Wikipedia

2024 Central Coast Council election

Main article: 2024 New South Wales local elections

The 2024 Central Coast Council election was held on 14 September 2024 to elect 15 councillors to Central Coast Council as part of the statewide local government elections in New South Wales, Australia.

2024 Central Coast Council election
← 2017 14 September 2024 2028 →
All 15 seats on Central Coast Council
8 seats needed for a majority
Registered260,408 Increase 3.68%
Turnout81.89% (Increase 6.29 pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Belinda Neal N/A
Party Labor Liberal
Leader since 22 August 2024 N/A
Leader's seat Gosford West
(won seat) 		N/A
Last election 6 seats 4 seats
Seats before 6 2
Seats won 5 4
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 2
Popular vote 60,162 47,232
Percentage 30.82% 24.20%
Swing Increase 0.80 Decrease 0.50
  Third party Fourth party
 
Lawrie McKinna-2012.jpg
Sue_Wynn.png
Leader Lawrie McKinna Sue Wynn
Party Team CC Greens
Leader since 29 July 2024 7 July 2024
Leader's seat Gosford East
(won seat) 		None (contested Budgewoi)
Last election Did not exist 0 seats
Seats before 0 0
Seats won 3 0
Seat change Increase 3 Steady
Popular vote 38,169 6,029
Percentage 19.55% 3.09%
Swing Increase 19.55 Decrease 4.71
Largest party before election

N/A (under administration)

 Subsequent largest party

Labor

This was the first election for the council since September 2017, after it was placed into administration on 30 October 2020, missed the local elections in December 2021 and was eventually dismissed on 17 March 2022.

Background

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Central Coast Council covers the entire Central Coast region, which has a population of 346,596 as of 2021. This makes it the third-most-populated LGA in New South Wales, behind only Blacktown and Canterbury-Bankstown.[1]

The council was formed on 12 May 2016 as a "super council" after the state government merged the City of Gosford and Wyong Shire.[2] It is composed of five wards, each electing three councillors, totalling 15 councillors for the entire LGA.

2017 election

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A map of the five wards showing the 2017 election results
Main article: 2017 Central Coast Council election

At the 2017 election, the Labor Party won a plurality with six seats and 30.2% of the vote. Three independents, two members of the "Central Coast NEW Independents" group and four Liberals were also elected.[3]

Administration and dismissal

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In October 2020, it was revealed that the council was unable to pay 2,000 staff, and the council had a debt of $89 million.[4] On 26 October 2020, Liberal councillors Rebecca Gale-Collins and Troy Marquart resigned, stating they sought to "differentiat[e] themselves from those councillors wishing to show due cause to the minister as to why they should remain in local government".[5]

On 30 October 2020, then-local government minister Shelley Hancock announced the immediate suspension of the council and the appointment of former senior public servant Dick Persson as the new interim administrator.[6] At the commencement of the administration period, debt has reached just under $350 million.[7][8]

Persson was succeeded as administrator by former acting CEO Rik Hart on 13 May 2021.[9] As a result of being in administration, no election took place for Central Coast in 2021.[10]

On 17 March 2022, the state government formally dismissed the council after a report on its financial management was tabled in the New South Wales parliament.[11] Although there were initially plans to hold a new election in September 2022, these did not eventuate.[12][13]

Electoral system

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Like in all other New South Wales local government areas, Central Coast uses optional preferential voting. Under this system, voters are only required to vote for one group, although they can choose to preference other candidates.[14]

All elections for councillor positions are elected using proportional representation.[15] Central Coast has an Australian Senate-style ballot paper with above-the-line and below-the-line voting.[16] The council is divided into five wards, each electing five councillors.[17][18]

Voting is compulsory for anyone on the New South Wales state electoral roll.[19] Property owners, rate-paying occupiers or lessees can apply to be on the "non-residential roll" in an LGA, as long as they are not already enrolled as a resident in that area and if they are eligible to be enrolled for state and federal elections.[20] Voting is not compulsory for those on non-residential rolls, although it is still compulsory in the LGA where they are on the residential roll.[21]

Candidates

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A total of 77 candidates contested the election.[22]

Belinda Neal, a former federal MP and senator, led Labor and contested Gosford West.[23]

Former Gosford mayor Lawrie McKinna led "Team Central Coast", which had candidates in every ward.[24] Two of the group's candidates, Matt Simon (Gosford East) and Mark Ella (The Entrance), withdrew in early August and were replaced by George Paterson and Sharryn Brownlee respectively.[25] McKinna contested Gosford East, with former Liberal MP Pat Farmer running in second place on the ticket.[26][27]

