1999 New South Wales Redistribution Final Report: Part One

Updated: 21 November 2011

Redistribution of New South Wales into 50 Electoral Divisions

11 February 2000

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918

Sections 73 and 74

1.1 Determination of the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales

In accordance with section 73 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Act), the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales hereby determines that the boundaries and names of the Electoral Divisions into which the State of New South Wales is to be distributed are as shown on the maps certified by the members of the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales and lodged in file number 2000/0001 at the Principal Office of the Australian Electoral Commission in Canberra. These maps are numbered in the following sequence:

Numbering sequence for maps
Number Division Number Division
NSW1/2000 Banks NSW26/2000 Lowe
NSW2/2000 Barton NSW27/2000 Lyne
NSW3/2000 Bennelong NSW28/2000 Macarthur
NSW4/2000 Berowra NSW29/2000 Mackellar
NSW5/2000 Blaxland NSW30/2000 Macquarie
NSW6/2000 Bradfield NSW31/2000 Mitchell
NSW7/2000 Calare NSW32/2000 Newcastle
NSW8/2000 Charlton NSW33/2000 New England
NSW9/2000 Chifley NSW34/2000 North Sydney
NSW10/2000 Cook NSW35/2000 Page
NSW11/2000 Cowper NSW36/2000 Parkes
NSW12/2000 Cunningham NSW37/2000 Parramatta
NSW13/2000 Dobell NSW38/2000 Paterson
NSW14/2000 Eden-Monaro NSW39/2000 Prospect
NSW15/2000 Farrer NSW40/2000 Reid
NSW16/2000 Fowler NSW41/2000 Richmond
NSW17/2000 Gilmore NSW42/2000 Riverina
NSW18/2000 Grayndler NSW43/2000 Robertson
NSW19/2000 Greenway NSW44/2000 Shortland
NSW20/2000 Gwydir NSW45/2000 Sydney
NSW21/2000 Hughes NSW46/2000 Throsby
NSW22/2000 Hume NSW47/2000 Warringah
NSW23/2000 Hunter NSW48/2000 Watson
NSW24/2000 Kingsford Smith NSW49/2000 Wentworth
NSW25/2000 Lindsay NSW50/2000 Werriwa

The determination of the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales is that the boundaries and names of the Electoral Divisions in New South Wales are as proposed by the Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, except for the changes described later in this Report.

1.2 Process followed by the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales in making its determination

  1. Notice of the Redistribution Committee for New South Wales' proposal was published in the Commonwealth Gazette on 16 July 1999. An insert containing outline maps of the proposed redistribution and inviting objections to the proposal was published with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph on 16 July 1999.
  2. Two hundred and six objections to the Redistribution Committee's proposal were lodged by the deadline of 6pm on Friday 13 August 1999. These objections were made available for public inspection from 9am on 16 August 1999. Sixteen comments on the objections were received by the deadline of 6pm on Friday 27 August 1999. These comments were made available for public inspection from Monday 30 August 1999. A list of the objections and comments received is in Appendix B, and copies of the objections and comments are included on the CD-ROM in Volume 2.
  3. In accordance with section 72(3) of the Act, the augmented Electoral Commission held a public inquiry into objections on 7 October 1999. The inquiry was advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph on 15 September 1999. A list of those persons appearing at the inquiry is in Appendix C and a transcript of the inquiry is included on the CD-ROM in Volume 2.
  4. All objections, comments and supporting documentation tabled at the inquiry were considered by the augmented Electoral Commission during its deliberations.
  5. On 5 November 1999, in accordance with the requirements of section 72(12) of the Act, the augmented Electoral Commission issued a public announcement that it had concluded its deliberations on the new boundaries and names of the 50 Divisions for New South Wales.
  6. This report of the augmented Electoral Commission's determination is published in accordance with sections 73 and 74 of the Act.

1.3 Consideration of objections by the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales

Divisions appearing on Map 1

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Calare, Gwydir, Hunter, New England, Page and Parkes

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received a number of objections to the proposal to unite Wellington Local Government Area (LGA) in Gwydir, and to transfer Rylstone LGA from Calare to Gwydir. There were also objections to the retention of Muswellbrook LGA in Hunter, the transfer of the Brewarrina, Bourke, Yallaroi and part of Warren LGAs to Gwydir and the uniting of Tenterfield LGA in New England.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that given the negative growth rate projected for Gwydir, and the low rates for the neighbouring Divisions of Calare, New England and Parkes, the Redistribution Committee's proposal reflected necessary and appropriate changes for these Divisions.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Cowper and Lyne

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received various objections to the proposed boundary between Cowper and Lyne, some of which offered alternative boundaries. However, to enable Cowper and Lyne to meet quota requirements, each alternative required Kempsey LGA to be split.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the Redistribution Committee had proposed a clearly defined and appropriate boundary between Cowper and Lyne.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Cowper and Page

