PLANS to include parts of Bacchus Marsh, Darley and surrounds in a redrawn Melton state electorate have been given a lukewarm reception by Moorabool council.
In a submission to a review of state electoral boundaries, the council also asked that the proposed Buninyong district be called Moorabool, and that all the municipality be included in the new electorate.
Council chief executive Rob Croxford said he didn’t believe Moorabool had a strong synergy with Melton, being more a collection of rural communities than a city.
“We see ourselves as a much smaller player. In terms of resources, Melton is favoured and that’s not a bad thing; it’s because of its size.”
Moorabool and Melton are divided into three electorates: Melton, Macedon and Ballarat East. But under the proposed changes, parts of the two municipalities will be split into five electorates, represented by members for Melton, Macedon, Buninyong, Sunbury and Kororoit.
If the proposals are approved, Macedon will include Toolern Vale, Blackwood and Coimadai, while Buninyong will have Ballan, Myrniong Parwan and Balliang.
In suggesting Buninyong be renamed Moorabool, the council cited precedence from the naming of Ballarat and Melton after municipal areas.
Cr Tom Sullivan said the council’s preference was that all of Moorabool be represented by a single MP. “With our second preference we’d still be split, but at least there’s a synergy between the two instead of three.”
Final boundaries will be declared by October.
