Three divisions still in play as Blackburn looks forward to ‘working collaboratively’ with new team

While new mayor Helen Blackburn has said she is looking forward to ‘working collaboratively’ with her team of councillors, three divisions remain in play with veteran Greg Barnes on track to lose to challenger Larine Statham-Blair.

With the mayoral race decided, Â the final make-up of the council new mayor Helen Blackburn will need to work with in implementing her reform agenda will be revealed as the vote counting continues on Monday.

The mayoral race may be decided, but the final make-up of the council Helen Blackburn will need to work with in implementing her reform agenda is still to be revealed as the vote counting continued Monday.

With 83 per cent of the votes counted, Ms Blackburn’s vote count increased to 36,193 votes (58 per cent of the total votes), an insurmountable lead of nearly 16,000 votes over Jack Dempsey.

Mayoral challenger Helen Blackburn has built an insurmountable lead over incumbent Jack Dempsey and will be the next mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council.

The third challenger, Levi Horvath, has consolidated his strong showing at the election receiving 5980 votes (9,6 per cent).

After thanking the public for their support over the past two terms in a Facebook post, Mr Dempsey wished “the new mayor and councillors all the best” in a follow-up post on Sunday evening.

Ms Blackburn thanked Mr Dempsey for his service over the past two terms, and voters for electing her as Bundaberg’s first female mayor since the inaugural mayor of the amalgamated council Lorraine Pyefinch.

“The hard work now begins,” Ms Blackburn said in a Facebook post.

“You had your say at this election and have strongly endorsed the plan I put forward, a plan that was created after months of listening to your feedback and ideas.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and working collaboratively with the team of councillors, new and returning, to create a brighter future for the Bundaberg Region.”

The composition of that team of councillors remains unclear, with division 8 incumbent Steve Cooper in a close race with local pub employee Shorne Sanders.

The holder of the financial portfolio in the previous council, Mr Cooper was a frequent target of criticism from Ms Blackburn and others seeking detailed financial reporting for the $76m Bundaberg Aquatic Centre.

Mr Cooper trails Mr Sanders by just 88 votes with 79 per cent of the votes counted.

Blackburn ally Greg Barnes, council’s longest-serving councillor, looks on track to be replaced at the council table by challenger Larine Statham-Blair.

With 74 per cent of the votes counted, the small business owner and former journalist holds a lead of more than 700 votes over Mr Barnes.

Division 7 incumbent Vince Habermann was also on track to lose his seat, with former Norville State School principal Gary Kirk receiving 53 per cent of the votes with 70 per cent of the total votes counted.

Carmen McEneany has increased her slim lead over fellow challenger Brad Grogan to 75 votes with 81 per cent of the votes counted.

Deb Keslake is well-placed to win division 3, vacated by retiring former councillor Wayne Honor.

Veteran deputy mayor Bill Trevor (pictured) looks set to retain division 2 over challenger Paul Hudson.

Veteran deputy mayor Bill Trevor, ardent Dempsey ally Jason Bartels and incumbent councillors May Mitchell, John Learmonth and Tracey McPhee all have comfortable leads and look set to retain their seats around the council table.

Council Election Day 2024

Voters were greeted by a windy day in Bundaberg for council election day 2024, but whether or not they were the winds of change remained to be seen.

Comments about a “bad hair day” were heard from voters buffeted by gusts of wind while standing in long queues outside Bundaberg North State School.

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Voters were buffeted by gusts of wind while waiting to vote at the Bundaberg North State School polling place.

A positive behaviour sign inside the school hall where voting took place encouraged people to “respect others at all times” and “play by the rules”; messages apparently intended for schoolchildren but which had some poignancy on the final day of a hard-fought campaign.

Speaking outside the well-attended polling booth at the Christ of Church Bundaberg Hall on Woongarra St, mayoral candidate Helen Blackburn rued a campaign marked by some vitriol on social media.

Mayoral candidate Helen Blackburn was bullish about her prospects on the final day of polling, saying there was a strong sentiment for change among the voters with whom she had spoken.

“The trolling and the fake accounts and the fake detail about me and my family has been really disheartening at times,” she said.

“I’ve tried to just rise above that though, because I’ve known what the truth is and I think people have seen through it; people don’t like a negative campaign.”

