How council will fill Darren Everard’s Division 7 seat

The Fraser Coast council has revealed how the Division 7 seat which includes K’gari, River Heads and Booral will be filled after councillor Darren Everard’s resignation. Vote in our poll:

A new councillor is set to join the ranks of the Fraser Coast Regional Council following the resignation of Darren Everard, and members of the community are being asked to nominate for the role.

A new councillor is set to join the ranks of the Fraser Coast Regional Council following the resignation of Darren Everard, and members of the community are being asked to nominate for the role.

The Division 7 representative announced his resignation at a council meeting on Monday morning, July 31, thanking the community, councillors and staff, and saying his resignation would be effective from August 9.

A new Division 7 councillor will serve until the next local government election in March, 2024.

Mr Everard said it had been an honour to serve as a councillor for the past 11 and a half years, including four years as deputy mayor, and expressed his “sincere gratitude to the residents of Division 7”.

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“The unwavering desire to serve my community was the driving force for me to run for council in April 2012, which I have undertaken to the best of my ability,” he said.

“While my passion for my community remains, it is time for me to focus on other pursuits and skill sets while remaining a servant to the communities I love.

“I wish my fellow councillors the very best as they continue to take our region forward and ensure this remains one of the most desirable places to live, work and play in Queensland.”

Fraser Coast councillor Darren Everard.

Mayor George Seymour, councillors and chief executive Ken Diehm paid tribute to Mr Everard for his commitment to the community, his energy, his integrity, his capability, his corporate knowledge and his ability to think outside the box.

As there is less than 12 months until the next local government election, the vacancy for the division that includes River Heads and Booral will be filled by inviting nominations rather than a by-election.

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The council will develop a Nomination for Councillor Information Pack and call for nominations from the general public in the coming days, with the position needing to be filled within two months.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria that will be outlined in the nomination pack can register as a candidate and be considered for appointment until the end of the current electoral term in March 2024.

The major centres of Division 7 include Booral, River Heads and K’gari, with over 9000 residents registered in the division, which also includes parts of Torquay, Kawungan, Wondunna and Urangan.