It’s been one of Noosa’s worst-kept secrets for weeks, but a letter sent to its members by the Queensland Liberal National Party last week confirms that Mayor Clare Stewart has been recommended by the party to replace former Noosa branch president Leigh McCready as the LNP candidate for Noosa in the next state election a little over a year away.
The letter confirmed that only one nomination had been received by the applicant review committee, that of Cr Stewart, and it had been passed on to the Noosa branch with a “recommendation to proceed”. She will present to a special branch meeting next Saturday 12 August ahead of the mere formality of a vote.
Cr Stewart’s decision to run against popular Noosa independent Sandy Bolton raises some interesting questions about how the two political opponents can work together to defend Noosa against the population and development imposts of the state’s SEQ Review over the coming months. Noosa Today understands that while Bolton and Stewart had an informal understanding that they would try to resolve policy differences privately rather than in the public forum, that pact has crumbled somewhat in recent weeks.
Asked by Noosa Today for a comment, Cr Stewart responded on Sunday: “I’ll be finishing the job I was elected to do and being mayor for the duration of my term is my first priority,. We have many issues which need addressing and I will, as I have always done, faithfully do the job I was elected to do until March 2024.”
But the more immediate issue for Noosa is who will run for mayor next. Current Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie is expected to make a statement soon confirming that he will run, while close Stewart colleague Cr Amelia Lorentson was also expected to declare her candidacy, although she seemed to deny it in a text response to Noosa Today late on Sunday – “just a rumour”. Noosa Today believes that the experienced Wilkie would have the support of the majority of councillors, and also has a strong following in the shire.
Also doing the rounds of the rumour mill is the possibility that serial committee member Leigh McCready, considered by the state Libs to be a bit too close to the development lobby for comfort, will make a run for council next year instead.
