A GREATER diversity of representation across Indigo Shire has emerged with four new faces among seven councillors elected for the next council term.
Successful candidates were sworn in as councillors at 6pm on Monday at the main council offices in Mayday Hills, which followed the formal declaration of the Indigo poll in Beechworth last Friday.
Jane Dowsley from Yackandandah, Beechworth’s John Harvey, Scott Landells from Chiltern, and Kiewa’s Greg Bourke joined re-elected councillors Sophie Price from Barnawartha, Roberta Horne from Rutherglen and Diane Shepheard from Indigo Valley.
Mr Bourke, presently overseas, will be sworn in upon his return.
Eleven candidates had stood for election with Bernard Gaffney, Emerick Teissl, Graham Parton and Lisa Turner unsuccessful.
From 13,644 enrolments in the shire there were 10,868 formal votes, 569 informal (4.98 per cent of the total votes), with voter turnout at 11,437 (83.82 per cent of the total enrolment).
In an invited address to successful candidates on Friday Cr Shepheard, now in her third term, said she was excited to see four new faces on council as well as being part of a new group.
She thanked all candidates for their great campaigns as well as acknowledging the work over the last four years of Mr Gaffney – a councillor for 16 years and a former mayor – and Emerick Teissl who had again tossed their hats in the ring.
Despite being sixth after first preference votes were counted, Mr Gaffney was overtaken on preferences.
Newly elected councillor Scott Landells said having one councillor from six different towns and a rural locality was likely to be unique in the council’s history.
“But each councillor represents every community from around the shire,” he said.
“I'm really looking forward to being a representative for all communities and have had the fortune to live in three towns.”
With by far the highest number of votes with a tally of 2351 (21.63 per cent) of first preferences, re-elected Ms Price and mayor for the last term, said in her third election the high number of votes had given her confidence.
“I'm really looking forward to working with all of these people and we really have a great group to work with,” she said.
“I think the community has done a good job in who they've elected, and it will be an important next four years as there's lots going on in the shire.
“I'm hearing from elected councillors about lots of the issues they aware of throughout their campaigning.”
Cr Dowsley said she is excited to be delivering on things she campaigned for and can't wait to get started.
“It’s about economic and sustainable growth of our towns, holding council to account and better community engagement,” she said.
Cr Harvey’s said his aim is to help improve the life of the citizens of the Indigo Shire.
“I'm very much into basic services of rates, roads and rubbish and think council's primary focus should be looking after infrastructure,” he said.
Re-elected councillor Roberta Horne said she is looking forward to working with a new group of people to work giving a new energy.
"I just hope we can focus more on listening to what people are saying to us,” she said.
Cr Horne said she is also about infrastructure including the fundamentals such as roads and footpaths.
“But I really want to encourage the community to keep engaged as it doesn't end with just voting somebody in," she said.
"We need to really keep aware of what's going on and what's happening, because it's the voices that make the difference.”
The long-time advocate for improved safety on Rutherglen's Main Street, said recently a petition with 900 voices sent to the Parliament of Victoria’s Upper House had finally got something happening.
“I don't think that would have happened without those 900 voices,” she said.
The vote for mayor and deputy mayor will be held at next week’s statutory meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 6.30pm at council offices in Mayday Hills.