General News
12 April, 2024
Brett Olds new Cairns’ deputy mayor
POPULAR northern beaches councillor Brett Olds is the new deputy mayor of Cairns Regional Council.
He won the majority of votes of councillors. The other candidate - Cr Cathy Zeiger (division 3) - was Mayor Amy Eden’s preferred choice.
Cr Olds, who represents division 9, received seven votes: Crs Brett Moller, Matthew Tickner, Rob Pyne, Kristy Vallely, Rhonda Coghlan and himself.
Cr Zeiger was backed by Cr Trevor Tim and Cr Eden.
Cr Eden described the first post-election meeting on Friday morning as “the icing on the cake”: appointing the deputy mayor, and deciding meetings’ schedule and councillor appointments to committees and boards.
She said the 10 councillors could “now get to work”.
Cr Eden said she was "really excited" that Cr Olds was her deputy.
“I know he’s just as eager as I am to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” she said.
“Brett and I worked really well together over the last four years and I’m very confident that we’re going to work together.
“We’re independent thinkers but we’re working as Team Cairns collectively for the people of Cairns.”
Cr Olds said he was under no illusion that being deputy mayor was “a big role”.
He said he had never been so nervous, even though he was sure he had the support of most councillors.
"I am honoured to be elected to this important position by my fellow councillors and humbled by the trust placed in my abilities to serve as deputy mayor,” Cr Olds said.
“I am excited by the role, but it is going to be a tough gig and I will be looking for the support of the mayor and the other councillors as we move forward,” he said.
“We have to be cohesive and collaborative. We either succeed together or we fail, and failure is not an option.”
Cr Olds said he had the time to devote to the role and would start building trust with councillors, the chief executive officer and senior management team as well as the community.
“If we get the top right, it will filter down,” Cr Olds said.
“We are keeping egos at the door … we’re here for the community,” he said.
“It won’t be an easy ride and it will be an exciting next four years … I’m up for it.
“I will not let you (council) down, I will not let the people of Cairns down.”
Mayor Eden will be on annual salary of $198,182. The deputy’s salary is $135,123 and all councillors will be paid $117,109.
