Electoral Redistribution affecting Meander Valley

Councillor Andrew Connor today issued a strong rejection of the Australian Electoral Commission’s revised Tasmanian redistribution proposal. A proposal that would put all of Meander Valley’s communities into the Division of Lyons.

Urban areas of Meander Valley Council, namely the suburbs of Hadspen, Prospect Vale, Blackstone Heights and Travellers Rest are currently part of the Bass state and federal electorates, bounded by the South Esk River near Hadspen. Other areas of Meander Valley are in Lyons.

Cr Connor said, “Urban areas of Meander Valley have a more substantial social and economic connection to greater Launceston which sits in Bass, than the vast rural areas of Lyons.”

The proposal cites a shared “community of interest” with others but this would lump urban areas of Launceston in the same electorate as Brighton, Port Arthur and Sheffield. Instead of sharing a community of interest it would drive another wedge between the urban areas of Meander Valley and other parts of the Greater Launceston.

“Most importantly it would cut off Meander Valley’s urban residents from logical representation with the rest of the Launceston urban area in Bass.”

“Rather than using natural boundaries like rivers, this proposal would draw a line down the middle of streets and along back fences, something that simply isn’t necessary in Tasmania. Already Meander Valley Council’s boundary splits streets in Prospect/Prospect Vale, another invisible barrier isn’t welcome.”

In light of the Tasmanian Electoral Commission recently backtracking on a proposal to remove Hadspen from the Legislative Council seat of Launceston, this proposal from the AEC with little support from submissions seems very odd.

“Meander Valley Council has had good success in dealing with members of state and federal government from two electorates and I do not think this change is warranted” he concluded.

Cr Connor urged residents of Greater Launceston to make a submission to the inquiry via the AEC website and make their thoughts known to him, other Councillors and State & Federal members for Bass.
Andrew Connor Councillor Meander Valley Council www.meander.tas.gov.au , www.connor4mvc.org