Gold Coast City Council election 2024: Winners revealed in closely contested seats

Suspended murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has lost his reelection bid, with the seat’s new representative claiming victory. ALL THE COUNCIL RESULTS

Suspended murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden has lost the election in Division 7 on the Gold Coast with Joe Wilkinson claiming victory.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland on Tuesday declared the final result, ensuring the mayoral race and all 14 divisions in the city from the March 16 election were decided.

New councillors met with Mayor Tom Tate and attended training and information sessions at the Evandale Chamber.

On a two-candidate vote after preferences were counted, scrutineers had Mr Wilkinson on 8410 votes and the second leading candidate, Jenna Schroeder, on 7392 votes.

The ECQ count showed Mr Wilkinson ahead with 24.31 per cent of the vote, followed by Ms Schroeder with 21.91 per cent.

Candidates Jenna Schroeder and Joe Wilkinson at the count for Division 7 in the 2024 Gold Coast City Council election.

Mr Bayldon-Lumsden was third, having secured 21.72 per cent of the vote. He was 618 votes behind Mr Wilkinson, and trailed Ms Schroeder by 46 votes.

The one-term Division 7 representative had been suspended from office by the State on full pay after being charged with the murder of his stepfather Robert Lumsden, 58, at their Arundel home on August 23 last year. His legal team has entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge.

Mr Wilkinson said he was “humbled” to be able to announce his victory in the tight contest. He thanked family and volunteers.

“I also want to pay tribute to the runner up candidate in this hard-fought race,” he said.

“Awaiting the results over the last couple of weeks and especially today, Jenna Schroeder and I stood side-by-side watching the count.

“We both put our hands up for this role because we were driven by wanting to see our area represented again.

The count for Division 7 on the Gold Coast in the 2024 local government poll. To the far left, candidate Jenna Schroeder, candidate Joe Wilkinson to her right.

“I want to thank Jenna and her team for their professionalism and congratulate her on running a strong campaign.”

Ms Schroeder said it was “absolutely fantastic” that Arundel, Parkwood, Labrador, Molendinar and The Surrounds had representation back at council.

“This was an extremely close election, and while I would have loved to become our councillor, I’m still extremely proud of my campaign and how well I did at the polls,” she said.

Murder-accused councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“After the first votes were tallied, I was only 2.4 per cent behind Joe as the front runner. For me and my volunteers, who were mostly local mums, this was an absolutely mind blowing result.”

“On election night we were so thrilled as an independent candidate with a grassroots campaign and no prior political experience or elections to learn from, I could do so well against such a well-oiled machine.

Division 7 Candidate Joel McInnes in a video on Facebook also congratulated Mr Wilkinson, and thanked residents he met in the community during the campaign trail.

“Well done to you and your family and support group. I wish you all the best,” he said.

“I want to thank the residents. I met so many of you when I was campaigning, to understand the issues you are going through.”

Here at the final results from the 2024 Gold Coast local government poll.

Mayoral race: Nine candidates. Mayor Tom Tate won on 51.89 per cent, Eddy Sarroff was second on 20.73 per cent.

Division 1 (Alberton, Ormeau and Pimpama): Cr Mark Hammel 76.94 per cent, Lisa Findlay 23.06 per cent.

Division 2 (Helensvale, Hope Island, Oxenford): New councillor, William Owen-Jones did not contest. Naomi Fowler 73.35 per cent, Ben Findlay 26.65 per cent.

Division 3 (Coomera, Upper Coomera, Wongawallan): Cr Donna Gates 68.07 per cent, Michael Banham 22.44 per cent, Tamzin Revell 9.49 per cent.

Division 4 (Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Runaway Bay): Cr Shelley Curtis. Unopposed.

Division 5 (Gaven, Nerang and Pacific Pines): Cr Peter Young 61.91 per cent, Martin Vincent 20.53 per cent, Katherine Brooke 15.27 per cent.

