By Phil Jarratt
After a campaign marred by record levels of noise and nastiness, both on social media and in the real world, Noosa electors appear to have chosen experience over exuberance.
And as the tumult and the shouting died away last Sunday, as positive people began to look at what we’d gained, rather than lost, with Frank Wilkie expected to be mayor and the likely composition of the new council seeming relatively balanced and workable, whether you voted for all of them or not, it looked like the class of 2024 could possibly play well together. And after the frequent toxicity of the previous council, that’s a huge plus.
But, of course, as this edition goes to press Wednesday with only a shade over half the councillor votes counted, and less than a percentage point separating three sitting councillors from three candidates just outside the cut, anything could happen and probably will, so consider this analysis speculative.
What is not speculative is that the dominant figure in the election of six Noosa councillors is Nicola Wilson, the chartered accountant and financial analyst from Cooroy who has led the female-dominated count since it began, and seems certain to emerge as the most powerful woman on the new council, ahead of Cr Amelia Lorentson, who may well poll second after four years of pushing her cause for re-election and more recently courting the favour of the Noosa Boating and Fishing Alliance in suspending the Noosa River Plan. Cr Lorentson, predictably, will be a serious player in the 2024 council, but in Ms Wilson, the shire seems to have found new blood in the form of a well-informed professional with the common touch, one who has endeared herself to all candidates through the campaign with a friendly, bipartisan approach, and a good handle on the key issues.
While not unknown in local political circles, the strong vote for Wilson may be seen as a vote for the new, particularly in the light of her cut-through analysis of tourism versus resident amenity.
Running third as this edition went to press was the lesser known Jess Phillips, a former police negotiator – could have used her on occasion in the last council – who captured the elector imagination without ever really stating her vision for Noosa, other than that she would focus on waterways, waste and community safety.
Next (as of Wednesday AM) we had three sitting councillors in order of Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener and Karen Finzel, with Leigh McCready, Alecia Staines and Cr Joe Juresivic just below the cut but improving. With the key booths of Noosaville, Noosa Junction and Tewantin still to be counted, the smart money midweek was on the return of Lorentson, Stockwell and Wegener, with new blood Wilson and Phillips and last slot going to either Finzel or Juresivic.
There may well be late shifts, but if this is to be more or less the composition of the new council, in concert with the election of Mayor Frank Wilkie, it represents a substantial move forward in teamwork, and a likely repudiation of the bullying allegations and gender war of the previous council. Nothing is certain, including the likelihood of a three-four voting base on all issues, but it seems very likely that Noosa has voted for a sensible, sustainable approach to a difficult future.
PREDICTION:
MAYOR: Frank Wilkie
COUNCILLORS: Nicola Wilson, Amelia Lorentson, Jess Phillips, Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener, Joe Jurisevic.
