By Margaret Maccoll
The Noosa electorate will take in the majority of Pomona while Rainbow Beach, Inskip and Cooloola will remain in Gympie in the state electorate boundary redistribution announced on 26 May.
The Queensland Redistribution Commission (QRC) delivered its final determination on its most significant realignment in more than 30 years which has increased electorates from 89 to 93 across the state.
QRC chairman Hugh Botting said QRC had been able to make some changes to its original proposal based on suggestions received during public consultation periods.
“The commissioners listened to what Queenslanders had to say and, where it was possible, we acted on community interests and altered proposed boundaries,” he said.
In other changes on the Sunshine Coast suburbs of Parrearra, Minyama and Buddina will remain in Kawana instead of shifting to the Buderim electorate, and Buderim now includes Sippy Downs and Palmview.
“The Commission’s number one priority was the number of voters in each electorate because that’s quite simply the law,” Mr Botting said.
“Every district must contain relatively the same number of electors so that each vote carries equal weight at the ballot box.”
Electors have three weeks to appeal the realignments in the Supreme Court.
If there is no legal appeal the redistribution will be final on 16 June.
The QRC’s final determination can be viewed online at boundaries.ecq.qld.gov.au