Rodney Stevens
Registrations for the 2024 Local Government Elections have closed, the ballot draw has been conducted and first-time candidate, Ulmarra’s Cristie Yager secured the top spot on ballot papers out of 17 candidates for the election.
The election of Councillors across 126 of the states’ 128 Local Government Areas LGA’s will be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission on September 14.
When registrations closed on Wednesday, August 14, at 12 noon, 17 candidates for Clarence Valley Council CVC had registered with the NSW Electoral Commission.
The ballot draws for both CVC and Richmond Valley Council were conducted at 2pm on Thursday, August 15 at the returning office at Evans Head.
A NSW Electoral Commission spokesperson said Council elections are conducted on a cost recovery basis by the NSW Electoral Commission.
“To provide an opportunity for cost savings for councils, the NSW Electoral Commission establishes ‘regional’ returning offices in consultation with councils,” the spokesperson said.
“For each of the regional returning offices, a single Returning Officer manages the elections for a number of councils.
“At the 2021 Local Government elections the Returning Officer’s office was at 48 River Street Maclean for both Clarence and Richmond Valley councils.”
Clarence candidates who attended the ballot draw were Lynne Cairns, Allison Whaites, and a Greens representative, who oversaw the draw.
Residents of the Clarence Valley will elect 9 councillors from the 17 candidates to steer Clarence Valley Council for the next four years.
In ballot paper order, the 17 Clarence Valley Candidates and where they live are:
- Cristie Yager, Ulmarra.
- Peter Johnstone, South Grafton.
- Greg Clancy, Coutts Crossing.
- James Allan, Yamba.
- Allison Whaites, South Grafton.
- Justin James, Elland.
- Raymond Smith, Grafton.
- Andrew Baker, Harwood.
- Phillip Provest, Braunstone.
- Lynette Cairns, Yamba.
- Karen Toms, Iluka.
- Melissa Hellwig, Yamba.
- Stephen Pickering, Ulmarra.
- Shane Causley, Warregah Island.
- Des Schroder, South Grafton.
- Debrah Novak, Yamba.
- Amanda Brien, Grafton.
Of the current CVC councillors, Greg Clancy, Peter Johnstone, Allison Whaites, Debrah Novak, Steve Pickering and Karen Toms have nominated for re-election, with Cr’s Bill Day, Ian Tiley, and Jeff Smith not running.
New candidates throwing their hats in the ring include former Yamba Chamber of Commerce President, James Allan; graphic and website designer Justin James; Grafton resident Ray Smith, former General Manager of Grafton City Council; former CVC employee Phillip Provest; Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN Inc secretary Lynne Cairns; Yamba resident Melissa Hellwig; former state and federal MP Ian Causley’s son Shane; former CVC Director of Environment, Planning and Community, Des Schroder; and Grafton resident Amanda Brien.
Former two-term CVC Councillor from 2012 to 2021, Andrew Baker is seeking re-election after he decided not to contest the 2021 Local Government Election.
First time candidate Cristie Yager told the CV Independent said she was excited to secure first position on the ballot paper for the September 14 poll.
“I was determined to not spend the 15th anxiously awaiting the ballot draw so I busied myself with dropping off corflutes and meeting people who wanted to get to know me,” she said.
Due to her surname, Ms Yager said she was used to being last.
“I’m accustomed to being last alphabetically, so I’d convinced myself to be thankful for anything other than that,” she said.
“I don’t really know how I can express the surprise and gratitude I feel in having the extra boost of being at the top.
“I have on the occasion, mouthed to myself ‘First! What the heck!’”
Voting is compulsory for enrolled adults in the NSW Local Government election, the penalty for not voting in NSW is currently $55.
Follow the CV Independent’s 2024 Local Government Election coverage for announcements about upcoming Meet the Candidates events.