Election battle looms as Gold Coast city electoral boundaries change at 2020 poll

Gold Coast city leaders are set to be pitted against each other in the race for council seats following a seismic change to divisional electoral boundaries. SEE THE MAP

GOLD Coast division boundaries are to undergo a seismic shift that looks set to pit city leaders against each other in the race for council seats.

In the biggest shake-up in more than a decade, boundaries will be heavily redrawn by the Electoral Commission of Queensland in response to the city’s booming population.

One option being considered would see major changes centred on the northern growth corridor to come into effect at the March 28, 2020 election.

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The current council will be up for re-election in March 2020. Photo: Jerad Williams

At least one councillor is already mulling switching divisions following the changes.

Paradise Point councillor Cameron Caldwell is eyeing off a move from Division 3 into Division 4, which under the boundary changes would take in his much of his current area.

“The revised boundaries clearly indicate that the new Division 4 is best suited to my community,” he said yesterday.

Gold Coast Councillor Cameron Caldwell (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“I would be disappointed to lose Hope Island and Coomera under the changes proposed in this draft as they are both areas (with) which I have close affiliation.

“These are only draft boundaries right now but changes are likely.”

Such a move would put him on course for an electoral battle against incumbent Division 4 councillor Kristyn Boulton, who says she has not made any decisions about which seat she would contest.

“Well, 2020 is a long way off and I am not focused on division boundaries as yet. It’s a matter for the Queensland Electoral Commission ultimately,” she said.

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Gold Coast Councillor Kristyn Boulton (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“I am focused on serving my current Division 4 area. It’s large and diverse and ever changing and I am trying to be the best and most effective councillor I can be.”

Changes were triggered because Divisions 1 and 3, representing the fast-growing northern suburbs, were found to have too many eligible voters as their populations increase at dramatic pace while the Broadbeach-based Division 10 had too few.

A draft of the new electoral map.

Under the plan, drawn up by council staff:

* Division 1, represented by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, would be split in half, with Ormeau, Willowvale and other suburbs west of the M1 becoming the new Division 1. The eastern suburbs would be merged with Coomera to create a new Division 3.

* Much of the former Division 3, including Hollywell, Paradise Point and the Sovereign Islands would become the new Division 4, also taking in Coombabah and Biggera Waters.

* The Palm Beach-based Division 13, represented by Daphne McDonald, would be expanded west to take in Bonogin and southern Mudgeeraba, which currently falls into Division 9.

* The division least affected by any boundary charges is Division 11, which takes in Robina and Varsity Lakes.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

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Mayor Tom Tate has warned his colleagues they have a conflict of interest in the redrawing of boundaries and urged them to turn over the decision to council chief executive Dale Dickson.

He said this would avoid any potential for gerrymandering at the 2020 election.

“I support the redistribution of the boundaries to rebalance the population in each council division – they are out of whack and clearly need to be brought back into balance,” he said in a letter to his colleagues.

“If there was ever a significant conflict of interest for every divisional councillor, this is it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Photo by Janek SKARZYNSKI / AFP)

“Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it best with ‘it should be the voters who pick the politicians, not the politicians who pick the voters’.”

According to new electoral commission data, the number of new voters on the Gold Coast has increased 3.96 per cent, or by 14,275 people between June 2017 and November 2018.

The largest growth has been seen in Division 3, which saw a 10.7 per cent jump in voters.

Cr Gates told the Bulletin she was yet to decide which seat she would contest.

“I will be upset about losing any part of Division 1 but I recognise the growth and understand it has to occur,” she said.

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Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I will be guided by the recommendations which will be given to us and then make up my mind about which part of the current Division I will contest.”

The council’s final submission must be sent to the Local Government Minister and Electoral Commissioner by March 1.

It comes more than a decade after the last significant boundary redistribution saw Beenleigh removed from the Gold Coast and transferred to Logan City Council.