  1. Nine objections were received to the proposed boundary between these Divisions and various alternatives were offered.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the part of the Clarence River between Grafton and Yamba is a strong and suitable boundary.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Eden-Monaro and Hume

  1. The Australian Labor Party objected to the proposed transfer of the western part of the Yarrowlumla LGA from Hume to Eden-Monaro.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the objections expressed were not sufficient to override the benefits of uniting the Yarrowlumla LGA in Eden-Monaro, as proposed by the Redistribution Committee.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Farrer, Hume, Parkes, Calare and Riverina

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received objections to the placement of Tumut LGA in the proposed Division of Farrer. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the character of Tumut is compatible with the remainder of Farrer, which would otherwise be under quota.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission also received objections to the placement of Gundagai LGA in the proposed Riverina. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that given Gundagai's strong links with Wagga Wagga, it was appropriately placed in Riverina and that the proposed boundaries for Riverina were workable and sensible.
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission received objections to the proposed movement of Weddin LGA from Hume to Parkes; the movement of Cootamundra LGA and Temora LGA from Hume to Riverina, the movement of Cowra LGA from Hume to Calare, the movement of Bland LGA from Hume and Riverina to Parkes and the retention of Carrathool, Hay and Murrumbidgee LGAs in Riverina. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the low growth rates forecast for the western Divisions required some eastward movement of their boundaries, and that the Redistribution Committee's proposal was sound.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Gilmore and Hume

  1. The Liberal Party objected to the splitting of the locality of New Berrima from the remainder of Berrima. The augmented Electoral Commission upheld this objection.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Hume and Macarthur

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received objections to the split of Wollondilly LGA between the proposed Divisions of Hume and Macarthur. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the Redistribution Committee's use of the Nepean River and other physical features as the proposed boundary provided a robust and clear delineation between metropolitan and non-metropolitan NSW, and that the resulting split of Wollondilly LGA was appropriate in the circumstances.

Objection to the proposed Divisions of Lyne and Sydney

  1. An objection from the National Party sought to move Lord Howe Island from the proposed Division of Sydney to the proposed Division of Lyne. The augmented Electoral Commission determined not to uphold this objection in the absence of any direct representations from the people of Lord Howe Island.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Hunter, Newcastle, Lyne and Paterson

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received various objections to the proposed boundaries of the Divisions of Hunter, Newcastle, Lyne and Paterson. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the Redistribution Committee's proposal in relation to these Divisional boundaries appropriately met the legislative criteria and the arguments put forward in objections did not outweigh the logic of the proposal. The augmented Electoral Commission did, however, uphold the objection that the Great Lakes LGA should be united in Paterson.

Objection to the proposed Divisions of Page and Richmond

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission received several objections to the proposed boundaries of the Divisions of Page and Richmond. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the Redistribution Committee's proposal was appropriate to accommodate the high localised growth in the area.

Divisions appearing on Map 2

Objection to the proposed Divisions of Charlton, Dobell, Newcastle, Robertson and Shortland

  1. One objection proposed a significant redrawing of this area. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that, following from the affirmation of the boundaries of the Divisions of Hunter and Newcastle with the Division of Paterson, the remainder of this region as proposed was appropriate.

Divisions appearing on Map 3

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Cook, Cunningham and Hughes

  1. Objections were received regarding the Redistribution Committee's placement of Bundeena and Maianbar in the proposed Division of Cook, the transfer of Helensburgh to Cunningham and the split of the Royal National Park between Cook, Cunningham and Hughes. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the Redistribution Committee's rationale, and the resulting Divisions of Cook, Hughes and Cunningham, were satisfactory and should be supported.

Divisions appearing on Map 4

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Bennelong, Berowra, Bradfield and North Sydney

  1. A number of objections were received in relation to the Redistribution Committee's proposal to move the Hunters Hill LGA from the Division of Bennelong to the Division of North Sydney.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged the strength of the objections which affirmed a closer community of interest between Hunters Hill and Ryde than between Hunters Hill and Lane Cove. However it determined that the objections should not be upheld because of the consequential boundary changes which would be required to meet the numerical requirements in the adjoining Divisions of Berowra, North Sydney and Bradfield. Such changes would have particularly adverse effects on the localities of Chatswood, Normanhurst and Thornleigh.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Berowra and Mitchell

  1. A number of objections were received to the Redistribution Committee's proposal to use the Hornsby LGA boundary as the boundary between the Divisions of Berowra and Mitchell, on the basis that the proposed boundary separated the residents of the Anglican Retirement Villages (in the proposed Division of Berowra) from Castle Hill (in the proposed Division of Mitchell).
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission found merit in the objections and determined that the locality of Castle Hill, including the Anglican Retirement Villages, should be moved to Mitchell. As a consequence, an area of Baulkham Hills LGA, from Middle Dural to Wisemans Ferry, has been moved from Mitchell to Berowra.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Blaxland, Grayndler, Lowe, Reid and Watson

