Narrow win was wake-up call

‘The close result shows there is an appetite for change and I will need to look at being more inclusive in the new council,’ Mr Norris said.

Mosman Park also ran a referendum on mergers alongside polling, with 1352 of the Town’s 8596 residents voting against the State Government-proposed G7, while 508 were in favour of change.

Mr Norris said the result showed community opposition to the G7 and work now needed to determine if those who wanted change liked the alternative G4 or another model.

In South Ward, Louise Avon-Smith replaces Maureen Harcombe, with the five other councillors unchanged.

A 37.16 per cent turnout rate from 1132 electors at neighbouring Peppermint Grove was the second highest in WA after Fremantle (38 per cent), with former shire president Brian Kavanagh (13.7 per cent of the vote) elected as councillor until October 2015, ahead of Robert Breden (11.98 per cent) and Sue Russell (9.24 per cent).

Mr Kavanagh said he campaigned on traffic safety and congestion issues and looked forward to discussion on alternative merger models.

At the Town of Cottesloe, Greens-aligned Greg Boland lost his seat to ProCott president Philip Angers in the north ward.

In Subiaco, voters remained loyal to long-serving councillors Lynley Hewett, Lee Hemsley, Paul Clements, Murray Rowe and Scott Arbuckle, while newcomers Hugh Richardson and Mark Burns, the latter of whom was the city’s youngest councillor 25 years ago, will be sworn in at the City’s next council meeting.

Nedlands residents re-elected Crs Bill Hassell, Robert Binks, Nicola Horley and Ben Hodson, and newly elected Gordon Hay and Kerry Smyth.

West Ward electors in Claremont wanted Karen Wood until October 2017, while in Cambridge a two-seat race in the Coast Ward was won by Cambridge Coastcare member Pauline O’Connor with 23 per cent of the vote and Cr Sonia Grinceri (15.23 per cent).