By Luis Feliu
Greens councillor Katie Milne has been re-elected as mayor of Tweed, with new councillor Chris Cherry elected as deputy mayor, forming the first all-female leadership team in Tweed Shire’s history.
At yesterday afternoon’s first meeting since the October council election, Cr Milne, who won the most primary votes at the poll, beat the National Party veteran Cr Warren Polglase in a 4-3 vote for the mayoralty, which is now for a two-year term instead of one.
Cr Cherry, a Pottsville community campaigner, was also voted in 4-3 for the deputy position for the next 12 months against Murwillumbah businessman Pryce Allsop.
The voting pattern confirmed that faction or bloc voting will again be a feature of the next four year term of council.
The progressive majority are Crs Milne and Cherry, Labor’s Reece Byrnes and Kingscliff no-high-rise campaigner Ron Cooper.
The minority conservative bloc of Crs Polglase and Allsop, who is Nats backed, and the Liberals’ James Owen, from Casuarina, is expected to oppose them on many issues.
Many in the packed public gallery, which included family and friends as well as Richmond MP Justine Elliot and former deputy mayor Gary Bagnall, applauded and cheered when Crs Milne and Cherry were elected.
Cr Milne, who had served as mayor for the past year, said she welcomed the councillors’ renewed endorsement saying, ‘We can work really well together’.
She said her priority was ‘trying to keep that agenda of sustainability going – it’s more important than ever’.
‘There’s obviously some very important environmental and social issues as well, we’re a low socio-economic area and we must make sure we look after the people who need it most.’
Cr Milne praised her new deputy saying, ‘I think it’s a really big endorsement of Chris for the work that she’s done for the Pottsville community over so many years, respecting all sides of the community, she’s well known and well respected’.
In another first, Cr Reece Byrnes, at 28, is the youngest councillor to be elected to Tweed council.
What a great outcome for the Tweed! To have women as both leaders of the shire will only improve the shires core needs over that of the Independent Nats.
One will see the future of the Tweed be a location where we have diversity and natural wealth instead of what some in the ranks of the Nats would value the tweed to be the southern corridor of the Gold Coast.
It’s obvious to any one that lives in the Tweed that our tourism is bypassing the Gold Coast to see what is afield to the south and to the west of the border, especially the population of the Brisbane suburbia’s.
Well done Katie and Chris and remain tall at all times, as men will try to denigrate and belittle you in politics.
No more infrastructure for another 2 years.Hope the population of the Tweed doesn’t continue to increase.
Johnno,
The Casino to Murwillumbah train has been stopped since 2004 and has led to the deterioration and decline in business in Murwillumbah. The Roundhouse Tavern, just across the road from the station is to be converted into a Petrol Service Station. No more beers and convivial and friendly communication for people as there are no people, and when there are no people there is no money flow. It is petrol now for sale for cars.
Len, Your making some huge assumptions here about the impact of the closure of the rail service on Murwillumbah. Where is your proof/facts? As there were only two trains a day on that service when it closed in 2004 I seriously doubt that alone was the cause of the demise of business in Murwillumbah. The river view pub is always doing a brisk trade whenever i drive past. If the roundhouse is closing then it’s for other reasons.
What a shame there is still so much negativity within the community. Five new faces in Council and still the pot shots continue. It’s sad some people don’t even give the new look Council a chance before making negative divisive comments. I thought we had endured years of negativity and people voted for a new team. Give them a chance!
Terrific outcome for the Tweed. Well done everyone. The old guard has gone. Time to retire gracefully Warren.
Congratulations to you both I am confident you will look after the amazing area in your charge,all the best to the New Tweed Councillors.
A truly great outcome for all of the Tweed. From my observations, new comer Councilor Allsop has a progressive mindset based on some of his comments so far. We will be watching closely and see whether Pryce will vote in support of protecting the Tweed environment, ecology and fulfill his vision of promoting Eco-tourism or tow the Nat party line……..