Gympie Qld election 2024 results: Four seats declared, five in limbo

The battle for a seat on the next Gympie Regional Council continues as the count drags on and several divisions remain too close to call. These are the latest updates:

The battle to claim a seat at the table on the next Gympie Regional Council remains ongoing, with several seats still split by a handful of votes as the distribution of preferences begins.

A recount was underway on Wednesday in one divisional battle following the Gympie council election and several others hung in the balance as the count continued and the distribution of preferences began.

Scrutineers will again be taking a look at the Division 5 battle between incumbent Dan Stewart and challengers Kris Kahler and Allona Lahn after the initial first preference count ended with a 13-vote gap between the two challengers.

The recount was revealed in social media posts made by Mr Stewart and Mr Kahler on Tuesday night.

Each said Ms Lahn, who had been leading early in the unofficial first count after the polls closed on Saturday, March 16, had called for the recount, which was expected to be done on Wednesday.

Once completed, the third place candidate will be excluded and any preferences on their ballots will be distributed to the remaining two candidates.

A recount of first preference votes is underway for the Division 5 seat held by incumbent Dan Stewart. Mr Stewart overcame a rough start in the count to take a 157-vote lead over Kris Kahler, who is himself only 13 votes ahead of Allona Lahn.

It is not the only divisional fight on a knife edge.

In Division 1, the duel between incumbent Jess Milne and Deputy Mayor Hilary Smerdon, who has moved from Division 6 to the new seat, remains split in Ms Milne’s favour by 10 votes.

Preferences will also be the deciding feature in Division 4 where former mayor Mick Curran, who was voted out in 2020, holds a 42-vote lead over incumbent Bruce Devereaux, and Division 7 where incumbent Warren Polley is 179 votes ahead of challenger and citizen of the year Sean Connelly.

Mayor Glen Hartwig, pictured here with wife Talitha only a week after the couple were involved in a serious crash while on the campaign trail, has been returned to his seat for a second term.

The deadline for postal votes passed on Tuesday night.

Four candidates have had their long waits ended with the mayor and Divisions 2, 6, and 8 all formally declared.

Glen Hartwig was returned with 54 per cent first vote support, while Dolly Jensen is returning for a second term with 65 per cent of the vote.

Two new faces will be on the council this year.

Glastonbury landowner and businessman Warren McEwan has claimed Division 6, vacated by Mr Smerdon, after securing 59 per cent of the primary vote.

In Division 8, builder Gordon Maudsley is replacing retiring councillor Bob Fredman thanks to 61 per cent support from Mary Valley voters.

The Division 3 battle between newcomers Shane Warnes and Charlie Horne has not yet been declared, but Mr Warnes is ahead by 143 votes with 95 per cent of the ballot counted.