Countback delivers new councillor for Cessnock’s Ward D

newy.com.au – Cessnock City Council has welcomed Deborah Dunne as its newest councillor for Ward D after she was elected through a NSW Electoral Commission countback of votes on 10 November 2025.

The result marks the beginning of Dunne’s first term as an elected representative for the Cessnock local government area, filling a vacancy created when former councillor Rosa Grine resigned in September. Cessnock City Council said the countback process was conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission in line with council decisions made earlier in the term.

Under the countback method used in New South Wales local government elections, the Electoral Commission re-examines ballot papers from the previous council election to determine who should fill a casual vacancy, rather than holding a fresh by-election. Council said this approach was chosen to provide a clear and timely way of filling any early-term vacancies on the elected body.

Cessnock City Mayor Dan Watton congratulated Dunne on her election and said he was looking forward to her contribution around the council table. “I look forward to working with Clr Dunne as part of our team of elected councillors, as Council continues to strive for sustainability and delivery of quality outcomes for our community,” Watton said.

The mayor also acknowledged the service of the outgoing councillor, paying tribute to Grine’s time on council. “I would also like to thank former councillor Rosa Grine for her service during her time on Council,” he said. Grine’s resignation triggered the vacancy in Ward D that has now been filled by Dunne.

Council said the countback election followed a unanimous decision made in October 2024, when councillors resolved that a countback should occur if any councillor resigned within the first 18 months of the current term. That resolution set the framework for how early vacancies would be handled across the council’s four wards.

Dunne will now take up the Ward D position previously held by Grine, joining the existing group of councillors as they continue their current term on Cessnock City Council.