There will be no change in leadership in Gunnedah Shire Council for the next 12 months.
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Cr Jamie Chaffey has returned unopposed as the shire's mayor, while Cr Rob Hooke pipped Cr Colleen Fuller at the post, five votes to four, at Wednesday's council meeting.
The councillors will hold the positions until ordinary elections are held on September 4, 2021.
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The ballot was the first point of business at the ordinary meeting and standing orders were suspended for five minutes after the results were announced so councillors could congratulate the re-elected pair.
Cr Chaffey said it was "an absolute privilege" to be re-elected unopposed and to have the "unanimous support" of his fellow elected members.
"I look forward to the next 12 months. There's still much to do - a lot of planning in process and a lot to be delivered. There are still some exciting opportunities ahead," he said.
"We've been successful in a lot of projects. I'm particularly looking forward to the commencement of the construction of the koala park and the new hospital and hopefully they'll start in that next 12-month period."
We look forward to knuckling down and keeping on with the work.
- Jamie Chaffey, Gunnedah shire mayor
Cr Chaffey said the council also needed a "strong focus" on skills to attract more people to the shire and upskill existing residents for job opportunities.
"There are a lot of really big opportunities that we're very close to so I look to do my part in the capacity as mayor and leader of the organisation to make sure that we get the full advantage of those opportunities," he said.
Cr Chaffey said he was pleased that Cr Hooke would remain by his side as deputy mayor.
"It's great to keep status quo. We've been very effective over the past two years. In fact, the last four years of council has been very effective, and we see there will be no change in the next 12 months so we look forward to knuckling down and keeping on with the work," he said.
Cr Hooke said he was "very excited and privileged" to remain in his role and "absolutely thrilled" to continue working alongside "dynamo" Cr Chaffey.
"As Jamie has said, we're on the same page when it comes to future development and what we see as important for the future, and it's just nice to be able to support his drive and initiative and help him bring that to fruition for the community," he said.
"Collectively, with the guidance of the other councillors, we have a vision for where we should be going into the future and to be able to help drive that vision a little bit further to fruition, I think is very important.
"I just felt there was some unfinished business and we really wanted to continue on and do that and it was nice I had the confidence of enough councillors to be re-elected."