Tablelands returning officer, Tim Johnston, said there was a good response to the election ballot from rate payers in both divisions, with the ballot closing on Friday June 19.

“We had 11 candidates vying for six elected director positions on the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority Board.

“These positions were determined using the ‘first past the post’ voting system, with the three candidates receiving the most number of votes elected in each division.”

Returning officer, Tim Johnston, said the successful candidates were: (divsion A) John Seaman, Bruce Gordon, Howard Sinclair; (division B) Mac Wilson, Nerida Cullen, Nigel Baines.

Directors will take office on July 1 for a four year term. They will play an active role in how the authority is run and set local priorities and policies for animal health and pest animal issues.

The elected directors will be joined by two appointed directors who will bring to the table specific skills such as accounting, law, commerce or skills complementary to the role of the authority. Expressions of interest will be sought shortly from interested individuals.

Once applications for the appointed directors are received the elected directors will choose the two appointed directors, based on merit. The elected directors will also be inducted into their responsibilities in a several step process. This will involve a “meet and greet” in mid July, their first board meeting later in July, a regional meeting in August, followed by a state wide induction in September. The induction of board directors will be finalised in October.

The completion of the director elections is another significant milestone in the Livestock Health and Pest Authority reform process.