Grigau takes the helm in borough leadership reshuffle

Donnie Grigau will lead the Borough of Queenscliffe for the next 12 months, after being elected as mayor on Wednesday.

Grigau, who has been a councillor since 2020, was nominated by outgoing mayor Di Rule and secured the position unopposed.

Rule will step into the role of deputy mayor. She was also elected without contest on Wednesday, after being nominated by her predecessor Brendan Monahan.

Both will serve in their respective roles for a one-year term.

Grigau said Queenscliff deserves a council that works together, and a mayor able to unite people.

“I want to state clearly, I’m here to be the spokesman for the whole council group, not myself,” he said.

“My role is to communicate our shared decisions and present one consistent, respectful voice to the community.”

He cited open discussion, good governance and decision-making backed by evidence and community feedback as his priorities for the coming year.

“Our direction is already set by the community vision and council plan and will stay focused on delivering what our ratepayers and community has asked us,” Grigau said.

The borough endorsed its new community vision in July, despite heavy criticism from residents, who questioned the transparency of the community consultation process.

Significant changes to the vision, which saw references to reconciliation and climate action removed, were voted through by the council before the feedback it received was made public.

The borough’s council plan, meanwhile, was adopted last month. It garnered just 25 submissions during the consultation process, a 10th of the responses the borough received during consultation on its 2021 council plan.