Radical changes in council after low voter turnout

The dynamic of Bunbury City Council has changed radically following the weekend’s local government elections with two 20-something youngsters elected and just three women represented on council.

Picture: In: Newly elected councillor David Prosser is just 20 years of age. Out: Wayne Major has served on the council for over sixteen years.

Election returning officer Brian Price said just 29.66 per cent of nearly 21,000 eligible voters turned out to vote this year.

‘‘But I mean if you look at the turnout of all the others it’s very similar so there’s a fair amount of disinterest in local government in the community at large, not just Bunbury,’’ he said.

‘‘Effectively there was less than one in three that voted, which is not ideal.’’

Sam Morris, Neville McNeill, and Murray Cook, who were endorsed by the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries, were elected as were 20-year-old David Prosser and 24-year-old Cameron Bridges.

Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly and Cr Ross Slater were also reelected. But in a surprise twist council stalwart Wayne Major, whose wife Susanne also nominated but lost, was ousted ending his 16-year representation on the council.

‘‘I’m fairly disappointed after 16 years, tome I think I still have a lot more work to do,’’ Mr Major said.

‘‘In regards to the future, the electors have answered they’ve said they wanted a new bloke so they voted in a new bloke, however I think it was partially a mistake on my behalf to have my wife run at the same time.

‘‘I think that confused the electorate because if you look at the votes she probably got about the same amount of votes I got and maybe took some votes away.

‘‘But can I say I don’t believe the best candidates have been elected.’’

Mr Prosser, who works as a carpenter, said as a councillor he would be a strong advocate for getting building approvals through council faster, while hoping to provide a fresh new outlook for the council.

‘‘Politics has always been in my blood,’’ he said.

As a 24-year-old parent Cameron Bridges hopes to use his time as a councillor to help reduce crime and encourage residents to get to know their neighbours.

Mr Kelly, who became a councillor in 2007, said he was ‘‘pretty happy’’ to be able to continue to represent the port city.

He said top of his agenda would be to make sure the city continues to develop and action is taken on building approvals which often remain dormant.