The newly-elected group of Tweed Shire Councillors will elect a new Mayor and consider a Deputy Mayor at an Extraordinary Meeting to be broadcast live on Tuesday 11 January 2022.
The meeting will take place from 4pm (NSW) in the Harvard Room, at Tweed Heads Administration Office, Brett Street, Tweed Heads.
Under the NSW Local Government Act 1993, election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor must take place within 3 weeks of the declaration of an ordinary election, with the newly elected Mayor to serve a 2-year term.
As a Deputy Mayor is an optional role under the Act, Council will consider whether to again appoint a Deputy Mayor and the term of the appointment (which cannot exceed 2 years).
Due to the current rise in COVID-19 cases in the community, the public is encouraged to view the meeting remotely via livestream. Anyone wishing to attend the public gallery must pre-book their seats by visiting tweedcouncilmeetings.eventbrite.com.au. If a person attending is in isolation or showing symptoms of COVID-19 they must not attend. A link to the broadcast and the meeting agenda is available on Council's website at tweed.nsw.gov.au/council/councillors-meetings/council-meetings.
The NSW Electoral Commission declared the results of the poll on 21 December 2021, with 4 returning Councillors and 3 new Councillors elected to represent Tweed Shire until September 2024.
Candidates elected to Council are:
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James Owen
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Chris Cherry
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Meredith Dennis*
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Rhiannon Brinsmead *
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Warren Polglase
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Nola Firth*
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Reece Byrnes
(*New to Council)
Under NSW Government legislation, Councillors must make their individual Oath or Affirmation of Office in person before the General Manager. In a break from tradition, the newly-elected Councillors have each done this individually with the General Manager this week. This was done as a precaution, to ensure Tuesday's Extraordinary Meeting can go ahead as planned, virtually if needed, should a Councillor or senior staff member become ill from COVID prior to the meeting, or be required to self-isolate.
The meeting will be livestreamed and will also be available on Council's website following the meeting.
Councillors will participate in a comprehensive induction program over coming weeks, developed in line with the Office of Local Government guidelines, to prepare them for the rigours of the role.
The new Councillors will serve a reduced term of 2 years and 8 months as a result of the 2020 election being rescheduled.
