Council Meetings & Elections

Ordinary meetings of Council are held on the fourth Thursday of each month (except for December) commencing at 4.00 pm and alternate between the Bannockburn Shire Hall and the Linton Customer Service Centre. Ordinary meetings of the Council are open to the public and residents are welcome to attend.

The meetings are held on alternative months at the following addresses:

Bannockburn Shire Hall
Council Chambers
12 High Street, Bannockburn

Linton Customer Service Centre
Council Chambers
68 Sussex Street, Linton

COUNCIL MEETING CYCLE 2009

At its Special Meeting on 4 December 2008, Council resolved the following dates for Council Meetings in 2009. Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month commencing at 4.00pm.

22 January   Bannockburn Shire Hall  

26 February   Linton Customer Service Centre  

26 March   Bannockburn Shire Hall

23 April   Linton Customer Service Centre

21 May   Bannockburn Shire Hall

25 June   Linton Customer Service Centre

23 July   Bannockburn Shire Hall

27 August   Linton Customer Service Centre

24 September   Bannockburn Shire Hall

22 October   Linton Customer Service Centre

26 November   Bannockburn Shire Hall

3 December   Bannockburn Shire Hall (Special Meeting of Council)

17 December   Linton Customer Service Centre (3^rd Thursday in December)

The next local government elections will be held in 2012.

Voting is compulsory for residents who are on the voters' roll for local Council elections. Residents who fail to vote without an adequate reason may be fined. Only non-resident voters, non-Australian citizens and voters aged 70 years or over are not obliged to vote at local Council elections.

At local council elections you elect people to represent you on your council. The number of councillors you elect and the municipality's electoral structure are determined by the Minister for Local Government.

Voting is important as the councillors you elect make decisions on a range of local issues. Their responsibilities include:

• Service Delivery
• Representation  on behalf of constituents
• Advocacy for other levels of government
• Policy Development
• Law making and enforcement
• Planning and monitoring achievement

For more information on Local Government elections, visit the Victorian Electoral Commission website on http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/GoldenPlainsHome.html or call 13 18 32.

Golden Plains Shire has historically been divided into nine ridings with nine councillors. As a result of the Electoral Representation Review conducted by the VEC in 2007, the Shire is now unsubdivided (no ridings) and the number of councillors has been reduced to seven.

More information can be found about your local councillors under the 'Councillors' tab in the right hand menu.

 This information is available in other languages, refer to the list below for alternative translations.

If you are already on the State and Federal electoral roll for your present address you will automatically be on the voter's roll for the Golden Plains Shire elections.
If you are not already on the State and Federal electoral roll for your present address and

• You are 18 years of age or older

• You are an Australian citizen

• You have lived at your present address for at least one month and

• If you have just turned 18 or if you have moved house without updating your enrolment, there are forms available at any post office or Customer Service Centres to enrol or change your details.

Voting is compulsory in municipal elections for all residents who are enrolled on the voter's roll and who actually reside in the ward in which the election is being held. You may be fined if you do not vote.

How do I find out more information about Local, State & Federal Government elections?

You can contact the Victorian Electrol Commission on 13 18 32 or visit http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/ for information on state and local council elections. For federal elections, please contact the Australian Electrol Commission on 13 23 26 or visit http://www.aec.gov.au/.