This was due to a piece of legislation passed in the NSW government amending the Local Government Act.

The amendments allowed joint or multiple non-resident landowners only one vote per house, while residents are allowed one vote per person.

Non-resident landowners under this amendment were to be placed on a separate electoral roll that would be revised every three months.

These amendments passed quietly in NSW state government, but had a big impact for Canberrans who saw the South Coast as their second home.

A Eurobodalla shire council spokesperson said at the time this amendment would reduce Canberran and Queanbeyan holiday-home owners eligible to vote in the elections from 5000 to 3000.

These new amendments were described as "grossly unfair" by Canberra and District Association of Eurobodalla Shire Ratepayers president Mr Gerard Sellars.

"If we only have two-thirds of the vote, perhaps they should only hit us for two-thirds of the rates," Mr Sellars said.

Rates in the Eurobodalla Shire were among the highest in NSW in 1987. Mr Sellars stated he paid $897 yearly for rates for his property in Griffith and $933 yearly for his rates for his South Coast property.

Independent state member for the South Coast Mr John Hatton described the amendment as a form of Gerrymandering, believing that these measures would work in the Labor party's favor.

He called the lack of publicity of the measures 'alarming' expressing concern for the local elections in September that year.

The South Coast remains a popular holiday house destination for Canberrans.

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/13039795