Division 6 (Ashmore, Benowa and Southport): Cr Brooke Patterson 50.82 per cent, Samantha Delmege 39.57 per cent, David Woodley 9.61 per cent.

Division 7 (Arundel, Labrador and Parkwood): New councillor. Joe Wilkinson 24.31 per cent, Jenna Schroeder 21.91 per cent, suspended councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden 21.72 per cent, Joel McInnes 13.59 per cent, Edward Sarroff 12.50 per cent, Bruce Byatt 5.97 per cent.

Division 8 (Ashmore, Carrara and Merrimac): Cr Bob La Castra 65.02 per cent, Monique Jeremiah 34.98 per cent.

Division 9 (Mudgeeraba, Advancetown and Numinbah): Cr Glenn Tozer 69.11 per cent, Sarah Denny 30.89 per cent.

Division 10 (Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and Main Beach): Cr Darren Taylor 60.48 per cent, Mona Hecke 39.52 per cent.

Division 11 (Robina and Varsity Lakes): New councillor. Hermann Vorster did not contest to enter State politics. Dan Doran 60.67 per cent, Nic Rone 39.33 per cent.

Division 12 (Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach): New councillor. Pauline Young retired. Nick Marshall 37.75 per cent, Cathy Osborne 33.45 per cent, Luke Henderson 28.80 per cent.

Division 13 (Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera, Elanora): New councillor. Daphne McDonald retired. Josh Martin 54.84 per cent, Nikki Archer 45.16 per cent.

Division 14 (Bilinga, Coolangatta, Currumbin): Cr Gail O’Neill 45.94 per cent, Kath Down 44.11 per cent, Benjamin Theakstone 9.95 per cent.

ANALYSIS

What are the takeaways from the 2024 Gold Coast local government poll?

The vote at first glance confirms a divide between those living in the Deep South and council’s priorities to meet population growth targets.

Mayor Tom Tate secured almost 52 per cent the vote. He had eight competitors. His closest rival, Eddy Sarroff obtained just more than 20 per cent of the vote.

Mr Tate says he has a mandate to deliver a multi-million infrastructure agenda during a record fourth term in office, including advancing light rail stage 4 to the airport.

Those working close to him say it is an “aggressive” plan. They know it is Mr Tate’s last term in office.

The City will fast track Stage 4 light rail to the border, approve a boutique stadium, expand HOTA and progress a $1bn waste-to-energy facility.

The Mayor won the poll but is he guaranteed to get that majority vote in the chamber?

New councillors are Naomi Fowler (Division 2), Joe Wilkinson (Division 7), Dan Doran (Division 11), Nick Marshall (Division 12) and Josh Martin (Division 13).

Shelley Curtis was unopposed in Division 4, after being sworn-in in August last year.

Almost half the council are inexperienced. All appear genuine grassroots representatives. This is going to be the steepest political learning curve.

Add into this mix powerful personality and new CEO Tim Baker, who will continue his program of rapid and much-needed reform of an administration set for generations in concrete.

Gone from council are Cameron Caldwell, William Owen-Jones, Hermann Vorster and Pauline Young, all committee chairs and at the peak of their political careers.

Veteran Daphne McDonald, a voice of protest against trams and high rise development, retired from her Palm Beach division.

Also missing is suspended first term councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden who lost Division 7.

The re-elected councillors, apart from Gail O’Neill in Division 14 and Brooke Patterson in Division 6 which were tough poll battlegrounds, secured super majority votes.

Cr O’Neill acknowledges at least half her electorate sent a clear protest message, about the trams and overdevelopment. Her new colleagues, in neighbouring divisions, were elected on preserving the South’s much loved lifestyle.

Strap yourself in, this will be no sleepy tram journey. More a typical Coast rollercoaster ride.

NAMED: Winner of closely contested council race

Experienced Gold Coast City councillor Gail O’Neill has won her southern division after a marathon count, with the final margin of just 170 votes.

