Gathering support for a Poll

Do you want a poll to express your views on changes required at MidCoast Council?

With the deferral of the NSW local government elections to the 4 December 2021 there is now time to consider/reconsider MCC topical issues. What would you like to be in the poll?

Seeking community feedback on a number of issues that are relevant and are issues that have concerned the electors for some time, generally since amalgamation in 2016.

This can be done by a number of means. A councillor can raise to a council meeting, public can raise petition. letters from electors, plus lodge and attend the public forum on the morning of a council meeting.

MCC have until noon 25 October 2021 to notify the NSW Electoral Commission of their request to conduct the poll(s) at the same time as the scheduled councillors election on 4 December 2021. Council can take the initiative and get this feedback to enable this to move forward or at least be quashed for good, either way the people have spoken.

This covered in;

Local Government Act 1993

Part 3–Expressions of community opinion

.Division 1–Council polls

14 Council polls

A council may take a poll of electors for its information and guidance on any matter.

Division 2–Constitutional referendums

15 What is a constitutional referendum?

A constitutional referendum is a poll initiated by a council in order to give effect to a matter referred to in section 16.

16 What matters must be dealt with at a constitutional referendum?

A council may not do any of the following unless approval to do so has been given at a constitutional referendum—

(a) divide its area into wards or abolish all wards in its area,

(b) change the basis on which the mayor attains office (that is, by election by the councillors or by election by the electors),

(c) increase or decrease the number of councillors in accordance with the limits under section 224,

(d) change the method of ordinary election of councillors for an area divided into wards.

(e) (Repealed)