Nominations open to fill Robe position

Councillor David Laurie TBW Newsgroup
Councillor David Laurieweb TBW Newsgroup
EXTRA ROLE: Councillor David Laurie is the new deputy mayor of Robe District Council.

NOMINATIONS to fill the extraordinary vacancy on the Robe District Council will open on September 26 and close a fortnight later.

Deputy mayor Peter Riseley submitted his written resignation on August 11 to take effect at the August monthly meeting.

The voters roll for the supplementary postal election closes at 5pm tomorrow.

If an election is necessary, voter packs will be mailed out on October 22 and the ballot papers have to be returned to the Electoral Commission of South Australia by noon on November 11.

It is expected the votes will be counted the following day and a provisional declaration made.

Nomination kits will be available from the Robe council office.

A candidate briefing session will be held for intending candidates with a date to be confirmed closer to the event.

Mr Riseley had been the deputy mayor since the last election in November, was mayor between 2010 and 2018 and a rural ward councillor between 2006 and 2010.

During his time on council, Mr Riseley was a delegate to many outside organisations.

The retired professional fisherman has been active in the Robe community for many years and has a passion for environmental issues.

Mr Riseley’s Vietnam war service started in 1971 as a 17-year-old sailor with the rank of Ordinary Seaman aboard HMAS Duchess.

Councillor David Laurie was elected to the role of deputy mayor in succession to Mr Riseley at the August monthly meeting.

Elected in November, Cr Laurie will temporarily take the reins of Robe Council as Mayor Alison Nunan takes leave of absence.

Mr Laurie was an unsuccessful Robe District Council candidate at a by-election in mid-2017.

There were three unsuccessful candidates for office at Robe at the last poll in 2018.