Shire of Augusta-Margaret River deputy president Paula Cristoffanini tenders resignation, Melissa Dath in line

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River deputy shire president has resigned from the council, triggering the automatic election of a close-runner in October’s poll.

Paula Cristoffanini, who was also president before the election of Julia Meldrum, has sold her house and will move back to Perth, with this month’s council meeting expected to be her last.

The surprise exit will trigger a vote to replace Cr Cristoffanini as the deputy president, with sources citing councillors Greg Boland and Kylie Kennaugh as the frontrunners.

Former chamber of commerce Melissa Dath, who polled fifth in last year’s election, will fill the remaining four years of the now-vacant councillor role.

Cr Cristoffanini told the Times it was a personal decision she made after weighing up her options and had nothing to do with the in-fighting that occurred between councillors after October’s poll.

Cr Cristoffanini’s husband Ian Williams died during her presidency and she had chosen to downsize her property on advice from a financial planner.

“Really it’s family considerations that are driving me to this,” she said.

“It’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. Margaret River is a big part of me.

“I wouldn’t make a decision like this unless it was personal.”

Cr Cristoffanini said her 3ha bush block was too big for her to maintain on her own and her son lost his house during last year’s Parkerville bushfire.

She said she had loved her years in the region since 2002, as well as the chance to serve the community, and was leaving with fond memories.

Newcomer Ms Dath said being catapulted on to the council came at just the right time as she sought to amalgamate her two businesses into the one site.

Despite narrowly losing at last year’s local government election, Ms Dath hadn’t taken the outcome laying down.

Instead, she was the instigator of a successful trial of a crowdfunded beach bus during summer that she still wanted to see become a permanent fixture for teenagers and families in the region.

While her election would mean she had to consider her personal role with that project, it came as she sought groups such as the shire itself to “take ownership” of the beach bus.

“After years of volunteering and working with the shire from the outside, it will be great to have input into the direction and decision-making of the council for our community,” she said.

“I look forward to working within the council with the shire to take a positive and proactive approach to finding solutions to the issues faced by our community.”

Cr Cristoffanini was on the panel for appointment of the shire’s new chief executive.

Crs Boland and Kennaugh were contacted for comment.

Ms Dath said she would be sworn into office in early May.