Mayor ‘strongly objects’ to move to divide Palmerston councillors into wards
As the City of Palmerston grows, moves are afoot to change how the region is represented by councillors. While the idea has merit for authorities, the mayor has a different stance. Vote in our poll.
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A move to split the City of Palmerston into wards is being resisted, with the proposal expected to divide the “relatively homogeneous” satellite city.
Palmerston’s rapid growth has fuelled the move to split the city into wards.
The idea was proposed by the Local Government Representation Review Committee.
In a letter against the proposal, Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said there was no “defensible reason” to introduce wards within the municipality.
She also said there was no evidence of dissatisfaction among ratepayers with the current structure.
“Council is unaware of a desire by the Palmerston community to transition to a ward structure and is not aware of any dissatisfaction with the current system,” she said.
“Council’s 2021 community satisfaction survey indicated the highest community satisfaction since 2012, and (the) introduction of wards was not identified by the community at this time.
“This supports the reasoning that the current structure of no wards is providing the community with best representation.
“Council concedes that for some local government areas, representation in wards is appropriate to support regional distinctions, such as distinct towns, communities, language and cultural groups, travel time, distances, and communications.
“These factors do not apply in Palmerston where the community is not geographically separated, travel times are less than 15 minutes from boundary to boundary and the population is relatively homogenous.”
The seven elected councillors equally represent the municipality, which extends from Pinelands to Mitchell.
From July 2023, the council’s boundary will include Elrundie and Tivendale and parts of East Arm, Wishart and Berrimah.
The council is also seeking to include the Northcrest development within its boundary.
“The population in this council area has increased by 10 per cent since 2016 to 37,247 people,” a committee report said.
“This is the highest population growth rate of any council area in the NT.
“It should be noted that (this number) does not include population figures for the newly incorporated areas, meaning the population of Palmerston is likely to be greater.”
The committee said wards should be considered for areas that are urban or closely settled, and have an enrolled population that’s likely to reach 18,000.
“A ward structure allows electors to select candidates that represent them at a more localised level,” the report reads.
“It would also reduce the number of electors required to vote and the cost of by-elections.
“The introduction of wards is likely to reduce the number of candidates on each ballot paper and the unintentional informal voting rate.”
The City of Darwin is divided into four wards, each of which are represented by three elected members.
Public submissions on the proposal can be made through the NT Electoral Commission website by 4 November 2022.
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