Surf Coast Shire council elections were conducted on 27 October 2012. Council is returning to a ward structure and residents and ratepayers of our district will be represented by three of nine ward councillors, two representing the Anglesea Ward, which includes Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven, and one representing the Lorne Ward, which includes Moggs Creek and Eastern View.

As occurred prior to the previous Council election four years ago, AIDA provided all candidates with the opportunity to express their views or position on four questions selected to address key areas of interest to our membership. In this way AIDA aimed to provide an even-handed opportunity for our members to understand each candidate’s views on these key matters, and to compare them with those of other candidates. At no stage prior to the election did AIDA recommend or publicly favour any individual candidate. AIDA circulated the Council candidates questionnaire answers to our members by email or post prior to the commencement of voting.

There was only one vacancy and one candidate in the Lorne Ward, and Clive Goldsworthy is the new councillor. Congratulations to Libby Coker and Margot Smith on their election as the councillors representing the Anglesea Ward. Congratulations also to Libbi Coker on her election as Mayor. The successful candidates in the other wards are as follows:

Torquay Ward – David Bell, Eve Fisher, Rose Hodge, Brian McKiterick

Winchelsea Ward – Rod Nockles, Heather Wellington

The contact details of all the Surf Coast Shire councillors are available here, and their photos and biographical details will be posted as soon as the Shire makes them available.

*Click on the ward map to reveal a larger image