The Victorian Government has passed the City of Greater Geelong Amendment bill 2011, which will see the people of Greater Geelong directly elect their mayor at the 2012 local government elections.

 

Giving the people of Greater Geelong the opportunity to directly elect their mayor is an important step in the evolution of Victoria's second most populous city," Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.

 

"The final model that was adopted for the City of Greater Geelong Amendment Bill 2011 was based on extensive consultation with the people of Greater Geelong.

 

"Our comprehensive consultation process found there was overwhelming support for the direct election of the mayor whereas people were more ambiguous about the direct election of the deputy mayor.

 

As a consequence it was decided to retain the current system whereby the deputy mayor is elected by their fellow councillors on a rotating basis," Mrs Powell said.

 

The 12 individual wards for Greater Geelong will also be retained for this year's local government elections on October 27, which will see the number of councillors, including the mayor, increase to 13. After 2012 the Electoral Commission will conduct an electoral representation review to recommend arrangements to return the number of elected members to 12 – i.e. 11ordinary councillors and the mayor.

 

The Mayor of Greater Geelong will have additional powers – he or she will be able to appoint councillors to chair special committees of the Council as well as being able to appoint councillors to represent the Council on other bodies. A candidate for mayor is precluded from also running for a position of ward councilor.