Adelaide Hills townships set for major state electoral boundary redistribution
A proposed electoral boundary redistribution could shake up South Australia’s 2022 state election and directly impact more than 50 Adelaide Hills towns. SEE THE FULL LIST OF CHANGES
Adelaide Hills
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A redraw of South Australia’s electoral boundaries could see more than 50 Adelaide Hills towns jump to a neighbouring electorate.
A draft redistribution of the state’s electoral boundaries, released by the Electoral Boundaries Commission earlier this month, will see Mount Barker, Mount Barker Springs, and Mount Barker Summit shift from the electorate of Kavel into Hammond.
Paechtown, Piccadilly and a portion of Hahndorf will meanwhile join the seat of Heysen, while Kavel will pick up 37 new localities to meet its residents quota for the 2022 election.
Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick, who is expected to pick up around 12,000 new constituents through the Mount Barker merger said he welcomed the shake up.
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He said the changes were largely driven by a population decline in the regions, requiring a redistribution of boundaries.
“What we’re seeing is that about 3000 voters needed to go in MacKillop and Chaffey to assist them with getting up to the quota, which is just over 6000 and obviously that then effected … my electorate,” Mr Pederick said.
“Then there are massive numbers (of voters) going out right around by boundaries, so Hammond needed to find 12,000 voters, which is why they they’ve done the dog leg into Mount Barker, which certainly suits the numbers issue.
“While I’m sad about losing certain areas, I’m relaxed about it all as it’s interesting to note that two of the fastest growing regional centres in South Australia, being Mount Barker and Murray Bridge, will be linked together and I think that’s an exciting opportunity.”
Member for Kavel Dan Cregan said he was surprised by the proposed changes which would see a major overhaul to his electoral boundaries.
“I am surprised by the changes proposed to electoral boundaries in the Hills and South Australia given the changes made before the last election,” Mr Cregan said.
“However, it is important to note that these are only draft proposals with the final boundaries expected to be released by November.
“At the last electoral redistribution, the draft boundaries announced for Adelaide Hills electorates were nothing like the final boundaries, so we need to wait and see where things land.”
The draft redistribution will impact all voting districts in South Australia, except for Mount Gambier.
It will affect about 240,000 voters with other major adjustments including splitting the city of Port Augusta between the electorates of Giles and Stuart, and shifting the city of Port Pirie from the electorate of Frome into Stuart.