Results continue to come in after Fraser Coast council election

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour says challenging roles await the newly elected councillors as division votes start to paint a picture of the 2024 council.

The Fraser Coast’s re-elected mayor has commended the region’s other candidates on their campaigns and “community spirit”.

New and experienced councillors will make up the council.

“It is not an easy thing to do to put yourself forward in such a public way,” Mr Seymour said.

“Our democratic processes depend upon community-minded people stepping forward to take part.

“Throughout the campaign I spoke with all of the candidates and have been very impressed with their enthusiasm, ideas, and commitment.”

With the results now showing a clear frontrunner in most of the divisions, Mr Seymour said he looked forward to the first meeting of the new council.

“I think it will be a very good representative group of the community,” he said.

Division 6 candidate Lachlan Cosgrove.

Divisions 6 and 10 are still too close to predict a winner.

In Division 1, Michelle Byrne looks set to be the new councillor, defeating incumbent James Hansen.

Phil Truscott looks set to be re-elected against candidate Giselle O’Keefe.

Division 3 was uncontested and Paul Truscott will hold his position.

Daniel Sanderson looks set to continue as the Division 4 councillor and Michelle Govers looks set to be Division 5’s new councillor, replacing Jade Wellings, who did not contest the election.

Division 6 is too close to call but candidate Lachlan Cosgrove currently has a slight lead.

John Weiland is leading in Division 7 and looks set to replace Jan Hegge, who was the councillor of the division for a short time when elected by the other councillors after Darren Everard resigned in August.

In Division 8, incumbent councillor and Deputy Mayor Denis Chapman is likely to be re-elected.

Sara Diana Faraj is leading Division 9.

Division 10 is still too close to call and is being led by incumbent Zane O’Keefe, followed by former councillor Rolf Light.

Mr Seymour was re-elected after claiming a resounding 75 per cent of the vote with more than 73 per cent of the total vote counted.

Sara Diana Faraj has announced she will be a candidate for Division 9 in the 2024 local council elections.

Mr Seymour said he was pleased with the result.

“After serving in the role of mayor for the past six years, it is good to know that I have the community’s support,” he said.

“The new council will have a lot of work to do and I am looking forward to the challenge” he said.

“We need to make sure we are focused on serving the community.”

Earlier

Mr Seymour had one opponent in the election on Saturday, Grant Reynolds.

“Throughout the campaign, I think all of the different candidates got to know each other quite well and I am sure whoever gets elected will work well in the team and ensure their division is well represented,” Mr Seymour said.

Mr Seymour was first elected as councillor for Division 10 in 2012 and for mayor in 2018.

Mr Seymour has 46,855 votes and Mr Reynolds has 15,494 votes.

More than 3000 informal votes had been cast, according to the latest tally.

In Division 1, Michelle Byrne is leading fellow candidate Darcy Wain with 1254 votes to his 1031.

Incumbent Division 1 candidate James Hansen had 892 votes and 174 informal votes had been counted.

On Saturday, Mr Seymour was kept busy getting around different polling booths across Hervey Bay, finding a booth with democracy sausages at the Bay’s PCYC, and getting in a photo with two youngsters people dressed up as democracy sausages Kawungan State School.

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Fraser Coast Mayor with some democracy sausages at Kawungan State School.

“It’s great to see community groups holding sausage sizzles at the election booths,” Mr Seymour said.

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Division 7 candidates John Weiland, Andrew Broad and Jan Hegge enjoyed a democracy sausage together at River Heads.

Division 7 candidates John Weiland, Andrew Broad and Jan Hegge having a democracy sausage together.

Fraser Coast mayoral candidate George Seymour at the voting booth at Hervey Bay PCYC.

Paul Truscott, the incumbent member for Division 3 and the only candidate, said he had voted before election day and was on hand to help his uncle, Division 2 councillor and candidate Phil Truscott, on election day.

“Election day is always an interesting and exciting day across the region,” Mr Truscott said.

Division 9 candidate Sara Faraj with her volunteers.

“It’s great that we are seeing a more diverse range of candidates who are willing to put their hand up and name on the ballot paper in the efforts to make our region a better place.

“Candidates and their volunteers have put in many hours of work and well done to them all.

“Best wishes to all the candidates and I look forward to working with my returning and new colleagues.”

Incumbent councillor and the only candidate for Division 3 Paul Truscott campaigns for uncle Phil Truscott in Division 2.

Division 1 candidate Michelle Byrne said there were “good vibes” at the polling booths, which had all been quite busy.

She said she had visited polling booths at Howard and Burrum Heads and was planning to visit Sunbury State School in the afternoon.

Division 1 incumbent James Hansen said he was feeling confident and had spent time at the Howard polling booth in the morning.

Division 1 candidate Michelle Byrne with her team at Burrum Heads.

At Tinana State School, a lengthy line-up was faced by those waiting to vote.

Division 4 candidate Daniel Beattie said he was at St Paul’s Anglican Hall greeting voters and had already cast his vote in pre-polling.

Sausages and Zooper Doopers were in high demand at voting booths across the Fraser Coast.

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Fellow Division 4 candidate and incumbent Daniel Sanderson said he had also cast an early vote ahead of election day.

In Urangan, Division 10 candidate and former councillor Rolf Light said he believed he was in a “strong position” and rated his chances of victory as “cautiously good”.

Former Division 5 councillor Jade Wellings supporting Phil Truscott at Tinana State School on March 16, 2024

“Nobody will know though until the votes are counted,” Mr Light told the Chronicle.

Voters at Torquay State School were faced with long lines stretched out of the voting booths and into the neighbouring streets.

A lengthy line-up of voters at the polling booth at Tinana State School.

Volunteers were in short supply at the Totness Street School, with only three seen working the booths throughout the morning.

Division 6 candidate Lachlan Cosgrove at the PCYC voting booth on March 16, 2024.

A quick exit poll of 50 voters for mayoral candidates Mr Seymour and contender Grant Reynolds revealed 40 votes for the incumbent and 10 for Mr Reynolds.

Volunteers outside the Torquay State School voting booths on March 16, 2024

The long lines followed reports of a malfunctioning computer at the PCYC in Pialba.

There was more positive news for voters at Kawungan and Urangan State Schools, with shorter lines with about five to 10 minute waits.

Despite the delay, tasty democracy sausages lay in wait for voters once they had completed their democratic duty.

Originally published as Results continue to come in after Fraser Coast council election