The new mayor of the Noosa Council has been confirmed, with deputy mayor Frank Wilkie to step up to the top job.
The Electoral Commission of Queensland yesterday officially declared the result after the March 16 local government elections.
Mr Wilkie secured 13,846 votes (40.1 per cent), ahead of Ingrid Jackson (8074 votes), Nick Hluszko (7245 votes) and John Morrall (5334 votes).
A former journalist and teacher, Mr Wilkie will take over from Clare Stewart, who has been recommended by the LNP as its candidate for Noosa in the state election in October.
He told Sunshine Coast News he was looking forward to working with the new-look council, the make-up of which was still to be confirmed by the ECQ.
At 5pm on Wednesday, with 82.3 per cent counted, Amelia Lorentsen, Jess Phillips, Nicola Wilson, Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener and Karen Finzel led the way.
“The new council contains a fantastic, well-balanced mix of experienced and new community-minded councillors with great financial, communications and governance skills,” Mr Wilkie said.
“All will be made welcome and supported as they are brought up to speed with their responsibilities in a series of training workshops shortly after being sworn into office next week.”
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A local councillor since 2007, Mr Wilkie said he was grateful for the support of local people.
“I again express my thanks to the community and campaign volunteers for such great support, and my respect to all who had the courage to stand as a candidate in the arduous election process,” he said.
Mr Wilkie told SCN last week his priorities were keeping rates low, addressing traffic issues and short-term accommodation impacts, and ensuring better environmental protections.
“Councillors and staff’s commitment to keeping rates as low as possible is achieved through zero-based budgeting – where the cost of every item, service and initiative is recalculated every year – and effective financial modelling which gives instant feedback on the impact of proposed additional services on ratepayers,” he said.
“A review on the effectiveness of the Short Term Accommodation Local Law will help us ensure it works better.
“Options for reducing traffic will be put to the community and we’re on track to achieving 50 per cent of the shire being under environmental protection by 2030, mainly through strategic purchases of high-conservation-value land via the Environment Levy.”
Mr Wilkie said he would look to collaborate with neighbouring councils and other tiers of government “professionally and in good faith”.
“Noosa Council aims for, and has, good working relationships with neighbouring local governments and the state government,” he said.
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