2024 South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board Election

At the close of nominations at 12 noon on Tuesday 25 June 2024 the following nominations were received and accepted:

Central Electoral Zone

• Brett McLaren

Northern Electoral Zone

• Miles Weston Hannemann

Southern Electoral Zone 

• Joanne Betty Feast
• Michael Black

With a single nomination accepted for the single vacancy for the Northern Electoral Zone and a single nomination accepted for the single vacancy for the Central Electoral Zone, these candidates were elected unopposed (no election required).

With two nominations accepted for the single vacancy for the Southern Electoral Zone, an election was required.

Count Summary

First preference votes

Below are the first preference votes received by the candidates in the order they appeared on the ballot paper. Percentages have been rounded to two decimal places.

Distribution of preferences

As Joanne Betty Feast obtained an absolute majority, she has been declared elected.

FEAST, Joanne Betty

I’m a 52yr old mother of 2 boys aged 25 and 14 years living at Green Point, Wye SA for 33 years. Before children, I was an Enrolled Nurse, working for a Private Doctor in Mt Gambier for 7 years. As a child, I grew up on a market garden farm at Yahl. I’ve been a fulltime farmer since 2005 after my husband of 13 years, passed away from Cancer. Since then I have managed, worked and improved our 1500 Acre family farm that has been owned by the Feast family at Green Point, since the late 1880’s. My eldest son Morgan is the 5th Generation poised to take over the farming enterprise. Our farm runs 100% Merino Ewes for wool production with some crossbred mating for Prime Lamb Production, we also breed Black Angus and Poll Hereford cattle as well. We balance dry land farming with the ecosystems on our farm which comprises of over 300 Acres of wetland, 2 Karst Rising Springs and 2 drains. I am very concerned and passionate about the natural environment, water conservation, its usage, management and its sustainability. I am proactive in re-vegetation of areas of our wetlands for bird habitat, protection and conservation. I also help my fiancée, Graham Kilsby, in managing booking systems and correspondence for Kilsby Sinkhole and its newly built Villa Accommodation. I am passionate about the environment with real life experiences dealing with wetlands, drains and the ecosystems that depend on them.

BLACK, Michael

I am a third generation dairy farmer in the Eight mile Creek area and have a keen interest in the long term sustainability of farming in the Limestone coast as well as maintaining our environment to ensure a long-term future in the region. I would like to see the future of the drainage board being able to continue to uphold its commitments in keeping the drainage network working effectively and being well maintained. As a landholder with several drains on my property I have a strong appreciation for the importance of the network on our local agricultural industry and hope to be able to support the drainage board in continuing its work ensuring the network continues effectively into the future. I aspire to see our reliable climate, quality soils and unique water resources used to produce food and fibre as efficiently and sustainably as possible, and look forward to contributing my time and support to the Drainage Board in furthering these aims.