2024 council election results: Greater Shepparton City Council
The votes have been counted in the Greater Shepparton City Council elections. Find out who’s been elected in your ward.
Goulburn Valley
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The 2024 Greater Shepparton City Council election has been run and won.
Find out which councillor will be representing your ward.
Balaclava Ward
Mayor Shane Sali will serve another term after he received nearly 75 per cent of the votes in the Balaclava Ward.
Mr Sali defeated Diane Teasdale (14.65 per cent) and Rudo Makombe (10.40 per cent), and was “looking forward to getting back into the swing of things” when council resumed on November 14.
Mr Sali dealt with the 2022 floods in his time as mayor and has a “great appreciation” for Greater Shepparton’s multicultural community. .
He has been on the council since 2020.
Goulburn River Ward
Mooroopna pharmacist Paul Wickham edged out Emmersyn Rea in a tight battle for the Goulburn River Ward.
Mr Wickham defeated Ms Rea by just 59 votes after all votes were distributed.
While Mr Wickham received more first-preference votes, after second preference votes were distributed the count was extremely close between the pharmacist and Ms Rea.
He was excited to represent the locals of Mooroopna, Toolamba, Dhurringile and Murchison and hoped to create a “more resilient community” to the west of the Goulburn River.
Mr Wickham also wanted to bolster tourism in the region, particularly around “the beautiful Goulburn River”.
Kialla Ward
Kialla Ward incumbent Anthony Brophy has won another term as councillor after he received 52.41 per cent of the vote, beating Terri Cowley on preferences.
Mr Brophy received 34.67 per cent of initial votes, before preferences got him over the line.
He said the three most important issues for residents were land and housing availability, transport connectivity and water security for the region.
“We are the food bowl of Victoria and Australia and we need to maintain that clean and green advantage that we have globally”.
Lower Goulburn Ward
Kieron Eddy has won a term as councillor in the Lower Goulburn Ward after he received 54.30 per cent of the votes.
Mr Eddy won over 45 per cent of initial votes and he got up to more than half the vote once preferential voting was completed.
Mr Eddy lives in Undera and grew up in Shepparton.
Mr Eddy believed the three main issues affecting the area were water buybacks, increasing council rates and the “basics” being overlooked in favour of “pretty, shiny cosmetic issues that councillors think will help their political careers”.
McEwen Ward
Steven ‘Trelly’ Threlfall won the McEwen Ward after he received 58.92 per cent of the votes.
Mr Threlfall defeated Ben Ladson by 663 votes.
Mr Threlfall hoped to “bring back common sense to the council table” now he has been elected.
McEwen Ward has been home to Mr Threlfall’s family for more than 100 years.
He promised to focus on the importance of water to the Greater Shepparton economy.
Midland Ward
Rod Schubert won the Midland Ward after he ran unopposed.
Mr Schubert hopes to bring more employment to the Tatura, Merrigum and Undera areas.
The proud Taturan wanted people to be able to stay in their own towns to work, rather than commuting to Shepparton.
Pine Lodge Ward
Tallygaroopna farmer Geoff Akers won the Pine Lodge Ward after receiving over half the votes in the ward.
Mr Akers received 49.47 per cent of initial votes, before preferential voting saw him receive a total of 52.94 per cent of Pine Lodge votes.
His family have lived in the area for more than 100 years.
Mr Akers, a dairy farmer, has experience on various agricultural boards.
Mr Akers said the three biggest issues impacting the Greater Shepparton region were “protecting water” that grows the local economy, cutting red tape and ensuring council “delivers value and outcomes” with ratepayer money.
Mr Akers lives in the Pine Lodge Ward and will be the first working farmer on the council in 20 years.
Mr Akers has never been a member of any political party or union.
Poplar Ward
Deputy mayor Sam Spinks won the Poplar Ward after she ran unopposed.
Ms Spinks is passionate about social justice and community development, and hopes to focus on doing the little things well with care and transparency.
Ms Spinks wants to make Greater Shepparton as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Yanha Gurtji Ward
Fern Summer won the Yanha Gurtji Ward after narrowly defeating Tom Saxton.
Ms Summer won 1788 votes with Mr Saxton just behind on 1674.
She received 40.70 per cent of initial votes before edging out Mr Saxton on preferential votes.
Ms Summer has been on the council since 2012.
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