But her rival, outspoken Save Our Southern Gold Coast leader Kath Down, is calling on the Electoral Commission of Queensland to investigate the result. She is questioning ballot counting on a public holiday and election day concerns too, claiming shortages of ballot papers and pencils and long queues stopped people voting.

Mayor Tom Tate - during Monday’s tense final count - called Ms Down’s complaints an “April Fool’s joke”.

Gold Coast City Councillor Gail O'Neill hugs outgoing councillor William Owen-Jones as the final votes are counted on Monday, April 1, 2024. Picture: Paul Weston

Cr O’Neill, shocked by early counting after the March 16 poll which saw her trailing, said: “It has not been lost on me almost half my division did not vote for me. I need to take that message back to council.

“I know some of the issues are State-related and I acknowledge that. But I’m very conscious of the fact there is a message to go back to council.”

Part of the feedback would be the real challenge of development and “managing density”. Ms Down said the vote was “extremely close”.

Gold Coast City Councillor Gail O'Neill and outgoing councillor William Owen-Jones scrutineering as the final votes are counted on Monday, April 1, 2024. Picture: Paul Weston

“Somebody who comes from out of the blue like me, it’s sending Cr O’Neill a very clear message, and you need to pull your socks up and defend Division 14 which I intend to come after,” she said.

Scrutineers believe after the final count of preferences Cr O’Neill will have won by 182 votes.

At the start of counting on Monday, Cr O’Neill had 9680 votes (45.92 per cent) putting her ahead of Ms Down with 9314 votes (44.18 per cent).

As the preferences from Animal Justice Party candidate Benjamin Theakstone were counted, it became clear Ms Down could not catch Cr O’Neill.

Mr Theakstone had 2088 votes (9.90 per cent) — and two thirds had “expired” with voters having not allocated a second preference.

Electoral Commission of Queensland staffers earlier had alerted candidates they would start the count despite a protest from Ms Down.

In an email to the ECQ, Ms Down asked for an urgent inquiry. She said she was concerned about “the direction from the Gold Coast City Council to continue ballot counting on a religious public holiday”.

Ms Down also raised concerns about “insufficient supply of booths by the council” and that polling centres had run out of ballot papers and pencils. The long queues forced people to leave “without casting their ballots”.

“There were also instances of entire bundles of votes being misplaced, further casting doubt on the accuracy and integrity of the counting process,” she wrote.

Kath Down and Gail O’Neill outside the poll count for the 2024 local government election.

Mayor Tate said he had not written to the ECQ, and the Local Government Electoral Act stipulated how counts and disputes were handled.

“We have been in caretaker for nine weeks, with the election held two weeks ago and I believe it’s important our councillors are declared as soon as possible,” he said.

“But this decision will be made when the ECQ deem it appropriate and my faith is with them. I know the ECQ have been working hard and want to get the job done as soon as they can.

“Now Ms Down has made these accusations it is incumbent on her to take the matter further. She should go all the way, with evidence in hand and for transparency sake, show the public the evidence.”

In Division 12, Nick Marshall was celebrating after the Mermaid Beach-Nobby Beach division was declared.

The physiotherapist toppled heavyweight candidates with community activist Cathy Osborne second and real estate identity Luke Henderson running third.

“I’m pretty excited. it’s been a nerve-racking couple of weeks, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m happy to get over the line,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council candidate Nick Marshall hugs outgoing councillor Pauline Young as the final votes are counted on Monday, April 1, 2024. Picture: Paul Weston

Meanwhile, in Division Seven where the count was continuing late on Monday, Joe Wilkinson had 6856 votes, ahead of Jenna Schroeder on 6573 votes.

The preferences of suspended councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, third on 6102 votes, were being distributed with Mr Wilkinson expected to keep his lead.

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Originally published as Gold Coast City Council election 2024: Winners revealed in closely contested seats