Gold Coast council election 2016: Your guide to where and how to cast your vote
HERE’S your division by division guide to where and how to cast your vote in the Gold Coast City Council election on Saturday.
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FIND your nearest polling booth in our division by division guide to where to vote on the Gold Coast.
DIVISION 1
ALBERTON
Alberton St Peter’s Lutheran Hall, Alberton Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
CEDAR CREEK
Cedar Creek Cedar Creek State School, Beaudesert-Beenleigh Rd
COOMERA
Coomera Coomera State School, Beattie Rd
UPPER COOMERA
Coomera Springs State School, Old Coach Rd
JACOBS WELL
Jacobs Well Community Centre, 27 Bay St
ORMEAU
Norfolk Village State School, Halfway Dr
Ormeau State School, Mirambeena Dr
Ormeau Woods State High School, 148 Goldmine Rd
PIMPAMA
Pimpama State School, 9 Hotham Creek Rd
UPPER COOMERA
Highland Reserve State School, Reserve Rd
North Upper Coomera State College, 137 Reserve Rd
WOONGOOLBA
Woongoolba State School, Stapylton-Jacobs Well Rd
DIVISION 2
ARUNDEL
Arundel State School, 185 Napper Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
COOMERA
Coomera State School, Beattie Rd
OXENFORD
Gaven State School, Universal St
HELENSVALE
Helensvale State School, Lindfield Rd
Helensvale State High School, Helensvale Rd
OXENFORD
Oxenford State School, Michigan Dr,
UPPER COOMERA
Highland Reserve State School, Reserve Rd
North Upper Coomera State College, 137 Reserve Rd,
DIVISION 3
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
COOMBABAH
Coombabah State School Activities Centre, 164-172 Oxley Dr
COOMERA
Coomera State School, Beattie Rd,
Coomera Rivers State School, 81 — 87 Finnegan Way
HOPE ISLAND
Banksia Park Hall, 27 Crescent Ave
COOMBABAH
Paradise Lakes Marj Shipman Community Hall, 91 Hansford Rd
PARADISE POINT
Paradise Point Community Centre, Off Falkinder Ave
RUNAWAY BAY
Runaway Bay Community Centre, Lae Dr
DIVISION 4
ARUNDEL
Arundel State School, 185 Napper Rd
Arundel East Presbyterian Church, 132 Allied Dr
BIGGERA WATERS
Biggera Waters State School Activities Centre, Coombabah Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
COOMBABAH
Coombabah State School Activities Centre, 164-172 Oxley Dr
Coombabah State High School, Pine Ridge Rd,
LABRADOR
Harley Park Labrador Senior Citizens Hall, 370 Marine Pde
Labrador State School, Imperial Pde
COOMBABAH
Paradise Lakes Marj Shipman Community Hall, 91 Hansford Rd
RUNAWAY BAY
Runaway Bay Community Centre, Lae Dr
DIVISION 5
NERANG
GCCC Bicentennial Hall Auditorium, Nerang-Southport Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
OXENFORD
Gaven State School, Universal St
NERANG
Nerang PYC Police Youth Club, Cayuga Rd
Nerang State High School, Weedons Rd
OXENFORD
Oxenford State School, Michigan Dr
PACIFIC PINES
Pacific Pines Primary School, Santa Isobel Boulevard
HIGHLAND PARK
William Duncan State School, Explorers Way
DIVISION 6
ARUNDEL
Arundel State School, 185 Napper Rd
ASHMORE
Ashmore State School, Currumburra Rd
Trinity Primary School Hall, 251 Cotlew St
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
LABRADOR
Harley Park Labrador Senior Citizens Hall, 370 Marine Pde
Labrador State School, Imperial Pde
SOUTHPORT
Community Centre, 6 Lawson St
Southport State High School Assembly Hall, Brooke Ave
Baptist Church, Cnr Nerang & Eugaree streets
DIVISION 7
BENOWA
Benowa State School, Benowa Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
BUNDALL
Evandale Gold Coast City Council Chambers, Bundall Rd.
