Council
16 September, 2026
Dillon, Flint re-elected unopposed
Goulburn-Mulwaree mayor Nina Dillon has been re-elected unopposed. The mid-term election was held with little fanfare at the start of council’s September meeting on Tuesday night.
Goulburn-Mulwaree mayor Nina Dillon has been re-elected unopposed.
The mid-term election was held with little fanfare at the start of council’s September meeting on Tuesday night.
Deputy mayor Caitlin Flint was also re-elected unopposed and will serve alongside Cr Dillon through until the next council elections on September 9, 2028.
There was a short break in Tuesday night’s proceedings to allow time for councillors Dillion and Flint to pose for photos wearing their mayoral and deputy mayoral chains.
Cr Dillon then simply thanked fellow councillors for their support before getting straight down to business.
Meanwhile, Wingecarribee will elect a new mayor and deputy mayor at its September meeting today (Wednesday).
As previously reported by The Southern Wire, sitting mayor Cr Jesse Fitzpatrick has announced he will be standing down.
Councillor Heather Champion has publicly announced her intention to run for mayor, although it is widely tipped the mayoral chains will be handed to sitting deputy mayor Erin Foley with Cr David Kent as her deputy.
Cr Champion said she had been working collaboratively with the community “since day one after the election” as well as with council staff and other councillors.
“And I think that’s why I’ve got such a strong track record of being able to make a difference.”
She said her achievements had included getting council’s first affordable housing strategy, building up the Youth Council, tightening developer contribution loopholes, getting support for a Federal moratorium on data centres and “fighting continuously for environmental protections in every planning proposal that comes from developers to council”.
“That’s what I’m most proud of and that’s what I want to bring to council’s leadership over the next two years,” Cr Champion said.
“And whether I get elected or not I will keep working collaboratively and fighting for our environment and for our community,” said.
The public response to Cr Champion’s announcement was varied.
While some people said she would make an excellent mayor others criticised her “over the top Greens agenda” and accused her of ‘cherry picking’ issues.
Given that more than one councillor will be nominated, the election of a new mayor is expected to be decided by open vote.
Council staff have recommended an open vote over a secret ordinary ballot or secret preferential ballot “because it is consistent with council’s usual voting practices and provides the greatest transparency to the community”.
Upper Lachlan Council will hold its mayoral and deputy mayoral election on Thursday (September 17).
The Southern Wire is unaware of any move to oust sitting mayor Paul Culhane or Deputy Mayor Rob Cameron OAM.
Wollondilly Shire Council has a popularly elected mayor so there will be no mid-term election.
Sitting mayor Matt Gould and deputy mayor Matthew Deeth will both remain in their positions until September 2028.
The agenda for next Thursday’s Yass Valley council meeting is yet to be published but should also include a mid-term election given the two-year terms of sitting mayor Jasmin Jones and deputy mayor Kristin Butler are due to end early next month (October).
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