The new Ballarat council will have a familiar look to it, with seven of the nine previous councillors returned. However, there are likely to be some significant shifts in the shape and dynamic of the council over the next four years.
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Participation rates in a postal vote conducted under pandemic restrictions surged for these local elections across the state, and Ballarat was no exception. Every ward registered a higher than 80 per cent turn out - and it almost hit 85 per cent in the North Ward.
Two councillors - Grant Tillett from the North Ward and Jim Rinaldi from the South Ward - were voted out. The remaining incumbents will now work with two new faces: Peter Eddy in the North Ward, and Tracey Hargreaves, both of whom are independent candidates.
Here is the breakdown of the results, and how they vote unfolded:
North Ward
Councillors: Peter Eddy (new); Amy Johnson (returned); Daniel Moloney (returned)
The voting: Amy Johnson gathered a huge slice of the first preference vote (27 per cent) - more than other councillor - and easily retained her place. Peter Eddy was also a comfortable second place, while Daniel Moloney needed to rely on preferences, which he received in abundance as fellow Labor candidate Jay Morrison was eliminated. In the end he easily finished in front of the Greens Party's Ellen Burns, who he had trailed in the first preference vote.
Central Ward
Councillors: Belinda Coates (returned); Mark Harris (returned); Samantha McIntosh (returned).
The voting: Greens Party candidate Belinda Coates had her biggest share of the vote yet (26 per cent), and achieved a quota for the first time. Mark Harris was next to be elected, followed by three-time Samantha McIntosh, who held off independent candidate Nick Shady by 140 votes once preferences were taken into account. Former state MP Geoff Howard - a Labor candidate - was a distant fifth place, stymying his attempt at a political comeback.
South Ward
Councillors: Des Hudson (returned); Tracey Hargreaves (new); Ben Taylor (returned).
The voting: The longest serving councillor in Ballarat, Des Hudson received a resounding endorsement on the ballot papers, dominating with 26 per cent of first vote preferences. The result was not in doubt either for Ben Taylor, the mayor in the final year of the previous council, who was the next councillor confirmed. Again, the Greens party struggled with preferences and Tracey Hargreaves was ultimately voted in quite comfortably, more than 1000 votes in front of Jackson Snep, who had been third after first preferences were counted.
New dynamic
On the face of it, two independents have been voted out - notwithstanding the fact that Grant Tillett revealed he was a member of the Liberal Party in the latter stages of the previous council - and replaced by two other independents in Peter Eddy and Tracey Hargreaves.
However, the balance of council is likely to shift, as the two outgoing councillors were both staunch supporters of Samantha McIntosh, the mayor from 2016 to 2019. That alliance had an acrimonious falling-out with the majority of other councillors following last year's mayoral election. Tensions erupted sporadically afterwards, in particular in the wake of the Ombudsman's report released in May and the decision to sack the former CEO Justine Linley.
The balance of the council at this early stage seems relatively evenly spread. There are three Liberal Party members - Amy Johnson, Samantha McIntosh and Ben Taylor, with Crs Johnson and Taylor closely aligned.
The Labor party did not make the inroads they had hoped to make, keeping the same two candidates on council but not increasing their numbers. The result is likely to be a disappointment to many in the local branch, which officially endorsed candidates for the first time. They will regroup to analyse the campaign and the influence of other factors such as COVID-19, restricted campaigning and the criticism faced by Daniel Andrews' state government at the time of the voting.
It was a similar story for the Greens Party. While their candidates had a notable surge in support, they ultimately did not gain any more representation, with Cr Coates still the sole Green on council.
Meanwhile the three independents - which include Mark Harris as well as the two newcomers - will have some genuine sway - but it is too early to be sure how that will play out.
One thing is likely, as newcomer Peter Eddy said to The Courier shortly after his election: "The success or failure of this council will be determined on its ability to work together."
Next steps
The council will be sworn in next Wednesday evening at 7pm at town hall (a meeting that will not be open to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions).
At the same time, the election for mayor and deputy mayor - which is done just between councillors - will also take place. With the arrival of Mr Eddy and Ms Hargreaves, it is a hard one to read - although they are likely to get an early taste in behind-the-scenes deal-making over the next few days, no matter how much they wish to avoid it.
High up on the to-do list once that task is complete will be choosing a new permanent CEO to replace Janet Dore, who has been working in an interim capacity since June. Some councillors may wish to see that done as soon as possible, others may wish to take more time to consider their options.
Councillors will also need to work together to write a council plan, which will form the basis of their strategy and the projects they are likely to focus on over the next four years.
This is all the more important given the current economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However the next four years unfold, one thing is sure: this will be the final time the current three councillor ward system will be used in the foreseeable future. Single-ward councillors will be in place for the 2024 election - which will itself surely change the dynamic of the council in ways that remain to be seen.
