Countback wins Minty Queenscliff council spot

THE Borough of Queenscliffe is set to welcome a new councillor, just months before the next elections.

Point Lonsdale Civic Association president Rob Minty was announced the winner of a Victorian Electoral Commission countback yesterday, filling the vacancy left by outgoing councillor Tony Francis, who was forced to vacate after selling his Harry’s Kiosk business, leaving him ineligible for the position as he was no longer a ratepayer.

Mr Minty finished with 360 of the 653 available votes, beating fellow candidates Peter Russell, David Kenwood and Louis Baker.

The Borough of Queenscliffe issued a short statement yesterday confirming Mr Minty would fill the council vacancy.

“Mr Minty is expected to formally become a Councillor of the Borough of Queenscliffe at an investiture ceremony held later this week. I’ll be in touch again with a media release following the investiture,” the statement read.

The Advertiser was unable to contact Mr Minty yesterday.

Mr Minty may receive an icy reception from at least one councillor, after hitting out at then-mayor Bob Merriman’s comments around Australia Day earlier this year.

“… We came here to improve things and some of the people who owned the land also enjoyed some significant change in their lifestyle, but some haven’t,” Cr Merriman said at the time.

In a letter to the Geelong Advertiser Mr Minty said he was “appalled at the lack of sensitivity, inaccuracy and misunderstanding of the issue” by Cr Merriman.

“It is disappointing Cr Merriman chose this important issue for his off the cuff and illconsidered opinion.” he said.

Mr Minty spent almost two decades working in travel and tourism industries before moving his focus to local government.