Ms Blackburn was bullish about her prospects on the final day of polling, saying there was a strong sentiment for change among the voters with whom she had spoken.

“The general feeling from the public is that they’re ready for some change … they’ve been pretty loud and clear in the way they’ve been saying that today to me,” she said.

Voters filed into the well-attended Christ of Church Bundaberg Hall on Woongarra St.

One of Ms Blackburn’s rivals in the mayoral race, Levi Horvath, said he expected to see many new faces sitting around the council table after the election.

“People are voting for the future,” he said.

“No matter what happens, there’s going to be some big changes in council I think.”

On their way out of the Woongarra St polling place, Kalkie residents Ken and Estelle Dittman said they had voted for incumbent mayor Jack Dempsey due to his strong relationship with ALP Bundaberg MP Tom Smith.

Kalkie residents Ken and Estelle Dittman said they had made their mind up to vote for incumbent mayor Jack Dempsey and were not influenced by the election campaign.

“Jack Dempsey seems to be doing well with Tom Smith,” Mr Dittman said.

“Like with the growth of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, that’s been great for this town.”

Mr and Mrs Dittman had not paid much attention to the various candidates’ messaging throughout the campaign.

“We’d made out mind up without looking at it,” Mr Dittman said.

At Bargara’s St Peter’s Church Hall, local Margaret Harris complained about the Bundaberg Civic Centre, one of the most popular places for prepolling, being closed on election day due to it being used for scrutineering by Electoral Commission Queensland officials.

A long line of voters staying in the shade as much as possible at Bargara’s St Peter’s Church Hall polling booth.

“What’s the mentality of closing the Civic Centre and making everyone come up here?” she asked.

Speaking alongside the long line of voters snaking into the hall, Division 5 candidate Larine Statham-Blair said she was confident locals would vote for “a fresh face and some fresh thinking”, but knew she had an uphill battle against long-serving incumbent Greg Barnes.

“The weather’s beautiful, it’s a great day to be out, the smell of democracy in the air,” she said.

“I think overwhelmingly people are saying that they want change.

“But in saying that I’m aware that I am running as the underdog, I’m running against the longest serving councillor on Bundaberg Regional Council.

“So I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be an easy walk-in, I’ve got a tough fight ahead of me today.”

Division 5 candidate Larine Statham-Blair knew she faced an uphill battle against incumbent Greg Barnes, but was confident Bargara locals would vote for a fresh face and some fresh thinking.

Ms Statham-Blair said she had had “a lot of mud” thrown at her on social media throughout the campaign, some of which targeted her family and friends.

“I’ve chosen to just stick to a really positive campaign, listening to locals and focusing on the issues that are important to them,” she said.

Mr Barnes also signalled a mood for change among voters voicing longstanding frustrations with transparency in the current council.

“We’re certainly at the pointy end of the campaign, and the feedback I’ve had is pretty much what I expected,” he said.

“People want change, they’re sick of the lack of transparency, they want an open council they want to know exactly what’s going on.

“It’s not rocket science, it’s just pretty basic stuff.

“The people are going to be speaking and I think that’s going to come through loud and clear.”

Division 5 incumbent Greg Barnes expected to see some new faces around the council table on Monday, with voters voicing frustrations with a perceived lack of transparency in council.

Mr Barnes said claims he had run a negative campaign were “absolute rubbish”.

“If there’s been any hint of negativity, we’ve just stepped right back and just let it flow,” he said.

“At the end of the day you just step aside, you don’t give it oxygen.”

Back at the Woongarra St polling place, Division 4 incumbent councillor Tracey McPhee said she was “quite positive” about her prospects against challenger Ian Ward.

“This is my first time (in a full campaign) because last time we got shut down for Covid, and naively, I was disappointed,” she said.

“This is my 11th day, and it’s been a big day, but I’m still managing to smile.

“I’m well hydrated and well caffeinated.”

Division 4 incumbent councillor Tracey McPhee was looking forward to a sound sleep after the polls close at 6pm.

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While some candidates said they would be hosting a gathering of their supporters at the close of voting, Ms McPhee had other plans.

“I’ll just come here and scrutineer for the pre-polling, and then I’ll be home going to sleep,” she said.