City of Greater Geraldton council approves plan to transition down from 12 to eight councillors

The City of Greater Geraldton council has approved a plan to reduce its number of representatives over the next two elections to meet new State Government reforms.

At a meeting on January 31, the council approved a motion which will see the number of councillors reduced from 12 to eight, plus a directly elected mayor, over the next two years.

The council will shrink from 12 to 10 councillors after the upcoming election in October this year, and then from 10 to eight following elections in 2025.

The plan comes in response to reforms announced by the State Government in September 2022, requiring a local government area the size of Geraldton to drop to eight or less councillors.

Other options considered by the council included dropping to four or six councillors, or dropping from 12 to eight over the next election.

A survey listing options of eight, six, or four councillors showed 66.7 per cent of respondents favoured an option with eight councillors.

Cr Robert Hall said two-election transition would give as many councillors as possible the opportunity to fulfil a full term.

“Let’s just do it slow and steady,” he said.

Cr Michael Reymond refused to vote, stating he was protesting against measures he felt were being pushed upon the council by the State Government.

“It is being forced upon us under the guise of reform,” he said.

“It hasn’t really given the ratepayers of Geraldton the opportunity to say what they want.”

Mayor Shane Van Styn said he did not recommend others protest by not voting, as power would be given to the State Government if the council did not make a decision, and that the State Government may choose a less favourable option such as four or six councillors.