With submissions closing shortly for the Maroondah representation review, the Maroondah Journal has reported on council attempts to disregard community feedback on the review process.

Cr Alex Makin said not everyone agreed with the council’s view.

“Community consultation held in November last year made it clear that the community supported a new ward structure including multi-member wards.

These workshops were conducted by an independent facilitator who stated the following findings based on the feedback received:

• Proportional representation was viewed as a far fairer system,
• Single member wards drew little support,
• No views were expressed that under single member wards Councillors would be more accessible or be closer to the community,
• Multi-member wards – this structure was favoured by residents,

While it can be argued that the sample size of these workshops was low, the onus was on council to verify these findings and not simply to disregard them.

“It’s simply another tactic of the closed-door mentality that operates in Maroondah.”

It is unfortunate that far too many decisions within Maroondah are being made behind closed doors rather than being debated in open council.