BY SHANE DESIATNIK AND DAMIEN MADIGAN 24/09/2008 10:37:00 AM
The Labor Party has lost a long-held council spot and retained another by the narrowest of margins in the final election results for Blue Mountains City Council.
Ward 1 will be without a Labor councillor for the first time in decades after the party's candidate Naomi Parry fell short of replacing retired Labor mayor Jim Angel by a margin of 180 votes.
But it was far closer in Ward 3 where Labor's Alison McLaren hung on to defeat the Greens' Carmel McCallum by only 20 votes after the distribution of preferences.
Despite the tight margin, the Greens have decided not to ask for a recount nor will they pursue allegations of voters being given incorrect information about above-the-line voting at some polling booths. The party has written to the State electoral commissioner about the reports but won't use them to challenge the Ward 3 outcome.
"I think it would be very disruptive to the Mountains to do anything on it. We know how close it was, and it's a great result for us in Ward 3. It's the first time we've come that close," said the party's Blue Mountains convenor and newly-elected Ward 1 councillor Eleanor Gibbs.
After a nail-biting wait to see if she had been re-elected, Labor's Alison McLaren thanked the voters of Ward 3 "for placing their trust in me and giving me the chance to finish some of the projects I started last term".
A strong supporter of the Springwood revitalisation process, Clr McLaren indicated it should continue despite newly-elected Save Our Springwood backed independent candidate Brendan Luchetti topping the Ward 3 poll.
"Well, I think 29 per cent voted for Brendan Luchetti, 71 per cent of people didn't . . . I'm absolutely committed to the studies that are currently under way (for Springwood) and the community consultation that will follow," she said.
While Clr McLaren's re-election will see Labor's position stand at three councillors, a clearly disappointed Naomi Parry pointed to "a short campaign in difficult circumstances" as the main reasons for her demise in Ward 1.
"The State Government was sent a clear message and it's a message we will take on board," she said.
Asked if Labor could make a comeback in Ward 1 in four years, Mrs Parry said: "I think so."
On first preference and group votes by township in Ward 1, Labor's best result was second place in Katoomba but it finished as low as fifth place in Leura, Medlow Bath and Mount Victoria.
The Greens were heavily backed in group votes, topping the count in Katoomba and Medlow Bath and earning second place in Leura, Blackheath and Mount Victoria.
Independent candidate Janet Mays will be a new face on council after topping the count in Leura and earning the third most votes at polling booths in other Upper Mountains towns.
The Leura resident said it was a nail-biting week since election day.
"As the Greens did not make the voting quota we achieved this result without Greens preferences, which is a phenomenal result for a first time independent candidate," she said.
She thanked the people who voted for her and her team of volunteers.
"We have plenty of challenges as a community and I will work hard to both honour my pre-election commitments and to deliver accountable and visionary local governance to Mountains residents."
The re-election of independent councillor Terri Hamilton in second place marks her fifth consecutive term on council dating back to 1991.
"The whole Mountains community has my commitment that my number one concern will continue to always protect the environment and look after the needs of our residents," she said.
Clr Hamilton topped the count in her home town of Blackheath by a margin of 247 votes, finished first in Mount Victoria and second in Medlow Bath.
Asked if there is a secret to longevity, Clr Hamilton replied no, but said she feels she has the experience to continue and can help stabilise the council.
The new council will have three Labor, three Liberal, three Greens, and three independent councillors.