FAQs
- Community of interest;
- Physical and topographic features;
- Demographic trends;
- Economic factors; and
- Ratio of Councillors to electors in the wards.
- Change from a Council elected Mayor to a directly elected Mayor; and
- Reduce from 11 to 9 Councillors by the 2025 Local Government Elections.
- Creating new wards
- Changing ward boundaries
- Abolishing any or all wards
- Changing the name of a district or wards
- Changing the number of offices of Councillor
- Specifying or changing the number of offices of Councillor for a ward
- Council resolving to undertake a ward and representation review;
- Public advertising through a discussion paper for a period of not less than 6 weeks;
- Council considering all submissions and relevant factors before making a final decision;
- Submission of a proposal to the LGAB for consideration and;
- The LGAB submitting a recommendation to the Minister for Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (the Department) for determination.
What are the five criteria used to determine the options presented in the review?
Why is the City conducting another ward review when the last one was completed in 2020?
On 3 July 2022, the Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness and Local Government announced the final package pf proposed local government reforms which are expected to be introduced into parliament in early 2023.
These reform proposals would require the City of Bayswater to:
At its Special Council Meeting of 11 October, Council resolved to move to direct election of the Mayor by 2023 and directed the CEO to conduct a ward boundary and representation review, thereby launching proactive implementation of the proposed reforms.
Why doesn't the discussion document include a three ward option?
As the proposed reforms indicate the Council would need to consist of 8 ward Councillors and a directly elected Mayor by 2025, a three-ward structure is considered less feasible. as it would require one smaller ward with two Councillors and two larger wards with three Councillors each.
However, if it is your view that a three-ward option would be preferable, please inform us in your submission.
Why doesn't the discussion paper include the method of election for the Mayor?
On 20 September 2022 the City received a letter from the Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness and Local Government, informing the City that under the proposed reforms of the Local Government Act 1995, all band 1 and 2 local governments would be required to move to the option of a directly elected Mayor. This Bill is expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2023.
In order to be prepared for this change, Council resolved to change to a directly elected Mayor for the 2023 elections at the Special Council meeting of 11 October 2022.
What is the Local Government Advisory Board's (LGAB) role in this process?
The LGAB is established by the Act and is responsible for considering proposals for changes to district boundaries and ward and representation structures of local governments.
Once the LGAB has considered the City's proposal, it will submit a recommendation to the Minister for Local Government for determination.
What options can I put in my submission?
Options may include:
What are the requirements for a ward review?
The review process involves the following requirements:
The purpose of the local public notice is to inform the community of the proposed review and invite comments and submissions, which will inform the overall review process.