Whitsunday Division 2 by-election in the final stretch

A by-election to cement the make-up of Whitsunday Council has been marked by damaged corflutes and vocal passions.

The Whitsunday Council campaign trail is reaching a fever pitch with rumours of dirty tricks and divided passions.

Clay Bauman, Andy Camm, Christopher Harvey and Daniel Popovich are all in the running for the open Division 2 seat, which takes in the Cannonvale area and Conway National Park.

Election day is Saturday and Mr Bauman said it was “hard to tell” if the campaign had been clean or dirty.

“Six of my signs have gone missing completely,” he said.

“I have looked far and wide.”

Mr Harvey also said some of his corflutes had been knocked down.

Whitsunday Division 2 candidate Christopher Harvey. Picture: Contributed

“It is not just drunks walking down the street,” he said.

Mr Camm said one of his fellow candidates was “interesting” to deal with.

“That is as far as I’ll go,” he said.

Mr Popovich could not be reached for an interview by the time this article was published.

Mr Bauman said he had hit 1500 homes in his quest for power.

“I’ve probably done the majority of those myself,” he said.

Whitsunday Council Division 2 candidate Clay Bauman's door hanger literature. Picture: Contributed

“I have been taking notes of people’s concerns and issues and other little problems I’ve spotted.”

Mr Harvey said he had racked up more than 50km stomping around the field letterboxing and talking to voters.

Mr Camm said he had not gone letterboxing because he did not like to “annoy people” but had spoken with about 400 potential voters at the cafe he frequents on his way to work.

“It’s all new to me, this whole process,” he said.

“It is a lot more involved than I was expecting.

“Just a lot more work than I was expecting and there are a lot of regulations you have got to abide by.”

Mr Camm said the division was “divided”.

“There’s some very strong opinions out there,” he said.

“It’s a lot more vocal than what I was expecting.”

Whitsunday Division 2 candidate Andy Camm with Jeni Borellini. Picture: Contributed

Mr Bauman said the issues of high-rise development, boat ramp and trailer parking and storm-water management were on voters’ minds.

Mr Harvey, speaking at the Whitsundays Shopping Centre pre-poll booth, said high-rises, traffic lights and the location of the new fire station were key concerns.

The election will use an optional preferential voting system, which means voters choose one, some or all of the candidates.

Mr Camm, Mr Popovich and Mr Harvey have put out how-to-vote cards.

Mr Camm has recommended Mr Harvey for second position on his card, Mr Bauman for third and Mr Popovich for fourth.

Mr Harvey has recommended Mr Camm for second position, Mr Bauman for third and Mr Popovich for fourth.

Whitsunday Council Division 2 candidate Daniel Popovich.

Mr Popovich has put Mr Harvey in the number two spot, Mr Camm at three and Mr Bauman in fourth.

Whitsunday Council is led by a mayor and six councillors.

The by-election will end the churn that has convulsed the council in recent months.

The council was first up-ended when former mayor Andrew Willcox resigned to run for the federal seat of Dawson.

His victory in the May election triggered a by-election for his replacement.

Failed federal One Nation Dawson candidate Julie Hall pulled off a shock win in the mayoral contest in late August, beating out Councillor Mike Brunker on preferences to take out the top position.

In September, Al Grundy took on the role of Mackay Isaac Tourism CEO.

The winner on Saturday will fill his seat.

Postal vote applications opened on November 4 and close at 7pm on November 21.