Three recounts, no change, as Geelong council is locked in for next four years

The official unveiling of Geelong’s new council will take place Thursday morning – 48 hours later than expected – after the final two recounts were completed and councillors confirmed.

Emma Sinclair, Andrew Katos and Elise Wilkinson will be members of the new Geelong council.

The make up of Geelong’s new council has finally been confirmed following the completion of three recounts.

As they did five days prior, candidates gathered at the Victorian Electoral Commission’s temporary Moorabool St office on Wednesday afternoon for the distribution of preferences in the Charlemont and Deakin wards.

While there were minor amendments to the primary vote of some candidates following an earlier count, Emma Sinclair and Andrew Katos again came out on top in Charlemont and Deakin respectively.

Emma Sinclair will represent the Charlemont ward on Geelong council.

This followed a recount on Tuesday for the Connewarre ward that saw Elise Wilkinson’s margin over Angela Shearman fall from five to three votes.

The outcome of the recounts mean the 11 candidates who were provisionally elected five days ago remain the same.

In addition to Ms Sinclair, Mr Katos and Ms Wilkinson, the new council will consist of returning members Ron Nelson (Barrabool Hills), Melissa Cadwell (Cheetham), Anthony Aitken (Corio), Eddy Kontelj (Hamlyn Heights) and Trent Sullivan (Leopold).

Rowan Story in Murradoc and Chris Burson in You Yangs will be fresh faces, while former councillor Stretch Kontelj was elected to the Kardinia ward.

The recounts came about because of “one or more critical margins” that needed to be verified.

They forced the delay of the official declaration of results, which was to be held Tuesday morning at City Hall.

This will now take place at 10am Thursday.

The new council will have its first meeting on November 26, when a mayor and deputy mayor will be elected.

Earlier: Just three votes decide Geelong council ward

A nailbiting finish in Geelong council’s Connewarre ward became even tighter following a recount of almost 15,000 votes.

Elise Wilkinson’s margin over her only rival, Angela Shearman, reduced from five votes to three following Tuesday morning’s recount.

While the result – 7478 votes to 7475 – remains provisional until the official declaration of all 11 Geelong wards on Thursday morning, Ms Shearman has conceded defeat.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who assisted me, mail boxed, put a corflute up, called me, emailed me, encouraged me and had my back,” she said.

“To the 20+ scrutineers who turned up today and gave up their time and a day in this beautiful weather for me, I am so grateful.

“We have a wonderful electorate and I will certainly continue advocating for our interests.”

Connewarres covers 75sq km and takes in Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.

A recount in the Charlemont and Deakin wards will be completed Wednesday afternoon.

A recount of the Borough of Queenscliffe votes on Tuesday reaffirmed the five councillors who were provisionally elected late last week.

The declaration of results at Queenscliff Town Hall at 11.30am Wednesday will see

Donnie Grigau, Isabelle Tolhurst, Brendan Monahan, Di Rule and Helene Cameron officially elected.

The Victorian Electoral Commission earlier informed all candidates that the recount results were final.

Earlier: Trio of recounts to delay Geelong council announcement

Three recounts will almost certainly delay the declaration of results for Geelong council, as the Victorian Electoral Commission seeks to ensure the integrity of local government elections across the state.

A complete recount of the Borough of Queenscliffe results has also been confirmed, which meant the results announcement scheduled for 1pm on Monday did not occur.

The recount was initiated by the VEC, rather that at the request of a candidate, as the results involved “one or more critical margins”.

It will take place on Tuesday and the declaration of results has been pushed back to 11.30am Wednesday.

Donnie Grigau topped the count in the Borough of Queenscliffe.

In Geelong, countbacks for the Connewarre, Charlemont and Deakin wards have been confirmed.

The official declaration of results was scheduled for 11am Tuesday but multiple sources said this would no longer be the case.

A recount of the Connewarre result was expected considering Elise Wilkinson came out just five votes ahead of Angela Shearman after almost 15,000 ballots were processed.

Ms Shearman held a lead of almost 340 votes earlier in the count.

The Charlemont recount relates to Labor candidate Tegan Mitchell being knocked out of the count following the third distribution of preferences, at which time she trailed Blake Hadlow by just 14 votes, 4936 to 4922.

Mr Hadlow, who received the most primary votes, went on to lose to Emma Sinclair, who benefited from a favourable preference flow throughout the count.

In Deakin, the recount stems from the results following the third distribution of preferences when Anastasia Hilton was knocked out by just two votes by eventual third placegetter Sue Cox.

Former state Liberal MP Andrew Katos ultimately finished well clear of the Greens’ Izzy Scherrer in Deakin.

About 50 people gathered at the VEC’s Geelong office on Saturday afternoon for the distribution of preferences after the primary vote count was completed earlier in the day.

Originally published as Three recounts, no change, as Geelong council is locked in for next four years