Mayor Shane Van Styn submits personal electoral boundary submission, calling for Geraldton seat change

Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn has sent a personal submission to the Office of Electoral Distribution Commissioners opposing the exclusion of Kalbarri from the seat of Geraldton, while otherwise strongly supporting the proposed boundary changes. A proposed redraw of boundaries for the 2025 State election will see the North West Central electorate, currently one of the State’s biggest electorates, abolished to accommodate a new seat in Perth’s south-east. The change would mean the seat, currently held by Nationals MP Merome Beard, would be absorbed into surrounding electorates including Moore and Geraldton, a decision most rural leaders feel will diminish regional representation. Moore would be renamed Mid West. The current seat of Geraldton includes its urban centre and a rural area out to Eradu and across to Walkaway. The proposed changes will see the seat gain the remaining Greater Geraldton region, the Shire of Chapman Valley and parts of the Shire of Northampton, drawing a line at the Murchison River that splits the shire and places Kalbarri into the seat of the Mid West. Mr Van Styn made a personal submission strongly supporting the changes, with the exclusion of Kalbarri from the seat of Geraldton being his only objection. The submission states that Geraldton served as a regional capital to Chapman Valley and Northampton shires and provided a great deal of services and facilities that sustain their existence. Mr Van Styn said including the two shires in the seat of Geraldton was a “very positive outcome”, however splitting local government areas should be avoided where possible. “I think including Northampton and Chapman Valley in the seat of Geraldton is actually positive to be honest, I just don’t see why you wouldn’t include Kalbarri in there at the same time,” he said. “I don’t know why you think it’s OK to keep the rural folk of Northampton with us and not the coastal urban area of Kalbarri. “The numbers are perfectly within tolerance . . . so why not just do it and be done with it so the three shires could be kept as a whole.” Northampton Shire president Liz Sudlow said the proposed redraw was disappointing, particularly in that it continued to split the shire’s townships into two electorates. “It’s important that the Shire of Northampton be reunited,” she said. “This is particularly important for the potential future growth expected with green energy projects in our region.” Proposal submissions can be made before August 21, with a final decision set to be confirmed before December. Visit www.boundaries.wa.gov.au