ISLE OF CAPRI
Surfers Paradise State School, Hobgen St
KEEBRA PARK
Keebra Park State High School, Anne St
MAIN BEACH
The Pavillion, The Esplanade
SOUTHPORT EAST
Community Centre, 6 Lawson St
Baptist Church, Cnr Nerang & Eugaree streets
DIVISION 8
ASHMORE
Ashmore State School, Currumburra Rd
Trinity Primary School Hall, 251 Cotlew St
BENOWA
Benowa State School, Benowa Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
CARRARA
Emmanuel College, Birmingham Rd
NERANG
Earle Haven Retirement Village — The Club House, 62 Lawrence Dr
MERRIMAC
Merrimac State School, Boowaggan Rd
NERANG
Nerang PYC Police Youth Club, Cayuga Rd
ROBINA
St Vincents Primary School, Fairway Dr
Robina State High School, Investigator Dr
HIGHLAND PARK
William Duncan State School, Explorers Way
DIVISION 9
MUDGEERABA
Bonogin Catholic Church Mudgeeraba, 2A Wallaby Dr
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
GILSTON
Gilston State School, 588 Worongary Rd
MUDGEERABA
Mudgeeraba Special School, School St
Mudgeeraba State School, Old Coach Rd
NERANG
Nerang PYC Police Youth Club, Cayuga Rd
Nerang State High School, Weedons Rd
REEDY CREEK
Kings Christian Centre, 68 Gemvale Rd
ROBINA TOWN
Robina State High School, Investigator Dr
SPRINGBROOK
Springbrook State School, 2327 Springbrook Rd
HIGHLAND PARK
William Duncan State School, Explorers Way
DIVISION 10
BENOWA
Benowa State School, Benowa Rd
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
BROADBEACH
Broadbeach State School, Alexandra Ave
BUNDALL
Evandale Gold Coast City Council Chambers, Bundall Rd
ISLE OF CAPRI
Surfers Paradise State School, Hobgen St
MERMAID BEACH
Mermaid Beach Community Centre, 2439 Gold Coast Highway
MERMAID WATERS
Albert Waterways Community Centre, cnr Hooker and Sunshine boulevards
Merrimac State High School, Dunlop Court,
MIAMI
Miami State School, Oceanic Dr
BROADBEACH WATERS
Moana Park Broadbeach Waters Kindergarten and Pre-school, 12 Kalimna Dr,
DIVISION 11
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
BURLEIGH WATERS
Burleigh Waters Community Centre, 131 Christine Ave
ROBINA
Robina Town
Robina State School, Killarney Ave (entry via Glen Eagles Dr)
Robina State High School, Investigator Dr
CLEAR ISLAND WATERS
St Vincents Primary School, Fairway Dr
VARSITY LAKES
Varsity State College, Christine Ave
Varsity College Middle and Senior Campus, Sports and Arts Centre, Assembly Dr
Varsity Lakes Community Centre, (off Mattocks Rd) Lyn Muller Lane.
DIVISION 12
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
BURLEIGH
Burleigh Heads State School, Lower Gold Coast Highway
RSL Hall, Sixth Avenue
Burleigh Waters Community Centre, 131 Christine Ave
West Burleigh Church of Christ, 174 West Burleigh Rd
MERMAID BEACH
Mermaid Beach Community Centre, 2439 Gold Coast Highway
MIAMI
Miami State High School, Gold Coast Highway
Miami State School, Oceanic Dr
DIVISION 13
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
ELANORA
Elanora State School, K P McGrath Dr
Elanora State High School, Avocado St
PALM BEACH
Palm Beach Share-N-Care Centre, Tenth Ave
Palm Beach North Palm Beach State School, Nineteenth Ave
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School, Thrower Dr
REEDY CREEK
Kings Christian Centre, 68 Gemvale Rd
TALLEBUDGERA
Tallebudgera State School, 492 Guineas Creek Rd
VARSITY LAKES
Varsity Lakes Community Centre, (off Mattocks Rd) Lyn Muller Lane
DIVISION 14
BRISBANE
Brisbane City Hall, Sandgate Room, 64 Adelaide St
BURLEIGH
West Burleigh Church of Christ, 174 West Burleigh Rd
COOLANGATTA
Coolangatta Senior Citizens Hall, 2 Gerrard St
KIRRA
Coolangatta State School, Stapylton St,
CURRUMBIN
Currumbin State School, Phillip St
CURRUMBIN VALLEY
Currumbin Valley State School, 1223 Currumbin Creek Rd,
CURRUMBIN WATERS
Elanora Community Centre, 26 Galleon Way
ELANORA
Elanora State School, K P McGrath Dr
PALM BEACH
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School, Thrower Dr
TALLEBUDGERA
Tallebudgera State School, 492 Guineas Creek Rd
TALLEBUDGERA VALLEY
Tallebudgera Valley Community Hall, 611 Tallebudgera Creek Rd
TUGUN
Tugun Village Community Centre, 414 Coolangatta Rd
GUIDE TO VOTING
CAN I VOTE?
As long as you are 18 or over, an Aussie citizen, have lived at your address for one month and you are on the electoral roll.
WHY SHOULD I VOTE?
Whoever is elected will spend your rates (more than $2000 a year) on facilities and services in the city.
WHO SHOULD I VOTE FOR?
Make an informed decision by reading their material and what has been reported during the campaign. Would you give away thousands of dollars a year to a stranger?
WHAT TIME CAN I VOTE?
The booths open on Saturday at 8am and close at 6pm. Go mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the crowds.
WHY ARE WE GIVEN PENCILS INSTEAD OF PENS AT THE VOTING BOOTHS?
Because pencils can be re-used, but you can use your own pen.
WHAT AM I VOTING ON?
There are three categories — divisional councillor, mayor and the referendum question on four-year State Government terms. You will be given ballot papers for all three at the polling booth.
WHAT REFERENDUM?
A referendum will be held on the question of whether to change the terms of state governments from three years to four years. Under the change, elections would be held every four years in late October and, if successfully passed, would take effect for the term following the expected 2018 election.
HOW DO I VOTE?
You can number one box only or some boxes or all boxes.
WHAT ARE PREFERENCES?
The first preference or No. 1 vote for each candidate is counted. If none of the candidates get a majority — more than 50 per cent of the vote — preferences are counted.
HOW IS PREFERENCE COUNTING DONE?
By checking the second votes on the candidate who comes last. If this achieves a majority for a candidate, the election is called. This process is continued with all the poorer performing candidates until we have a winner.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T VOTE?
You will receive a failure-to-vote notice and if you can’t explain (apart from religious grounds) you will be fined $140.
CAN I VOTE MORE THAN ONCE?
You can but you will be fined $100.
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