Nominations open after councillor Darren Everard resigns

Nominations have now opened to fill the role vacated by councillor Darren Everard. Here’s how you can put your hand up:

Fraser Coast Regional Councilors (L) David Lee, David Lewis, Zane O'Keefe, Jade Wellings, Denis Chapman, George Seymour, Darren Everard, Phil Truscott, Paul Truscott, James Hansen and Daniel Sanderson.

A week after Fraser Coast councillor Darren Everard announced his resignation, nominations have opened to fill the Division 7 seat.

Mr Everard will leave the role on Wednesday, August 9, with a candidate set to be chosen to fill the seat through to the next local government election in March, 2o24.

As there is less than 12 months until the next local government election, the vacancy will be filled by inviting nominations rather than a by-election.

After announcing his resignation at a council meeting last week, 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”.

Fraser Coast Regional Council chief executive Ken Diehm said nominations opened on Monday, August 7, 2023, with suitably qualified and eligible candidates encouraged to submit their nominations before 9am on Monday, August 21, 2023.

“Councillors play a crucial role in representing the diverse interests and concerns of the people they serve, with the decisions councillors make helping to shape the future of our region,” he said.

The new councillor is set to join the ranks of the Fraser Coast council after the resignation of Darren Everard and members of the community are being asked to nominate for the role.

“Councillors are effectively the link between the community and the decision-making processes of local government. This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to help set Council’s direction and make a positive difference in their local community.”

To be eligible to be a councillor, a person must:

• Be an adult Australian citizen;

• Reside within the Fraser Coast Regional Council boundaries;

• Be enrolled on an electoral roll in Queensland; and

• Not be disqualified from being a councillor under the Local Government Act 2009.

More information about the Division 7 vacancy, including a Candidate Information Pack and nomination form is available here.

Nominations can be made by emailing a completed nomination form to [e-mail] or by handing in a hard copy to a council customer service centre prior to the closing date. No late nominations will be accepted.

Sitting councillors will elect the preferred candidate and appoint a new councillor by resolution at a special meeting at the council chambers in Hervey Bay on September 6, 2023.

Candidates will have the opportunity to make a five-minute presentation to councillors during the special ,meeting.

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