  1. A number of objections were received in relation to the proposed boundaries between these Divisions, including the Redistribution Committee's proposal to move part of Strathfield LGA from Lowe to Blaxland, the proposal to move part of Burwood LGA to Watson and the retention of Haberfield in Lowe.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the proposed boundaries appropriately met the legislative requirements, and that the disadvantages associated with the numerous compensating changes that would be required to accommodate the objections outweighed the merits of the objections.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Fowler, Macarthur, Prospect and Werriwa

  1. An objection was received from the Australian Labor Party to the Redistribution Committee's proposal to move Wakeley from Fowler to Prospect, and to the placement of Miller and part of Cartwright in Werriwa.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that if the objection was upheld, the Division of Werriwa would be too large at 30 June 2003 (with 91 311 projected electors, 3.95% over quota). It determined that the consequential boundary changes required to uphold the objection were such as to outweigh the merits of the objection.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Chifley, Greenway, Mitchell and Parramatta

  1. An objection was received from the Liberal Party, seeking the use of the M2 as the northern boundary of Parramatta.
  2. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that while motorways can make excellent boundaries, in this case, the compensating changes to Chifley, Greenway and Mitchell would dilute the community of interest throughout the proposed Divisions. Consequently, the objection was not upheld.

Objections to the proposed Divisions of Kingsford Smith and Sydney

  1. The Australian Labor Party objected to the apparent exclusion of part of Kensington from the proposed Kingsford Smith. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that the part in question had in fact been moved to Kingsford Smith in the Redistribution Committee's proposal, but this move had not been properly reflected in the statistical summaries. The appropriate correction has been made in this report.

Objection to the proposed Divisions of North Sydney and Warringah

  1. One objection was received advocating the transfer of the Mosman LGA from Warringah to North Sydney. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the current boundaries were appropriate, both in terms of meeting numerical requirements and community of interest.

Objection to the proposed Divisions of Sydney and Wentworth

  1. One objection was received to the use of the LGA boundary along Oxford Street as the divisional boundary between Sydney and Wentworth. Moore Park Road was suggested as an alternative boundary. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the community of interest claims did not override the continuing appropriateness of the existing boundary.

Names of proposed Division

  1. The Liberal Party objected to the name of the proposed Division of Berowra, suggesting that it be renamed McMahon to honour the former Prime Minister, the late Sir William McMahon. While the augmented Electoral Commission recognised that it would be appropriate to name a division after Sir William when a suitable opportunity arises, it determined that it would not be appropriate to change the name of the Division of Berowra, therefore the objection was not upheld.
  2. One objection was received to the names of 13 proposed Divisions. The Commission noted that the objection sought an extensive renaming reliant on geographical names. Another objection suggested changes to the names of North Sydney and Eden-Monaro on the grounds that divisional names should be one word. The augmented Electoral Commission endorsed the Redistribution Committee's practice of following the guidelines for the naming of federal electoral divisions (see Appendix D).
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission confirmed the Redistribution Committee's assessment that the proposed Divisions can be readily identified with the existing 50 Divisions and determined to retain the names of the existing Divisions, while removing the hyphen from the spelling of the name 'Kingsford Smith'.
  4. In addition, the augmented Electoral Commission agreed that the name of the Division of Macarthur should be considered to honour Elizabeth Macarthur (1769–1850) as well as John Macarthur (1767–1834), in recognition of both of their contributions to the development of New South Wales. The Division of Macarthur was named after Captain Macarthur when first proclaimed in 1949.

Divisions of Lindsay and Macquarie

  1. Whilst no objection was lodged, it was brought to the augmented Electoral Commission's attention that 14 electors (projected to be 30 at 30 June 2003) in the proposed Division of Macquarie were isolated from the rest of the Division, and so these electors have been moved to the Division of Lindsay.

Displacement of electors

  1. Under the Redistribution Committee's proposal, the number of electors that would be transferred to a different Division was 429 522. The changes adopted by the augmented Electoral Commission alter that number to 429 563, or approximately 11% of the electors of the State at 26 February 1999, the quota date.

Significance of changes to the Redistribution Committee's proposal

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission determined that the changes to the Redistribution Committee's proposal were not significant. Consequently, in accordance with section 72(13) of the Act, the augmented Electoral Commission's proposal is not open to further objection and the 1999–2000 Redistribution of New South Wales into Electoral Divisions is now concluded.

