Surf Coast Council election results: Rebecca Bourke, Joel Grist voted in

Four new people have been elected to the Surf Coast Shire council as provisional results were released by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

Four new people have been elected to the Surf Coast Council based on provisional results.

Joel Grist, Rebecca Bourke, Tony Phelps and Leon Walker are the new faces set to join Surf Coast Shire’s council for the next four years.

They will join the returning Libby Stapleton, Mike Bodsworth, Liz Pattison, Paul Barker and Adrian Schonfelder.

The successful candidates were announced by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Thursday evening after a computer count and they will be officially declared elected in the coming days.

Ms Stapleton had the highest number of first-preference votes with 2615 and will be part of the Otway Range ward with Mr Walker, who had 2220 votes, and Mr Bodsworth, who polled 1869.

The three key platforms of her campaign were climate change action, sustainable tourism and retaining the character of Surf Coast towns.

Otway Range candidate Libby Stapleton received the most first-preference votes based on provisional results of the 2024 election.

Newcomer Joel Grist was the first successful candidate for the Winchelsea ward, with 1611 votes, followed by Mr Phelps with 1528 and Mr Schonfelder with 1203.

Mr Grist was part of an alliance campaigning under a “back to basics” banner along with Ms Bourke and Mr Barker.

Mr Grist is a member of the Libertarian Party and operates Colac Chiropractic.

Mr Grist previously told the Geelong Advertiser the council’s budget was being mismanaged.

“I am of the strong opinion that the shire should be run like a large body corporate, councillors be apolitical, and council not be a forum for social justice issues or ideological governance,” he said.

Mr Barker is a member of the Libertarian Party’s executive and has previously rallied against what he views as a left-leaning council preoccupied with issues outside of its control.

During the election period Mr Schonfelder told this masthead the key issues he was focused on were lowering rates and increasing funding for road maintenance.

Mr Phelps also placed an emphasis on road maintenance, as well as community asset maintenance and supporting community events.

Torquay candidate Liz Pattison, who was Surf Coast mayor in 2023 and 2024, has been returned to council.

Ms Pattison, who was mayor in 2023 and 2024, polled the highest percentage of first-preference votes in the Torquay ward with 23.99 per cent, followed by Ms Bourke with 19.92 per cent and Mr Barker with 17.03 per cent.

Ms Pattison committed to revitalising Torquay’s centre, climate action, safe foot and bike paths and supporting community clubs.

“I am committed to taking a local climate action leadership role to preserve the beautiful community we live in for our future generations,” she said in the lead-up to the poll.

Ms Bourke was subject to a flurry of online abuse during the election period.

Her husband and campaign manager, former Cats captain Damian Bourke told the Geelong Advertiser in October a “creepy” text message had also made Ms Bourke reluctant to be very public.

She took to Facebook on Wednesday to say the way provisional votes were turning out looked like “people want more moderated and centred approach. This is heartening”.

Golden Plains Shire results were also released on Thursday evening.

Lachlan Glen was the first successful candidate with 18.9 per cent of first-preference votes and will be one of four new councillors.

Joining him as new members of council will be Emma Robbins, Des Phelan and Sarah Hayden.

Mr Phelan and Ms Hayden were second and third successful candidates with 13.85 and 14.81 per cent of the first-preference votes, respectively.

Brett Cunningham, Helena Kirby and Owen Sharkey will also return to the council chambers.

Further west, Colac Otway Shire’s council will be filled almost exclusively by fresh councillors, with Chris Potter the only successful incumbent.

Former mayor Jason Schram comfortably won the most votes to complete a successful return to city hall.

Greens candidate Chrissy De Deugd bucked the Surf Coast and Golden Plains trend to secure a seat at council as seventh elected, despite having less first preference votes than a pair of other candidates who narrowly missed.

Zoe Hudgell, Phil Howard, Charlie Buchanan and Mick McCrickard will make up the rest of the council.

It marks the first elections since a municipal monitor Christine Ferguson was appointed to the shire in July.

Ms Ferguson will oversee, advise and support the council until the end of January.

Originally published as Surf Coast Council election results: Rebecca Bourke, Joel Grist voted in