Eighteen candidates are standing for 11 councillor positions. Following the election, it’s up to the councillors to elect a mayor and deputy mayor.

The election of the mayor is required to take place within three weeks of the council election and will occur at an ‘Extraordinary Meeting’ of council, where the councillors will also set their ‘Ordinary Meeting’ schedule for the year.

Going forward, the new councillors will have the opportunity to review future priorities as they plan for the long-term future of the Hilltops Council region. Among the first items of business, the new council will have two major long term initiatives to lead that will require extensive community engagement. The first initiative is to develop a new ‘Integrated Planning and Report Framework’. This is a multi-faceted project and one that involves developing a clear vision for the future, as well as outlining how it will be delivered through specific strategies.

The second major initiative is to develop a new ‘Local Environment Plan’ (LEP), that covers the whole of the Hilltops LGA to replace the three separate LEPs from the previous LGAs that are currently in operation.

At the first Ordinary Meeting of the new Hilltops Council (following the Extraordinary Meeting to elect the mayor and deputy mayor and set meeting dates), the council will consider which committees it has in place. While existing committees provide valuable input into current initiatives, there may also be an opportunity to initiate further committees or consolidate others, so keep a look out for opportunities on how you can take part.