Acknowledgements

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated in the redistribution process, and to acknowledge the administrative support provided by Mr Mario Racomelara and Ms Kate Sullivan of the Australian Electoral Commission.
AUGMENTED ELECTORAL COMMISSION FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
T M Morling A K Becker W P McLennan F M Howat D M Grant R J Sendt
Chairperson Member Member Member Member Member
11 February 2000

1.4 Statistical Requirements for the Redistribution

DETERMINATION OF QUOTA AT 26 FEBRUARY 1999
Number of Divisions into which New South Wales is to be distributed 50
Number of electors enrolled in New South Wales 4 110 100
Quota for New South Wales 82 202
Permissible maximum number of electors (+10%) in a Division 90 422
Permissible minimum number of electors (-10%) in a Division 73 982
ENROLMENT PROJECTIONS FOR 30 JUNE 2003
Number of Divisions into which New South Wales is to be distributed 50
Projected number of electors in New South Wales 4 392 223
Projected average enrolment for New South Wales 87 844
103.5% of projected average enrolment 90 918
96.5% of projected average enrolment 84 770

1.5 Statistical Summary of Divisions

Statistical summary of divisions
  Division 26 February 1999 30 June 2003
Number of Electors Variation from Quota (%) Projected Number of Electors Variation from Average Divisional Enrolment (%) Approximate Area (square kilometres)
1 Banks 83 335 1.38 86 364 -1.68 54.48
2 Barton 85 591 4.12 87 167 -0.77 42.15
3 Bennelong 85 422 3.92 88 920 1.22 53.15
4 Berowra 83 332 1.37 88 868 1.17 711.91
5 Blaxland 82 392 0.23 86 347 -1.70 54.09
6 Bradfield 88 134 7.22 89 796 2.22 96.59
7 Calare 83 454 1.52 86 370 -1.68 21 621.37
8 Charlton 81 112 -1.33 85 200 -3.01 567.53
9 Chifley 82 119 -0.10 89 560 1.95 109.95
10 Cook 81 530 -0.82 85 538 -2.63 188.76
11 Cowper 77 392 -5.85 85 598 -2.56 7 699.59
12 Cunningham 80 989 -1.48 86 891 -1.08 489.80
13 Dobell 77 409 -5.83 85 492 -2.68 951.89
14 Eden-Monaro 79 594 -3.17 87 600 -0.28 30 945.90
15 Farrer 84 047 2.24 87 392 -0.51 96 844.04
16 Fowler 83 098 1.09 88 821 1.11 47.41
17 Gilmore 78 993 -3.90 86 640 -1.37 5 612.41
18 Grayndler 85 175 3.62 87 070 -0.88 29.30
19 Greenway 81 710 -0.60 86 963 -1.00 119.73
20 Gwydir 85 002 3.41 85 043 -3.19 185 604.20
21 Hughes 83 004 0.98 89 586 1.98 265.09
22 Hume 81 561 -0.78 88 115 0.31 25 948.11
23 Hunter 82 561 0.44 86 983 -0.98 10 593.50
24 Kingsford Smith 86 641 5.40 90 237 2.72 62.32
25 Lindsay 78 157 -4.92 85 492 -2.68 350.82
26 Lowe 81 518 -0.83 86 010 -2.09 40.97
27 Lyne 83 188 1.20 89 608 2.01 9 291.11
28 Macarthur 74 115 -9.84 89 829 2.26 572.77
29 Mackellar 84 716 3.06 88 008 0.19 229.21
30 Macquarie 83 849 2.00 90 777 3.34 4 196.69
31 Mitchell 78 465 -4.55 90 353 2.86 182.12
32 Newcastle 87 803 6.81 89 466 1.85 198.51
33 New England 84 028 2.22 85 167 -3.05 53 857.99
34 North Sydney 86 185 4.85 90 387 2.89 38.61
35 Page 81 866 -0.41 86 865 -1.11 16 682.25
36 Parkes 83 286 1.32 85 685 -2.46 268 674.30
37 Parramatta 86 696 5.47 90 618 3.16 61.35
38 Paterson 78 355 -4.68 85 538 -2.63 9 632.36
39 Prospect 85 694 4.25 90 786 3.35 158.74
40 Reid 76 022 -7.52 90 227 2.71 61.79
41 Richmond 75 686 -7.93 87 840 -0.01 2 137.17
42 Riverina 86 494 5.22 89 392 1.76 44 970.51
43 Robertson 81 480 -0.88 88 778 1.06 785.07
44 Shortland 83 460 1.53 89 364 1.73 303.68
45 Sydney 76 978 -6.36 86 274 -1.79 49.92
46 Throsby 80 697 -1.83 86 505 -1.52 387.45
47 Warringah 84 641 2.97 87 657 -0.21 55.71
48 Watson 82 939 0.90 85 680 -2.46 33.08
49 Wentworth 86 046 4.68 89 784 2.21 26.12
50 Werriwa 74 139 -9.81 89 572 1.97 168.40
    4 110 100   4 392 223