A new Mayoral team has been chosen to lead the Tweed, with Cr Chris Cherry re-elected as Mayor and Cr Meredith Dennis OAM re-elected as Deputy Mayor following an Extraordinary Meeting of Council this afternoon.
Cr Cherry and Cr Dennis were elected unopposed after Cr James Owen and Cr Reece Byrnes both declined their nominations to contest the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral positions respectively.
This marks Cr Cherry's fourth term as Mayor, after she was first elected as a Councillor in 2016. She has served as Mayor of the Tweed Shire for the past 4 years, including through the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 flood.
The new Deputy Mayor is Cr Meredith Dennis OAM, who will serve one year in the role until September 2025.
Cr Cherry, who will serve in the role for two years until the mid-term mayoral election in September 2026, thanked the community for placing their trust in her once again.
"I really thank the community for their endorsement – the community has told me they like stability in leadership at this time and I want to provide that," Cr Cherry said.
"The community has given a resounding endorsement of Council by electing the same leadership team as the previous term, with just one new representative in Cr Kimberly Hone elected to replace the retiring Cr Warren Polglase.
"My priority in the next term will be on affordable housing and managing growth in the Tweed so we can have great development while protecting the amenities of our residents and our beautiful Shire.
"I congratulate Cr Meredith Dennis OAM on her appointment as Deputy Mayor and look forward to working with her again. It is exciting to have five women elected to the Council and to see that reflected in our leadership.
"The majority of residents voted for a progressive Council, so it is fitting the leadership reflects this. As an independent, I will work with all Councillors and politicians of all levels to ensure the best outcomes for the Tweed."
This marks Cr Dennis' third term as Deputy Mayor, after she was first elected to Council in 2021.
"I am thrilled to be re-elected as Deputy Mayor and look forward to another year of supporting the Mayor to the best of my ability," Cr Dennis said.
"Support for the rising number of homeless in our community as well as caring for our wildlife will be top of my agenda for the next four years."
Following the 14 September 2024 election, six sitting Councillors were re-elected to the Tweed Council in Cr Rhiannon Brinsmead, Cr Reece Byrne, Cr Chris Cherry, Cr Meredith Dennis, Cr Nola Firth and Cr James Owen, with one new Councillor, Kimberly Hone, joining the team.
The newly elected Councillors are currently undergoing an in-depth induction program, designed in alignment with the Office of Local Government, to equip them for the responsibilities of their roles.
