While the decision could be challenged through an appeal to the Local Government Commission, the three-ward, 11-councillor option was that chosen by Council following public consultation and submissions on the electoral representation review.

Under the requirements of the Local Electoral Act, Council must review its political representation every six years in order to ensure fair and effective representation.

The Act requires that every councillor should represent a similar number of people but in the Western Bay this ratio was out of kilter.

The decision will see the District split into three wards – Western (Waihi Beach, Katikati and Matakana Island), Central (Kaimai, Omokoroa, Te Puna) and Eastern (Te Puke and Maketu).

This division will achieve fairer and more effective elected representation as each elected member will represent approximately the same number of people within their Ward, being within a 10 percent range of the average.

Council voted for a reduction in councillors from 12 to 11 to achieve the correct balance of political representation per population in each Ward. The Eastern Ward will drop from five to four councillors.

Under the 11 councillor representation Western Ward will have three councillors and Central and Eastern each will have four.

This equates to a councillor per population ratio of Western 3:4055; Central 4:4093 and Eastern 4:4317.

Council agreed to leave the five community boards unchanged.

Under the three ward split the Eastern Ward has two community boards (Te Puke and Maketu), Central Ward has one (Omokoroa) and Western Ward has two (Katikati and Waihi Beach).

Following public notification of the decision, there will be a one month timeframe for appeals to be lodged with the Local Government Commission.

If no appeals are lodged, the proposal will be adopted by Council later this year and will take effect from the Local Government Elections to be held on 12 October 2013.