Rob Pyne pushes for new divisional boundaries and makes a call on his council career

Division 2 councillor Rob Pyne is concerned Cairns’ population growth will have serious consequences at the next election if left unaddressed, as he makes a surprise announcement.

Division 2 councillor Rob Pyne has called for a redistibution of electoral boundaries on the city’s southside ahead of the next election, while calling time on his own council career.

Cr Pyne said he was concerned votes within certain divisions could count for less than others at the next election in 2024, citing divisional population disparity, particularly driven by the bulging population in Cairns southern suburbs.

In a recent letter penned to the Local Government Change Commission, Cr Pyne requested a review, stating he believed Divisions 1 and 2 were now “over quota”.

Division 2 councillor Rob Pyne said he does not intend to recontest at the 2024 election. Picture: Brendan Radke.

“You just have to go for a drive out to Mount Peter and see … where the population is growing,” Cr Pyne said.

“Council knows that growth is happening for a whole lot of reasons, including development applications. I’m sure the council and the Change Commission can look into what’s happening.

“We’ve decided the southside is where we’re going to grow our city … let’s follow that up with redistribution. I would see the Division 1 boundary moving southward. Division 2 would move south as well to include Bentley Park and all of Edmonton … this would have a flow-on effect.

Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said he supported Cr Pyne in his request for a review. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I think it should be one vote one value. If every division has got the same amount of people, that’s how it’s going to work.”

Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said he supported Cr Pyne’s request for a review.

“I do not anticipate a big change, but there will be growth in Divisions 1 and 8 in my view,” Cr Moller said.

“The oxymoron of divisional representation is that, first and foremost, all councillors have a duty to represent the interests of the entire Cairns Regional Council area over and above their divisions, but rely on the vote of the residents of those divisions to be elected.

Cr Pyne is concerned the growing population of southern suburbs such as Bentley Park requires a review of divisional boundaries. Picture: Brendan Radke

“My interest in obtaining an update on population growth is to be able to formally adopt Mount Peter as a suburb of Cairns. As there is a thriving Mount Peter community that is growing, I would like to have signage acknowledging the suburb … (we) will be progressing that through Council when we return next week.”

Mayor Bob Manning played-down Cr Pyne’s concerns.

“I’ve not seen any figures to back it up one way or the other, and I don’t know where Robbie gets his figures from,” Cr Manning said.

“I think the people who have been running elections in Queensland for a number of years are competent at what they’re doing. I don’t think we need to start lecturing them.”

If successful, the adjustment of divisional boundaries would form part of Cr Pyne’s legacy as a Cairns councillor, as he confirmed he will stand down from his Division 2 seat in 2024.

“It’s not my intention to recontest Division 2,” he said.

Originally published as Rob Pyne pushes for new divisional boundaries and makes a call on his council career