Mayor Bedggood Resigns

MAYOR Wayne Bedggood has resigned from the Upper Hunter Shire Council effective immediately.

An extraordinary meeting will be held in the next 14 days when Councillors will decide if they will elect a new Mayor, or apply to the Minister for Local Government to hold a by-election.

Steve McDonald, general manager of Council said it was with regret he announced the Mayor’s resignation.

“On behalf of the organisation I thank him for his significant contribution to Council over the last eight years and in particular in the role of mayor since April 2015. He has worked tirelessly in the interests of the Upper Hunter Shire,” said Mr McDonald.

“We wish Wayne and his family the very best for the future,” Steve McDonald said.

Cr Maurice Collison, Deputy Mayor has stepped into the Mayoral role and thanked Mr Bedggood for his service.

“Wayne was a brilliant mayor and he has become a close friend of mine,” Cr Collison said.

“We worked well together and always strived to do our best for the community and residents. He was a passionate, hard-working mayor, practical and straight to the point,” he said.

“I thank him very much for his support to me as Deputy Mayor, over the last five years.

“Today’s announcement has been a great shock,” he said.

“Wayne Bedggood will be much missed as a mayor and a councillor. My friendship with him will continue,” Maurice Collison said.

Mr Bedggood was elected to Council in 2012 and first elected as Mayor by the other Councillors in April 2015, following the resignation of Cr Michael Johnsen, who had been elected to the state seat of Upper Hunter.

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