WYNDHAM residents have expressed opposition to a Victorian Electoral Commission proposal to rename Truganina ward.
The VEC is considering renaming the ward under a review of Wyndham’s electoral representation, seeking to remove confusion between the ward and the suburb.
It has also proposed increasing the number of Wyndham councillors from nine to 11.
The VEC suggests the ward be renamed ‘Aircraft’, referring to its Royal Australian Air Force heritage. But the suggestion has failed to gain the support of residents and the council.
There were eight submissions to the VEC review, half of which did not support the new name. Two submitters suggested the ward be named ‘RAAF’, while another suggested naming it after a prominent RAAF pilot. The council wants it to remain as Truganina.
There was only one objection to a proposal to increase the number of councillors.
At a public hearing last Wednesday, mayor Kim McAliney told deputy electoral commissioner Liz Williams Truganina was the most appropriate name for the ward.
She said the council felt that Aircraft represented just one part of the ward.
Greens Wyndham branch spokesman Bro Sheffield-Brotherton also urged Ms Williams to find an alternative.
“Aircraft doesn’t resonate. For most people Aircraft is a pithy little station on the edge of the municipality,” he said.
Ms Williams said the council could consider changing any ward name the VEC allocated if it did not like it.
Nine councillors from three wards represent Wyndham city but the VEC has proposed an 11-councillor model – two four-member wards and one ward represented by three councillors.
The Victorian branch of the Proportional Representation Society raised concerns about the distribution fairness of the VEC’s suggested model.
The VEC releases its final report on April 4.
