Councillor Dheera Smith has announced her retirement from MidCoast Council due to a serious illness.
Cr Smith was first elected to MidCoast Council in 2021 and was most recently re-elected in the September 2024 local government elections. Her retirement was effective as of Monday 7 April.
In acknowledging the contributions of Councillor Dheera Smith to Council and the community, Mayor Claire Pontin paid tribute to her dedication.
"Cr Smith has served our community with unwavering dedication, passion, and integrity. Since her election she has been a strong advocate for the community, especially on environmental and social issues."
"On behalf of my fellow Councillors, Council staff, and the community, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Cr Smith for her outstanding contribution and selfless service. Her leadership and compassion have been greatly valued and will be deeply missed around the Council table".
"We respect her decision to step back at this time and offer our full support and best wishes to her and her loved ones."
During her time on Council, Cr Smith contributed to a number of Council Committees and Reference Groups, including as:
Chair of the Koala Reference Group
Chair of the Community Inclusion and Wellbeing Reference Group
Chair of the Heritage Reference Group
Member of the Aboriginal Reference Group
Member of the Hunter Regional Weeds Committee
Member of the Southern Estuaries Reference Group
NSW Public Libraries Association Councillor representative
Cr Smith's replacement on Council will be determined by the NSW Electoral Commission based on a countback of votes from the September 2024 election. This option, which avoids the cost to the community of conducting a by-election, is administered by the NSW Electoral Commission. According to the Electoral Commission this process can take up to 49 days.
MidCoast Council resolved to follow this path in the event of a Councillor's resignation at the October 2024 Council Meeting.