FURTHER INTERVIEWS
The Courier conducted several interviews when the results were made (not everyone could be interviewed and several candidates were not there in person).
NORTH WARD
Ellen Burns
Greens candidate North Ward, overtaken by Daniel Moloney on preferences
This is what happened in 2016, I knew this was what I was setting myself up for. I am a first time candidate so coming third in the primaries was a big achievement. Obviously I am very disappointed but that's how this system of election goes with the preferences.
I will be back and hopefully next time as a second time running, I will be able to get in.
I knew going into the campaign I didn't have a great chance of getting elected. I knew it wasn't a sure thing, I wasn't getting ahead of myself. I had a decent lead and I was hoping it was enough.
Amy Johnson
Liberal party member, North Ward - returned with the most votes of any candidate
I feel incredibly grateful to the people of Ballarat for electing me for another four years. It's exciting to see a couple of new faces on council, both highly respected members of the community.
I am looking forward to working with them and seeing what the bring to council. I am also pleased that we have some continuity with multiple incumbents elected because I do think we have a great deal of experience as a group.
I am looking forward to the process of developing a council plan for the next four years and hearing community feedback on what people in Ballarat would like to see.
We need to be working out how we can support local businesses and our community in a post COVID recovery. It's been an awful year.
Daniel Moloney
Labor candidate, North Ward, returned for a second term
It's been a pretty nervous wait for the past two weeks. It's great to be back for another four years. We now need to quickly take stock of who's elected, make sure the council group starts functioning well again, stop looking inward and then start getting back to work and make sure Ballarat is shaking off its hibernation.
On the one hand the Labor vote was strong, especially in the middle of a pandemic where a state Labor government is closing the entire state but on the same token [Labor endorsing candidates] is something that needs to be looked at.
I think people are aware that politics is part of councils but they want it to be a secondary element.
Jay Morrison
Labor candidate, North Ward, fifth placed overall
I feel really good. Democracy has occurred, it is what it is. I think I ran a really good campaign for a first-time candidate. I'm happy with the result I achieved, beating one sitting councillor and almost coming within a stone's throw of another on primaries. I honestly haven't thought forward for four years, I will continue to do my volunteering and community work and if the opportunity comes again I might run again.
CENTRAL WARD
Samantha McIntosh
It's been an honour and a privilege to represent our community for the past 12 years, and to be re-elected again.
The opportunity for me to continue listening to our community and what they see for the future for Ballarat is something I commit to as much I have for the last 12 years. My commitment is whole.
We've come through COVID with strength. There's been a lot of disruption and a lot of heartache and equally there has been a lot of opportunity for us to come out as a very strong and shining region that will help the whole country move on.
First priority is to make sure we come together as a strong councillor group that will represent our community as a collaborative.
It is important the we focus on the success of the previous council too, previous projects that have been enormously successful. It's important that those projects are followed through with and that the new council together will complete a council plan that will allow our community to head towards the
It's wonderful to have new faces on council. They come with great experience, wisdom and connections to our community.
I would also like to say congratulations to Councillor [Grant] Tillett and Councillor [Jim] Rinaldi for their enormous commitment and their diligent, honest focus and their communities, their integrity. Their commitment over a long period of time has certainly put Ballarat ahead, with strength and I thank them for what they've contributed.
SOUTH WARD
Bridget Aitchison
Labor candidate, South Ward, sixth placed overall
I said from the beginning I said that if I lost, I wanted to lose knowing that I had given it everything I had and I kept my integrity. And I did. No regrets and I loved the process.
I am not sure [if Labor endorsement was to blame]. Endorsement did work well for the Greens in Central Ward. I think there's so many factors, including COVID and the incumbents overwhelmingly got back in. We're going to have to do a lot of analysis, to figure out why. I don't think the endorsement was the main factor at all.
The process itself, I learned a lot and met some amazing people.
Jackson Snep
Greens candidate, South Ward, overtaken by Tracey Hargreaves on preferences for third place
This is my first campaign, I am honestly thrilled to have done as well as I did in the first place. There is a real appetite for Greens involvement in council and a more progressive Ballarat for that matter.
I will be looking at running again, once I have got over the initial disappointment.
That's the nature of preferences, you never really can tell.
Ben Taylor
Liberal Party member, South Ward, returned with second highest share of the vote
I am glad to get the result, it was good to get the initial votes through on first preference. It was really comforting, and thanks to the community for putting me in there.
Now we know who the new councillors are, we can make the decision [for mayor] as a group.
The big thing is the CEO, and the council plan. It is really important to set up what the ambitions are of this new council. We've got a couple of new people in there and get their personalities there and work as a group over the next four years.
It's great to see we've actually got some change, new blood coming through. It's good to have that mixture of experience but also new people.
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