TWO councillors face losing their jobs under an electoral representation review of Golden Plains Shire Council.
The Victorian Electoral Commission yesterday released its preliminary report into the shire and has put forward its two preferred options for change.
Golden Plains Shire chief executive Rod Nicholls reacted angrily to the proposals and described one of the models as a "political disaster".
"The VEC weren't particularly interested in any other view," Mr Nicholls said.
Currently Golden Plains has nine councillors elected in nine ridings. Under the two new options:
The council would have seven councillors elected from across three wards. Three would be elected from the north and south of the shire and one from the central area;
That there be seven councillors elected from an undivided shire.
The VEC received five submissions about the changes. Golden Plains Shire Council argued against any need for change in its submission.
Mr Nicholls said giving the southern and northern areas of the shire more councillors would only undo work the council had done in representing it.
"It's a political disaster because it will enhance the north and south elements," he said.
"The current structure we have had since 1996 has operated extremely well and drawn the two ends of the municipality together and also has achieved an awful lot in that period since 1996 and that had no bearing on the VEC."
However the VEC said existing councillors had only been retained because of a "lack of choice".
The VEC noted that apart from the council's first elections in 1996 (after amalgamation) many have been uncontested.
"In 1999 eight of the nine ridings were uncontested, while in 2002 and 2004 six ridings were uncontested. "A shift to multi-councillor wards would give voters more choice, and also enable improved representation," the report said.
Residents have until 5pm on Thursday, July 26 to make submissions.
Councillors' jobs on the line
