Cabonne Council's 12 councillors have been confirmed.
FIVE fresh faces will join Cabonne Council’s seven exisiting councillors in the chamber for the next four-year term.
The final results from Saturday’s council election have been released, but candidates still have until this afternoon to ask for a recount.
The 12 councillors will be officially declared elected later this week.
Former deputy mayor Ian Gosper said he was excited but surprised to be the first councillor to be elected for his second term, after topping the polls.
“It’s quite good to see that the seven restanding councillors got back on again,” he said.
“It means we must be doing something right. I think we’ll have a good mix.”
Unlike female candidates for Orange and Bathurst councils who appear to be struggling to make it to council, Cabonne has bucked the trend, with three women, councillors Janelle Culverson, Sharon Wilcox and newcomer Marlene Nash, earning a spot.
Cr Gosper said it was great to see and was indicative of the high calibre of the candidates.
Cr Culverson received the second highest amount of votes and was the only individual candidate to make it to council for her second term.
“I consider it to be an exciting time ahead with the new council and the new general manager,” she said.
Cr Culverson said the high number of females was a great plus because they brought a different perspective to the council.
“Unfortunately there aren’t many females putting their hands up,” she said.
“It is very difficult, that balancing act with family life, business and council ... so perhaps some females do baulk at that.”
Cr Gosper believes it will be a cohesive council.
“Unless the councillors and staff work as a team we won’t get anywhere,” he said.
“One thing we’ve stated all along is that we’re all individuals and we’ll be voting that way.”
Cr Culverson agreed and said it was important to have different opinions on the council.
Cr Gosper said he had been asked to take on the mayor’s role and would throw his hat in the ring, but Cr Culverson said she would give it some thought before making a decision.
Cr Gosper said the abolishment of the wards system had worked well for the council.
“We’ve still got that representation from the whole area,” he said.
Cr Culverson said the council needed to put more work into the procedures ahead of the next election so voters understood the system.
Both Cr Gosper and Cr Culverson believe the local government review will be a major issue for the council to face over the next term.
1. Ian Gosper
2. Kevin Walker
3. Lachie MacSmith
4. Janelle Culverson
5. Anthony Durkin
6. Michael Hayes
7. Sharon Wilcox
8. Geoff Dean
9. Marlene Nash
10. Greg Treavors
11. Ian Davison
12. Graham Smith
clare.colley@ruralpress.com