The Greens announced former Wyong councillor Sue Wynn as their lead candidate for Budgewoi on 7 July 2024, the only ward the party is contesting.[28][29]

In Gosford East, the Liberal Party had two candidates, instead of three, after missing the candidate nomination deadline.[30] The Liberals did also not endorse in Budgewoi, where former Wyong mayor Douglas Eaton led an Independent Liberal ticket.[31][32]

Central Coast NEW Independents, Ratepayers Choice Central Coast and Coasties Who Care all had one group each.[33][34][35]

Budgewoi

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Greens Independent Liberal Labor Team Central Coast Central Coast Heart Ungrouped
  1. Sue Wynn
  2. Chantelle Baistow
  3. Cath Connor
  1. Douglas Eaton
  2. Allan McDonald
  3. Greg Best
  1. Helen Crowley
  2. Joy Cooper
  3. Sarah Burns
  1. John Mouland
  2. Paul Wade
  3. Mitchell Cowan
  1. Edna Wacher
  2. Diana Lazatin
  3. Anabelle Alcanar
 Sandra Harris (Ind)
Kenneth Kozak (Ind)

Gosford East

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Team Central Coast Labor Liberal Ungrouped
  1. Lawrie McKinna
  2. Pat Farmer
  3. George Paterson
  1. Sharon Walsh
  2. Trevor Drake
  3. Victoria Collins
  1. Jared Wright
  2. Dee Bocking
 Clive Lawton (Ind)
Sharon Andrews (Ind)
Rosemary de Lambert (Ind)
David Kings (Ind)

Gosford West

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Team Central Coast NEW Independents Ratepayers Choice Liberal
  1. Daniel Abou-Chedid
  2. Paul Chapman
  3. Neil Ferguson
  1. Jane Smith
  2. Alison Wade
  3. Lisa Wriley
  1. Kevin Brooks
  2. Stephen Sizer
  3. Lee Erlin
  1. Trent McWaide
  2. Alan Pappas
  3. Kylie Lowbridge
Labor Coasties Who Care Ungrouped
  1. Belinda Neal
  2. Adam McArdle
  3. Mark Ellis
  1. Lisa Bellamy
  2. Sarah Blakeway
  3. Tegan Mulqueeney
 Julian Richards (Ind)
Andrew Baker (Ind. PHON)

The Entrance

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Labor Animal Justice Liberal Independent Team Central Coast Ungrouped
  1. Margot Castles
  2. Matthew Jeffrey
  3. Joan Pavitt
  1. Sarah Ryan
  2. Patrick Murphy
  3. Fardin Pelarek
  1. Rachel Stanton
  2. Stephen Hood
  3. Tracey Perrem
  1. Corinne Lamont
  2. Sam Carter
  3. Dale Long
  1. Sharryn Brownlee
  2. Skaie Hull
  3. Kalvin Smith
 Rebecca Smiley (Ind. PHON)

Wyong

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Liberal Team Central Coast Labor Ungrouped
  1. John McNamara
  2. Wade Russell
  3. Jennifer Ferguson
  1. Kyla Daniels
  2. Natasha Stone
  3. Alexander Burgin
  1. Kyle MacGregor
  2. Evan Schrei
  3. Melanie Gould
 Michael Whittington (Ind)
Daniel Craig (Ind)
Rosemary de Lambert (Ind)
Jara Millward (Ind)

Results

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See also: Results of the 2024 New South Wales local elections in Greater Sydney
2024 New South Wales local elections: Central Coast
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 60,882 31.19 +1.17 5   1
  Liberal 47,232 24.20 -0.50 4  
  Team Central Coast 38,867 19.91 +19.91 3   3
  Independent Liberal 7,364 3.77 +3.77 1   1
  Central Coast NEW Independents 4,744 2.43 -7.97 1   1
  Greens 6,029 3.09 -4.71 0  
  Ratepayers Choice Central Coast 4,239 2.17 +2.17 0  
  Animal Justice 4,032 2.06 +2.06 0  
  Central Coast Heart 3,799 1.95 +1.95 0  
  Independent One Nation 757 0.39 +0.39 0  
  Independent 12,946 6.63 -10.37 1   2
 Formal votes 195,196 91.53 -0.74
 Informal votes 18,058 8.47 +0.74
 Total 213,254 100 15
 Registered voters / turnout 260,408 81.89 +6.29

