Media release
5 May 2025
Council Representation Review
Council has over the past 12 months undertaken a Council Member Representation Review as required by Section 12 of the Local Government Act.
The last representation review occurred in February 2017.
The process has involved public consultation, which culminated in Council making a final decision on how Council and Council Members can best represent the community and its interest over the coming years.
Mayor Scarman notes “a key outcome of the review has incorporated the recent amendments to Section 51(1) of the Local Government Act which prescribes that from the 2026 Council elections, the principal member (Mayor) is to be elected as a representative of the area as whole and will not be chosen by Council”.
This is a significant change for the Northern Areas Council which has historically elected its Mayor from within the Council itself.
A further significant change that will come from this most recent representation review is the decision of Council not to have wards. Council currently has four wards covering the district.
Council as part of the representation review process at its meeting in July 2024 resolved as follows:
The Council area not be divided into wards (i.e. the existing wards be abolished), and Council be comprised of an elected Mayor, as per Section 51 of the Local Government Act 1999, and 8 area councillors, all of whom shall be elected by the community to represent the whole of the Council area
Mayor Scarman reflects on the representation review as endorsed by Council at its meeting held on 15 April 2025 saying, “ the outcomes from the review present a significant change to Council representation which will lead to Council further and increasingly ensuring decision making processes continue to be made from whole of community perspective”.
Members of the public who are interested in the details of the Council representation review are encouraged to source information from Council’s website and or have follow up discussions with Council’s administration or Council Members themselves.
Northern Areas Council
Mayor
Sue Scarman | 0418 844 935