By Rose Astley
It is likely that the region’s mayor won’t be announced until early next week, with the Electoral Commission Queensland still to go through thousands of postal votes, as well as telephone results.
Both mayoral candidates are in with a fighting chance – but with only 59.55% of votes counted as of Wednesday, there is a long way to go.
Challenger Clare Stewart had as at Wednesday a current total of 11,918 votes (50.65%), with incumbent Tony Wellington not far behind with 11,612 (49.35%).
The lag in the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s tally room – with website updates having hardly moved since Monday, 30 March – is leaving candidates anxious.
There are 40,274 voters enrolled for the Noosa Shire, but the number of electors who may not have voted last Saturday due to coronavirus fears is unclear.”Some three thousand postal votes and an unknown number of telephone votes have yet to be counted, we should know the final results mid next week,” Cr Wellington said.
“Meanwhile, I am keeping busy with my regular mayoral duties, and in particular as Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group.
“The LDMG has an important role to play in coordinating information-sharing and actions between different agencies, particularly local police and two levels of government.
“In between these duties, I am making sure that I get plenty of exercise, either by way of early morning surfing or else by walking in the national park near my home.
“Immersion in nature is a wonderful way to stay grounded.”
Clare Stewart says she’s relieved the campaign is over, and regardless of the outcome in this year’s election says she’d do it all over again.
“It’s all fairly unsure right at the moment, but I’m hoping for the best,” Clare told Noosa Today.
“We just don’t know what will happen and may not for a while yet.
“I’m relieved the campaign is over and confident I worked as hard as I could.
“Either way really, I’m seeing it as a win-win.
“The whole campaign has been a great experience where I’ve had an opportunity to meet so many amazing people, to better understand this community, and I have received incredible support.
“At the moment I’m home-schooling three children under the age of eight and that brings a whole new dimension.
“I’m exercising every morning at home, talking to the team, keeping an eye on the results and saying a prayer.
“My mother-in-law passed away after a lengthy illness on Sunday.
“So that puts a different perspective on things.
“Her name was also (Claire) Stewart and at one stage she was Mayor of New Plymouth in New Zealand.
“With social restrictions surrounding COVID-19 her funeral this week will be a very small affair.”
Clare Stewart said the global pandemic has more than likely played a part in the election results.
“It’s safe to say COVID-19 has probably played a role in this election, but ultimately the results we’re seeing so far do indicate a community divided,” she said.
“If you said to me five months ago, ‘You will do all this and might still lose, I’d still go ahead and do it.
“It’s been an invaluable experience.”
• Check out councillor count updates on pages 6 and 8.
• For current updates on the count, keep an eye on Noosa Today’s Facebook page and online at www.noosatoday.com.au
