As expected, the incumbent leader was re-elected by four votes, including his own, warding off Cr Peter Hulin’s bid to secure the mayoral chair for the first time.

More than 50 people attended last night’s Warrnambool City Council meeting, with supporters of both candidates filling the gallery to witness several terse exchanges between the rival camps.

Cr Neoh told The Standard last night he wanted to bring unity to council and believed ratepayers wanted to see a greater degree of civility between their elected leaders.

The 48-year-old said securing freehold ownership of Flagstaff Hill and relocating the municipal saleyards would be high on his mayoral agenda in 2014.

“I’m Warrnambool born and bred, so it’s an immense privilege to be elected mayor for another term,” Cr Neoh said.

“Relocating the livestock exchange through private investment will allow us to secure and shape the region’s future, rather than just mark time. The saleyards is another issue we need to address, something needs to be done and 2014 is the time to do it.”

As expected, Cr Neoh gained the support of councillors Rob Askew, Jacinta Ermacora, Kylie Gaston and himself. Cr Hulin gained the backing of allies Cr Brian Kelson and Cr Peter Sycopoulis.

Divisions were exposed early on in the meeting when nominations were sought for an acting chairman. Cr Ermacora and Cr Kelson were both nominated for the position, with Cr Ermacora winning 4-3 along the same voting pattern as the mayoral vote.

Cr Kelson called for both mayoral candidates to outline their vision for the city and Cr Ermacora allowed the two contenders three minutes to speak.

Cr Hulin told the gallery he wanted to rein in council expenses and believed he could bring unity as city leader. He said if elected mayor, he would donate one third of the role’s nearly $69,000-plus allowance to cancer care centre charity Peter’s Project. 

“I believe there’s too much luxury afforded when it comes to the mayoral position,” Cr Hulin said.

“As mayor, I would also put the mayoral car back into the council car pool and only use it for specific mayoral business.”

Once the vote had taken place, Cr Ermacora ceremonially handed Cr Neoh the mayoral chain, to applause from the gallery.

With divisions still raw, Cr Hulin and Cr Kelson declined to applaud, although Cr Sycopoulis wished the mayor well for the year ahead.

Cr Hulin said he was offended by Cr Neoh’s conduct in recent weeks and added that his re-appointment was a great shame for Warrnambool’s progress. 

“It just goes to show that some in the council want more of the same and it just isn’t working,” he said.

Cr Askew slammed the media coverage of council, saying “scuttlebutt and unfounded mischief” needed to stop.

“There are some great things happening in our city and we need to promote them rather than focusing on any sort of divisions,” he said.