Queenscliffe council election: Donnie Grigau, Isabelle Tolhurst stay

Two incumbent Borough of Queenscliffe councillors will be joined by three fresh faces on the new council.

Three new faces are set to join the Borough of Queenscliffe council.

Donnie Grigau has been revealed as the first successful candidate in the Borough of Queenscliffe council election by more than 100 first preference votes.

The council’s five successful candidates were announced by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Friday afternoon after a computer count and will be officially declared elected in the coming days.

Mr Grigau, who received 638 first preference votes, is one of two returning councillors and will be joined by Isabelle Tolhurst who polled 508 first preference votes.

The new councillors to the chamber include Brendan Monahan (477 first preference votes), Di Rule (391 first preference votes) and Helene Cameron (204 first preference votes).

Donnie Grigau received the highest number of first preference votes in the Borough of Queenscliffe election.

It will be Mr Grigau’s second term on council and he is a member of the Liberal Party.

His focus heading into the election was delivering “essential services on time and on budget” and conducting genuine community consultations.

Ms Tolhurst is the youngest successful candidate by 18 years and during the election period focused on issues of a sustainable environment, strong local economy and advocacy for more state and federal funding.

She joined the council in 2022 after Susan Salter resigned and was voted in as mayor for the next two terms, although in April she resigned from the position to prepare for the birth of her second child.

Isabelle Tolhurst is set to be one of two returning councillors to the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Mr Monahan said the three issues he campaigned on were providing local services, maintaining parks and gardens and encouraging tourism.

Ms Rule, a member of the Liberal Party, told this masthead her campaign focus included tight governance and transparent budgeting, environment and heritage protection and funding more capital works.

Ms Cameron indicated to the Geelong Advertiser ahead of the election she would focus on community engagement, a balanced approach to local issues and regenerating caravan and camping revenue.

Originally published as Queenscliffe council election: Donnie Grigau, Isabelle Tolhurst stay