By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Federal voters in northern Holt have been shifted into a new electorate, under a dramatic recasting by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Doveton, Eumemmerring, Endeavour Hills, Hallam, Lysterfield South and part of Narre Warren have been excised from the seat long held by Labor MP Anthony Byrne.
The suburbs will become part of the Bruce electorate held by Labor’s Julian Hill.
Under the federal redistribution, Holt shifts south annexing parts of the Flinders electorate including Botanic Ridge, Devon Meadows, Clyde and Casey’s coastal villages.
The redistribution aims to maintain equal population sizes of about 110,000 in each federal seat.
It sought to correct a 26 per cent population surge over the past eight years in Holt.
If successful at the next election, Mr Byrne would have to shift office from its now-excluded location at Fountain Gate.
“It has meant areas such as Endeavour Hills which has been in the Holt electorate for 28 years will no longer be part of my electorate.
“Notwithstanding these substantial changes I will give my all at the next Federal Election hoping to again retain the seat for Labor.”
The boundary changes come into effect on 13 July.
