Walcha council elections: Scott Kermode wins battle for Walcha deputy mayor position, Eric Noakes runs unopposed for top job

Voters were asked to have their say via a referendum, and 61.2 per cent of people decided it was time the wards were abolished.

Despite having a small population, Walcha had four wards, with two councillors to be elected from each. At the latest election this saw four officials - two a piece from wards A and C - automatically elected without having to actually receive a vote.

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Eric Noakes, who on Wednesday was re-elected as mayor by his fellow councillors, said he thought it was the right call.

"I was hoping it would get up," he said.

"With this year's election half the people in our council area did not get a vote on who represented them on council, and I think that's a pity.

"Whereas if it's all-in, everyone gets a vote, which I think is the better system, and I believe in 2021 we represent the whole community not just a ward, so I think it's a great outcome."

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While Mr Noakes ran unopposed for the role of mayor, councillors did have a choice to make when electing his deputy, and it was Scott Kermode who claimed the position over newcomer Nena Hicks.

Mr Kermode, who has been part of council since 2016, said he was excited to take on the role.

"There's a number of reasons I went for it, probably the main one was for a bit of continuity, out of eight there's five new councillors," he said.

"So for the sake of continuity it seemed like the responsible thing to do."

Walcha's council for the next term will be made up of Mark Berry and Greg Schafer (ward A), Mr Noakes and Anne-Marie Pointing (ward B), Ms Hicks and Mr Kermode (ward C) and Kevin Ferrier and Aurora Reilly (ward D).

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