Greens candidate claims council seat

AFTER several setbacks, Phoebe Crockett has today been selected to fill the vacant Torquay ward position on the Surf Coast Shire council.

An Anglesea resident and member of the Greens, Crockett’s campaign last year was focused on environmental protection and climate resilience.

She received 1,501 first preference votes in the October election to Martin Duke’s 848. Duke, a former Surf Coast Shire councillor, was the only other candidate still in contention for the vacant seat.

This vacancy follows the resignation of Rebecca Bourke in September, less than a year into her first term.

A previous countback to elect a new councillor, held last month, saw Torquay resident and Bourke’s fellow Back to Basics team member, Eric Menogue, appointed to the role.

Menogue, however, opted not to take the seat, triggering a second countback, which was held on Wednesday.

It is understood Menogue’s decision was motivated by work commitments, but due to its privacy policy, the Victorian Electoral Commission has been unable to confirm this.

Crockett now has 48 hours to accept. If this does happen, she will join Crs Liz Pattison and Paul Barker in representing the Torquay ward.

If, like Menogue, Crockett does not file the required paperwork by Friday, a modified countback will be held to determine the shire’s new councillor.