Eumundi Voice - Issue 87, 22 February 2024

COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Meet the candidates

In advance of the Qld council elections on 16 March, Meet the Candidates' events provide an opportunity to meet local candidates, hear their policy priorities and ask questions.

The Cooroy Chamber of Commerce has organised a meeting with Noosa Council candidates at the Cooroy Memorial Hall from 5.30pm on 22 February. Entry is free but registration is necessary. Visit: getsafetickets. com.au/6w0e9.

Noosa Council candidates will also be at The J in Noosa Junction from 5.30-7.30pm on 28 February, organised by the Noosa Chamber of Commerce. Visit: noosachamberofcommerce. au/event-5580875.

Hinterland Tourism has organised a Meet the Candidates evening with Sunshine Coast Mayoral candidates and councillor candidates

from Divisions 1, 5 and 10 at Woombye State School from 5.30-8pm on 28 February. Visit: trybooking.com/events/landing/1172662.

Council elections

Council election voting is compulsory for all residents – tenants and property owners. Unlike Commonwealth and State and Territory elections, many local council candidates run as individuals. Candidates can form a group with others in the same local government area to campaign collectively but must register with the Qld Electoral Commission as a group. Mayors and local councillor candidates are likely to be selected as individuals rather than on a party platform so it is important to know what each candidate stands for and their plans if elected.

To find your electorate visit: ecq.qld.gov.au/ electoral-boundaries/where-is-my-electorate.

Look at your local government electorate and not your state electorate. Some areas straddle different divisions within a council area, for example Doonan is in two different divisions so your address matters not just your locality.

Voting will take place from 8am-6pm. For local polling booths visit: t.ly/hTvk4. If you are unable to attend on 16 March apply for a postal vote atecq.qld.gov.au/postalvote before 4 March.

If you are away from home on 16 March, vote early between 4 and 15 March. See early polling locations at: t.ly/b50BI.

Vote counting is different in the Noosa and SCC areas. In Noosa it is a first-past-the-post system with a mayor and six councillors to be elected. Voters should mark six boxes on the ballot paper in the order of preference. In the SCC area an optional preferential voting system applies so you can vote for one, some or all candidates. A mayor and 10 councillors will be elected as SCC is divided into ten divisions and each elect one councillor.

Council candidates

Nominations for candidates for council elections closed on 13 February. The following regions are likely of most interest to Eumundi Voice readers.

SCC mayoral candidates are Jason O’Pray, Wayne Parcell, Ashley Robinson, Michael Burgess, Rosanna Natoli and Min Swan. In the running to become Noosa mayor are John Morrall, Frank Wilkie, Ingrid Jackson and Nick Hluszko.

In SCC Division 9 the candidates are Maria Suarez, Suzie Campin and Bruce Dunne. It covers Bli Bli, Coolum Beach, Doonan, Verrierdale and surrounds and is currently held by Maria Suarez.

In SCC Division 10 the candidates are Sue Etheridge, Camillo Primavera, David Law and Peter Walsh. It covers Eumundi, Kenilworth, Mapleton, Nambour, Yandina and surrounds and is currently held by David Law.

The candidates to become Noosa councillors are Joe Jurisevic, Tom Wegener, Mat Bankes, Karen Finzel, Brian Stockwell, Chris Darwen, Fiona Jacobs, Amelia Lorentson, Nicola Wilson, Alecia Staines, Leigh McCready, Jess Phillips, Michelle Ngatai-Stokes and Andrea Newland.