Budgewoi

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2024 New South Wales local elections: Budgewoi Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor 1. Helen Crowley (elected 1)
2. Joy Cooper
3. Sarah Burns 		12,988 33.99 −9.31
Independent Liberal 1. Douglas Eaton (elected 2)
2. Allan McDonald
3. Greg Best 		7,364 19.27 +2.93
Team Central Coast 1. John Mouland (elected 3)
2. Paul Wade
3. Mitchell Cowan 		6,672 17.46 N/A
Greens 1. Sue Wynn
2. Chantelle Baistow
3. Cath Connor 		6,029 15.78 +7.98
Central Coast Heart 1. Edna Wacher
2. Diana Lazatin
3. Anabelle Alcanar 		3,799 9.94 N/A
Independent Sandra Harris 1,047 2.47 N/A
Independent Kenneth Kozak 316 0.83 N/A
Total formal votes 38,215 89.24 −1.96
Informal votes 4,606 10.75 +1.95
Turnout 42,821 81.2 −1.0

Gosford East

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2024 New South Wales local elections: Gosford East Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Team Central Coast 1. Lawrie McKinna (elected 1)
2. Pat Farmer
3. George Paterson 		14,953 38.23 N/A
Labor 1. Sharon Walsh (elected 2)
2. Trevor Drake
3. Victoria Collins 		11,041 28.23 +5.94
Liberal 1. Jared Wright (elected 3)
2. Dee Bocking 		8,439 21.58 −15.82
Independent Rosemary de Lambert 2,275 5.82 N/A
Independent David Kings 1,399 3.58 N/A
Independent Sharon Andrews 805 2.06 N/A
Independent Clive Lawton 197 0.50 N/A
Total formal votes 39,109 92.07 −0.4
Informal votes 3,367 7.92 +1.02
Turnout 42,476 82.82 +1.52

Gosford West

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2024 New South Wales local elections: Gosford West Ward[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal 1. Trent McWaide (elected 1)
2. Alan Pappas
3. Kylie Lowbridge 		10,830 27.94 +5.74
Labor 1. Belinda Neal (elected 2)
2. Adam McArdle
3. Mark Ellis 		10,722 27.66 +2.26
Central Coast NEW Independents 1. Jane Smith (elected 3)
2. Alison Wade
3. Lisa Wriley 		4,744 12.24 +2.54
Coasties Who Care 1. Lisa Bellamy
2. Sarah Blakeway
3. Tegan Mulqueeney 		4,305 11.11 N/A
Ratepayers Choice Central Coast 1. Kevin Brooks
2. Stephen Sizer
3. Lee Erlin 		4,239 10.94 N/A
Team Central Coast 1. Daniel Abou-Chedid
2. Paul Chapman
3. Neil Ferguson 		3,627 9.35 N/A
Independent Julian Richards 153 0.39 N/A
Independent One Nation Andrew Baker 140 0.36 N/A
Total formal votes 38,757 91.45 −0.45
Informal votes 3,622 8.55 +0.45
Turnout 42,379 82.09 +0.49

The Entrance

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2024 New South Wales local elections: The Entrance Ward[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal 1. Rachel Stanton (elected 1)
2. Stephen Hood
3. Tracey Perrem 		13,677 36.22 +9.82
Labor 1. Margot Castles (elected 2)
2. Matthew Jeffrey
3. Joan Pavitt 		11,329 30.01 +2.31
Independent 1. Corinne Lamont (elected 3)
2. Sam Carter
3. Dale Long 		4,496 11.91 N/A
Animal Justice 1. Sarah Ryan
2. Patrick Murphy
3. Fardin Pelarek 		4,032 10.68 N/A
Team Central Coast 1. Sharryn Brownlee
2. Skaie Hull
3. Kalvin Smith 		3,606 9.55 N/A
Independent One Nation Rebecca Smiley 617 1.63 N/A
Total formal votes 37,757 92.15 −1.35
Informal votes 3,213 7.84 +1.34
Turnout 40,970 80.44 −2.06

