12:00a.m. 16th March 2008

| By Carolyn Tucker

High-profile Noosa councillor Russell Green was comfortably elected to represent division 11, claiming victory about 8pm after his nearest rival and former council colleague, Frank Wilkie, phoned to concede defeat.

Mr Green said voters understood that he would continue to fight to protect their interests, and he would not let them down.

“I’m now really looking at how I can continue to connect with the community of Noosa, and they have access to me so that I can respond to their concerns,” he said.

“I am so passionate about having good representation for the people of Noosa and I want that for the residents very much, for the trust they have put in me for the next four years.”

Mr Green said it had been a hard slog during the campaign and this victory was the most important he had scored since he was first elected 11 years ago.

He said he believed having Bob Abbot’s support had also helped him get over the line.

“This is better than the first election win,” Mr Green said.

“I was excited then but this time I worked so hard, and I believe Bob Abbot has the ability to form a team and have the new council heading in the right direction.”

Earlier in the day, many voters in division 11 said they remained disappointed about the loss of their shire and being forced to amalgamate, but most had reluctantly accepted the inevitable.

“We can’t do anything about it now,” local resident Helen Butterworth said on her way out of the polling booth.

“They said they’ll leave everything as it is – I just hope they keep their word.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Mel De’Cent after she cast her ballot at Sunshine Beach.

“What can we do about it?” Mel asked. “I suppose now we’ve just got to try to make our preferences known.

“They’ve made a lot promises about looking after Noosa and a lot of people are relying on them to keep their word.”

Bruce Parmentier said the area would lose out under the new council through the sheer weight of numbers.

Former Noosa councillor Lew Brennan is expected to claim victory in the neighbouring division 12.

Mr Brennan had received more than 38% of the vote last night, well ahead of his nearest rival Brian Lindfield who had 25.13%. Mr Brennan could not be reached for comment last night.

Other election stories:

Abbot promises to deliver

I’ll leave with head held high: Natoli

Division one: Resounding win fires up Grosskreutz

Division two: Fatherhood on mind of winner

Division three: Preferences cost O’Kearney

Division four: result goes down to the wire

Division five: Johnson tips close result

Division six: Hulett trounced by young Christian

Division seven: Ted by a nose

Division eight: Finally, it’s victory for Blumel

Division nine: Griffin’s victory taps into mood for change

Division 10: Johnson helps Tatton

Division 11: Noosa’s Green vows to repay trust

Division 12: Brennan expected to claim victory

For our election coverage, visit our election '08 page.