Greens improve chances of retaining places on Yarra City Council after voting surge

The Greens may still retain two places on Yarra council with the latest voting showing improved results for the party, which was facing a wipe-out at the ballot box.

Sophie Wade from the Greens is fighting to retain her seat on Yarra City Council. Picture: Supplied.

The Greens may still retain two places on Yarra City Council with latest voting results showing improved results for the party, raising hopes for two former mayors.

A second round of votes has now been counted and the Greens still appear unlikely to form a majority as they did in 2020 when they became Australia’s first Greens-dominated council.

But the Greens have improved their position in most wards thanks to the latest votes which were received by the VEC after October 25.

Greens councillor Sophie Wade boosted her chances of remaining on council, jumping two percentage points to 35.6 per cent in Hoddle ward which covers Collingwood.

Ms Wade could still lose out to community candidates who will mostly preference each other.

Independents Brielle Pope (18.8 per cent), Tony Lee (18 per cent), sitting councillor Michael Glynatsis (12.5 per cent) and Sharie Harrold (8.2 per cent) all saw their percentages drop.

Ms Pope shot to national prominence when she campaigned against the council’s creation of the “Australia’s saddest playground” in Cambridge St, Collingwood.

Yarra Green Edward Crossland outside Richmond Town Hall.

And outgoing mayor Edward Crossland’s position also strengthened in the battle for Curtain ward, which covers Princes Hill and Carlton North.

Last week, Mr Crossland, one of two remaining Greens on the outgoing council, had a slender lead from specialist anaesthetist Alan Tse with 32 per cent of the primary vote in a neighbourhood considered Greens’ heartland. But Mr Crossland’s vote share has increased to 35.3 per cent while Dr Tse had 24.8 per cent and business executive Peter Sprott 17.6 per cent.

In the Yarra Bend ward, independent Bridgid O’Brien, part of the Yarra for All movement, appears to be locked in a battle with Labor candidate Sarah McKenzie.

Ms O’Brien dropped two percentage points to 32.5 per cent, while Ms McKenzie had 31.8 per cent. The Greens’ Jill Post improved her share from 20.9 to 23.2 per cent.

And in the Nicholls ward, which covers Fitzroy North, independent Ken Gomez, also part of Yarra for All, was ahead with 39.2 per cent of the primary vote, followed by independent Catherine Noone (24.5 per cent) and the Greens’ Thibaut Clamart (25.2 per cent).

The Greens contested all nine wards across the inner-city municipality after winning a record five spots in the 2020 election.

The Victorian Electoral Commission will count preferences next week before officially declaring the results on Tuesday.

Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly.

Independent councillor Stephen Jolly, who has led the Yarra for All movement, was earlier re-elected and will embark on his third decade on council.

Mr Jolly has secured 53.8 per cent of the primary votes in the MacKillop ward, which covers Fitzroy.

The former socialist party member was first elected as a Yarra councillor in 2004 and is an early favourite to be chosen as mayor when the new council convenes in November.

Distant second in the vote was the Greens’ Charlotte George with only 27 per cent, ahead of independent Renee Smith (9.7 per cent).

Charlotte George from the Greens. Picture: Victoria Greens

The Yarra For All movement aimed to return the council’s focus to local services rather than national or international issues.

The Greens threw plenty of resources in their attempt to win MacKillop, even enlisting federal leader Adam Bandt for the campaign.

Yarra Residents Collective spokesman Adam Promnitz said the Greens were given the opportunity to govern with a majority in 2020 and “failed spectacularly”.

“Stephen Jolly winning MacKillop on the doorstep of Bandt’s electoral office capped off complete electoral humiliation for the Greens,” he said.

Yarra mayor Edward Crossland with former mayor Sophie Wade. Picture: Facebook

In Lennox ward, which covers Richmond, local business owner Andrew Davies has retained his lead after the second batch of ballots were counted. His 29 per cent of the primary vote leads independent Peter Razos (17.9 per cent) whose position should improve with preference flows from fellow independents, while the Greens’ Sam Poustie moved up to a 22.2 per cent share of the vote.

Brielle Pope is running in the Hoddle ward.

And in the Melba ward, which covers North Richmond, long-time Victoria St businessman Meca Ho has a slight lead from Labor’s Sarah Witty, 22 per cent to 20.4.

The Greens’ Karen Hovenga improved to 20.9 per cent of the primary votes, but most independents have a policy of putting the Greens last on their how-to-vote cards.

Sharon Harrison is running in the Boulevard ward. Picture: Supplied

In the Langridge ward, which covers Abbotsford, Yarra For All candidate Eva Aston has retained a strong lead securing 40.5 per cent of the primary vote.

The Greens’ Harrison Watt has 31.4 per cent, however Ms Aston is expected to pick up preferences from Ha Tran and the Socialists’ Angus Fretwell.

And in the Boulevard ward, which covers Burnley and East Richmond, independent Sharon Harrison’s lead slipped to 32.5 per cent, ahead of fellow independent Sarah McRitchie (18.6 per cent) with the Greens’ Oscar North third (18.1 per cent).