’t surprising.
“Council understands the size of the city is such that it is not possible for all of the municipality to fall within the same electorate,” he said.
“This is already the case as the city is currently represented by three different members.”
Macedon Ranges council chief executive Peter Johnston said the council would take any changes – the first since 2005 – in its stride.
University of Melbourne lecturer Nick Economou said the proposals were likely to change.
“The boundaries will change and districts have new names, so people need to be aware who they’re voting for,” Dr Economou said.
Submissions to the proposals can be made until July 29.
The final boundaries will be declared by October.
Details: ebc.vic.gov.au