Wyong

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2024 New South Wales local elections: Wyong Ward
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor 1. Kyle MacGregor (elected 1)
2. Evan Schrei
3. Melanie Gould 		14,802 35.79 +3.59
Liberal 1. John McNamara (elected 2)
2. Wade Russell
3. Jennifer Ferguson 		14,286 34.54 +13.96
Team Central Coast 1. Kyla Daniels (elected 3)
2. Natasha Stone
3. Alexander Burgin 		10,009 24.20 N/A
Independent Jara Millward 1,150 2.78 N/A
Independent Daniel Craig 659 1.59 N/A
Independent Michael Whittington 449 1.09 N/A
Total formal votes 41,355 92.71 +1.11
Informal votes 3,250 7.28 −1.12
Turnout 44,605 81.92 −0.18

Referendum

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Had the 2021 election gone ahead for the Central Coast, the electorate were to be asked whether the council should be reduced in size from 15 to nine councillors, and the wards reduced from five to three. With the postponement of the 2021 elections due to the administration of Council, the referendum was pushed back to the next election.[38]

In 2024, voters were asked whether the Council should reduce the amount of councillors from 15 to nine, reducing the wards from five to three, and thus each ward electing three councillors each. The referendum passed by a majority of 47,621, and as local government referenda are legally binding, the Council must implement these changes for the 2028 elections.

Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from 15 to 9 and a reduction in the number of wards from 5 to 3, with each ward electing 3 councillors?
Choice Votes %
  Yes 125,222 61.74
No 77,601 38.26
Valid votes 202,823 95.53
Informal votes 9,492 4.47
Total votes 212,315 100.00
Source: https://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2401/central-coast/referendum

References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Central Coast (NSW)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 February 2024.  
  2. ^ "Central Coast Council". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Central Coast". ABC News. 9 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  4. ^ Kontominas, Bellinda (30 October 2020). "NSW Government suspends Central Coast Council, appoints administrator over $89 million debt". ABC News. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Two Liberal councillors bail out of Council". Coast Community News. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  6. ^ Hancock, Shelley (21 October 2020). "Central Coast Council facing suspension". Office of Local Government NSW. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. ^ Hancock, Shelley (30 October 2020). "Central Coast Council suspended". Office of Local Government NSW. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Central Coast Council ends Administration period in strong financial position". Central Coast Council. 28 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024. Council's debt at the commencement of the administration period was just under $350M, due to having to take out two emergency loans, it now sits at less than $200M.
  9. ^ "Administrator Appointment". Central Coast Council. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Central Coast". ABC News. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  11. ^ "NSW government sacks entire Central Coast council after inquiry into financial management". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  12. ^ Raue, Ben. "Central Coast council election, 2021". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024. This election has been postponed until September 2022.
  13. ^ Catley, Yasmin. "Reinstate Central Coast Council elections for September 2022". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  14. ^ "How votes are counted in a local government election". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  15. ^ "The many party systems of NSW councils". The Tally Room. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  16. ^ "NSW Local Government Elections Website". Antony Green's Election Blog. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ Raue, Ben (30 December 2023). "Ku-ring-gai council election, 2024". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Fairfield council election, 2024". The Tally Room. 30 December 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  19. ^ Christie, Chloe (13 September 2024). "NSW, it's compulsory to vote this weekend". The Daily Aus. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Electoral systems of Australia's parliaments and local government" (PDF). Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand. October 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Non-residential rolls" (PDF). New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Four former mayors and two former MPs among 77 candidates". Coast Community News. 21 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Labor team ready to stand". Coast Community News. 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024. Former Federal MP and Senator Belinda Neal will lead a 15-person ticket for the Labor Party in the September 14 Central Coast Council election.
  24. ^ "TEAM CENTRAL COAST". Team Central Coast. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  25. ^ "New faces on Team Central Coast on Council ticket". Coast Community News. 7 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  26. ^ "McKinna announces 15-person team to contest Council election". Coast Community News. 29 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  27. ^ Adams, Edgar (8 August 2024). "McKinna takes full team to Central Coast Council election". Central Coast Business Review. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Central Coast Green Council Candidate Launch". Central Coast Greens. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  29. ^ "Former Wyong councillor Sue Wynn to run in September". Coast Community News. 17 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  30. ^ Raue, Ben. "Central Coast council election, 2024". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Former mayor Doug Eaton runs as Independent". Coast Community News. 24 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  32. ^ "Douglas Eaton OAM". douglaseaton.org. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Jane Smith, Independent". Central Coast NEW Independents. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  34. ^ "Our Candidates". Ratepayers Choice Central Coast. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Three Coasties Who Care to run for Council". Coast Community News. 8 August 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  36. ^ "ANDREW BAKER". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  37. ^ "REBECCA SMILEY". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Administrator's Message - Referendum to proceed | Central Coast Council". www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
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