New mayor promises consultative, united Noosa Council

Noosa’s new councillors took their oath on Tuesday, with Mayor Tony Wellington vowing to be a ‘consultative’ leader, heading up a ‘collaborative’ council.

Teamwork was the key message as the mayor and his six fellow councillors took their declarations of office and addressed an overflowing public gallery at Noosa Council’s Tewantin chambers.

Cr Wellington acknowledged a ‘new era’ for Noosa Council, which features new faces and Noosa’s first ‘untried’ mayor since 1997.

Cr Wellington welcomed the councillors’ mix of skills and experience and paid tribute to past mayors Noel Playford and Bob Abbot for their work over almost three decades.

“The new councillors’ skills will be put to good use as Noosa Council develops a future-oriented planning scheme, drives sustainability in both the Council and the local economy, and continues to build on the work of past councils to enhance our local environment,” Cr Wellington said.

Cr Frank Wilkie is Noosa’s deputy mayor, elected at the new council’s Post-Election Meeting.

Council also elected the members of two new standing committees.

Councillors Tony Wellington, Ingrid Jackson, Joe Jurisevic and Brian Stockwell make up the Planning and Environment Committee.

The Services and Organisation Committee consists of councillors Tony Wellington, Jess Glasgow, Frank Pardon and Frank Wilkie.

The new committees replace the former Planning and Organisation Committee and Infrastructure and Services Committee.

Cr Wellington said the restructure would better divide the workload.

Council will begin its first full round of meetings on 19 April.

6 April 2016