AS the next stage of the electoral boundary redistribution process approaches, Barwon MP Roy Butler has conceded he will not be able to welcome Gunnedah into his electorate.
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The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) party, which Mr Butler represents, had made a submission, made public in July, which suggested the town be added to Barwon. They were not alone however, as the Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division also requested the town be swallowed by the neighbouring electorate.
The Liberals believed removing Gunnedah would help balance Tamworth's population quota. They also brought up that parts of the Upper Hunter and Liverpool Plains are in the New England federal seat, whereas Gunnedah falls under Parkes' jurisdiction.
Tamworth councillor Mark Rodda - who ran as an independent at the last state election and is rumoured to be pursuing the SFF candidacy for 2023 - also made a comment on submissions, saying he believed the Gunnedah local government area (LGA) should be excised from Tamworth because "their community of interest is aligned with the adjoining town of Narrabri Shire and similarities with Narrabri with a combination of farming and mining enterprises".
However, it now appears Barwon - which covers 13 LGAs and covers roughly 44 per cent of the state's land mass - will be allowed to be 7.45 per cent below the quotient, with 54,830 electors projected for 2023.
The news comes as a disappointment to Mr Butler, who believes he would have been able to serve the community of Gunnedah well.
"I would give them the same work that I give every other person in the Barwon electorate," he said.
"In terms of my own ability to travel... I've never been scared of a drive, when I was regional manager of Western Region police I had 64 per cent of the state."
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He is acquainted with the area, given he has an electoral office in Narrabri, and Gunnedah used to fall in his police district, but he acknowledges any good he could have done is now a moot point.
One man that is happy things have not changed is Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, who revealed there was much alarm from locals when the submissions were made public.
"While that process with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) was being undertaken I had lots of calls from people in Gunnedah saying 'we don't want to lose you as our member'," he said.
"So I was really pleased to see that the AEC for their determination has chosen to keep Gunnedah in the Tamworth electorate.
"I've had the pleasure of representing Gunnedah for a little while now and we've achieved a lot together and there's a lot to do, I've got big plans for Gunnedah."
Following the release of the draft redistribution map last month, Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Jamie Chaffey revealed his elation with the AEC's decision, which aligns with the thoughts of fellow councillor Murray O'Keefe and resident Bill Weakley who had also been outspoken in regards to the issue.
The 30 day submission period following the draft map ends on Wednesday, December 9, which will be followed on Thursday, December 10 by a 14-day opening where comments can be made on those submissions.
