The NSW State Government recently legislated for elections for Wollongong City Council to be held on 3 September 2011, and for the Local Government Area to be divided into three wards for electoral purposes.
Wollongong City Council has been under Administration since March 2008. The 3 September 2011 elections will see the return of 12 Councillors to be elected across three wards (with four Councillors per ward) and a Lord Mayor to be elected by citizens across the Wollongong Local Government Area.
Council will be elected for a one-off five year term to avoid the cost of another election in 2012. The election will be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission.
The city was previously divided into six wards with two Councillors per ward. Maps of the proposed three wards are on exhibition for public comment from 12 May to 14 June 2011. The new wards must be finalised before 24 June 2011.
Under the legislation each ward must contain a similar number of people, with no more than 10 per cent difference in population of each ward.
Populations for the Proposed Wards are as follows:
Ward 1: 46,304
Ward 2: 46,263
Ward 3: 42,610
The proposed boundaries have been prepared in consultation with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the NSW Electoral Commission.
The three proposed wards aim to minimise changes for voters by grouping previous wards into logical pairs across the northern, central and southern areas of the city.
Maps of the proposed ward boundaries can be viewed in hard copy at Council’s Administration Building at 41 Burelli Street or any of the branch libraries.
The ward maps can be viewed online via the links below:
Ward Maps
Ward Boundary FAQs
Map of proposed wards
Map of proposed Ward 1
Map of proposed Ward 2
Map of proposed Ward 3
An interactive map is also available to check which proposed ward a specific address comes under.
Information Sessions
Council will hold three information sessions on the proposed ward boundaries as follows:
North (proposed Ward 1)
Thirroul Community Centre, Excelsior Hall
Thursday, 26 May, 7-8pm
Central (proposed Ward 2)
Wollongong Town Hall
Wednesday, 1 June, 6-7pm
South (proposed Ward 3)
Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, Laurel Room Heinenger House
Monday, 6 June, 6-7pm
Any person wishing to make a submission on the proposed ward boundaries may do so by completing an online form or by writing to:
The Administrators
Wollongong City Council
Locked Bag 8821
WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500
Submissions must be received by Tuesday, 14 June 2011.
For further information please call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4227 7111.
Dr Collin Gellatly AO | Mr Robert McGregor AM | Mr Richard Colley (B.Com UNSW)
Wollongong City Council Administrators