Wellington Shire welcomes new Councillors

Wellington Shire Council is pleased to receive the Victorian Electoral Commission’s formal declaration of the 2024 Local Government election results.

The Victorian Local Government elections took place in October 2024 with Councillors elected to serve a four-year term from 2024 until 2028.

Wellington Shire’s newly elected Council will include the following:

• Central Ward – returning Councillor Scott Rossetti with newly elected Councillors Liz Foat and Geoff Wells
• Coastal Ward – returning Councillor Garry Stephens with newly elected Councillors Cindy Madeley and Catherine Bannerman
• Northern Ward – returning Councillors Carmel Ripper and John Tatterson with newly elected Councillor Edward Lowe

Overall, five new councillors have been elected for the next term.

Following the announcement, Wellington Shire Council CEO, David Morcom expressed his enthusiasm to work alongside the incoming Council, congratulating both newly elected and returning councillors.

“Along with all of our council staff, I look forward to getting to know our new councillors and working with both returning and newly elected representatives throughout this term. It’s encouraging to see a blend of experience and fresh perspectives and ideas entering our Council Chamber, all with strong connections to the Wellington Shire community”.

Further stating, “I’m especially pleased to see four women represented, which is a fantastic outcome for gender diversity at Council. I’m excited to continue working for our community alongside our dedicated colleagues and councillors, who will bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to their work for local communities. I’m confident that this is a great opportunity for us to shape a brighter future for our Shire as we work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes for our residents”.

The CEO also extended Council’s gratitude to outgoing councillors, Ian Bye, Gayle Maher, Carolyn Crossley, Jill Wood and Marcus McKenzie for their dedicated service and valuable contributions over the past four to eight years.

The first meeting of the newly elected Council will be held on Monday 18 November at 5pm, where the Councillors will be officially sworn in. During this meeting, councillors will also vote for a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Wellington Shire is the third largest municipality in Victoria, covering an area of over 11,000 square kilometres and has a population of over 46,000 people. It is situated in Central Gippsland, known as The Middle of Everywhere, between the Latrobe Valley and East Gippsland. Wellington Shire is located on the traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai people.