Macedon Ranges Shire has welcomed a new-look council with four returning members and five elected for the first time.
The most competitive ward this election was west ward, attracting eight nominations, while east ward attracted seven and south ward five.
West Ward retained its two long-standing councillors, Jennifer Anderson and Janet Pearce, while former councillor Mark Ridgeway did not re-nominate.
However, it was new candidate, Kate Kendall, who polled at top preference for the west with 38.66% of first preference votes. Anderson secured 22.18% first preference votes while Pearce had 12.33%.
East Ward experienced a complete overhaul with immediately previous representatives, Annette Death and Bill West, not re-nominating, and former councillor, Geoff Neil, not being returned.
The new-look ward now comprises all first-time councillors (listed in order of preferences): Cassy Borthwick (27.58%), Daniel Young (20.01%) and Andrew Scanlon (14.17%).
In South Ward, all three previous sitting councillors re-nominated but only two made a return, with one of two challengers snatching the seat from former councillor Rob Guthrie.
Dom Bonanno and Christine Walker have been returned (listed in order of preferences), with first-time councillor Alison Joseph taking the third seat. Joseph had 20.93% of first preference votes compared to Guthrie’s 19.22%.
Bonanno secured 27.35% of first preference votes and Christine had 21.70%.
This is the first time in history Macedon Ranges has had six female representatives together on council.
The new councillors were officially sworn in on Monday.
Five uncontested in Mount Alexander
Mount Alexander Shire had just three unknown ward results heading into last week’s poll as a result of five uncontested seats.
Anthony Cordy won the seat for Calder Ward, Bill Maltby was the successful candidate for Campbells Creek Ward, and Phillip Walker was voted in to represent Coliban Ward.
Uncontested seats went to Rosie Annear (Barkers Creek Ward), Toby Heydon (Forest Creek Ward), Matt Driscoll (Loddon River Ward), Lucas Maddock (Moonlight Creek Ward), and Rosalie Hastwell (Tarrengower Ward).
These wards attracted only one candidate each and therefore did not require a public vote, with candidates automatically accepted.
This is the first time Mount Alexander has had eight single-member wards, following structural change prior to the election.
Change in Hepburn
Hepburn Shire welcomed councillors in its new single-ward structure. Former mayor Brian Hood, of Trentham, will return to council as a previous representative for the Coliban Ward.
Voted in for the next term were (listed in order of preferences): Don Henderson, Brian Hood, Lesley Hewitt, Tony Clark, Tim Drylie, Pat Hockey and Shirley Cornish.
