I believe this desired change included our leadership, which is why I voted for a fresh, enthusiastic mayor that broke away from the past. I proudly voted for Kristy McBain.

Councillor McBain has a combination of experience on council and in the private sector where she works as a lawyer and also owns a small business with her husband. She has a commitment to economic growth, a focus on our tourism industry, and a keen interest in sport and culture but is conscious of not forgetting the basic services of council – roads, water and sewer and rubbish.

I believe a new set of eyes will bring a fresh perspective to how we can adapt to future challenges and give the public confidence in their leaders to put them first.

But even though most people I speak with are excited about the new mayor, a small group have criticised her appointment.

They said that because Tony Allen, who also sought to be mayor, had the higher primary vote he should be mayor. While Mr Allen achieved a commendable vote of almost 2700, it must be noted about 18,000 people in our area did not vote for him. And in the absence of the public directly electing their mayor, something I support, should everyone else’s votes simply be ignored?

And just because people voted number 1 for a candidate doesn’t mean they want them to be mayor. As a freshly elected councillor, I can’t imagine anyone who voted for me expected I would put my hand up as mayor. It’s also worth noting that unlike state or federal politics, local council is an opportunity to breakaway from toeing the Liberal/Labor/Greens party line and simply vote for what's right, not who's right. 

As a veteran councillor of almost 15 years, Mr Allen has an even more important role ahead of him now to help educate and tutor new councillors. I very much look forward to working with him.

I have full confidence our nine councillors will unite to support the mayor, each other, and ask not what our shire can do for them, but what they can do for our shire. 

As regular Merimbula holiday visitors we're thrilled with Ford Park's new playground but the 'carousel' is a death trap.

Both of my children, 5 and 2, have been thrown off this equipment and have unable to get up due to the perpetual motion.

The swinging blue metal bars are potentially lethal if they collect little ones on the way around.

There is no way to stop this carousel once it is motion and it becomes particularly dangerous when older kids (understandably) spin it around at high speed and little ones get caught in the fray.

It needs an emergency stop at the very least. The nearby sign telling parents to supervise isn't going to do the job.

The community of the Bega Valley Shire has been consulted and has chosen the nine people to make up the 2016/20 council.

May I sincerely and with heartfelt thanks acknowledge the wonderful support I was afforded on polling day, September 10.

To achieve a 1001-vote win was a very humbling experience. To record 2675 votes and out-poll the combined votes (2555) of two eliminated former mayors, Britten (907), Taylor (720) and Deputy Mayor Seckold (928) was an even more humbling experience. The shire’s voting public have clearly and decisively rejected both the leadership and the direction of the 2012/16 council.

Failing to listen to the message sent via the ballot box is always a fatal mistake.

Congratulations to Mayor Kristy McBain, new and returning councillors.

I am looking forward to the next four years with renewed enthusiasm and will continue as I have always done to represent our shire-wide community to the best of my ability.