The inaugural Queanbeyan-Palerang Council was announced on Thursday morning, incorporating seven Queanbeyan based councillors and four from Palerang.
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The first nine results were as expected with former Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall, Brian Brown (Labor), Mark Schweikert (Liberal), Trudy Taylor, Peter Bray, Trevor Hicks, Kenrick Winchester, Michele Biscotti and Peter Marshall (Greens) all securing a spot. The final two spots were won by former Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison and Country Labor’s Radmila Noveska.
Tim Overall stated this was a positive result for the whole region.
“It’s very pleasing that we have four councillors elected from the former Palerang area,” Mr Overall said. “All the councillors are very much aware they’ve been elected to represent the whole of the local government area and all its communities.”
Pete Harrison, a vocal campaigner for Palerang representation, was circumspect evaluating the results.
“You have to be realistic and say that two of those candidates [from Palerang] were elected on party lines and there’s not really a Palerang element to what they’ve done,” Mr Harrison said. “The third [Trevor Hicks] has also been elected by their close association with Queanbeyan.
“I think you’ll find that Liberal, Labor and Greens will have party platforms that don’t necessarily align with any particular area or necessarily represent any particular area.
“But it’s certainly a positive that four of the councillors have served on Palerang Council, from a corporate knowledge point of view that is really important.”
In an extraordinary meeting, the council will elect a mayor and deputy mayor.