Ratepayers head back to the polls as four shires separate from regional councils Local Government Minister David Crisafulli in Noosa. RATEPAYERS in four local government areas will head to the polls on November 9 to elect new mayors and councillors for their soon-to-be-reborn councils. Confirmation of the election date comes after residents in the former Noosa, Douglas, Livingstone and Mareeba shires voted overwhelmingly in favour of splitting from their larger regional councils in March. While nominations are yet to formally open, a handful of familiar faces look likely to feature. In Noosa, former Mayor Noel Playford has indicated a desire to re-contest his former position, while his popular successor and first head of the amalgamated Sunshine Coast Regional Council Bob Abbot has suggested he may run as a councillor. "Probably over the next few weeks, I'll make a decision," said Mr Abbot. I'm the old dog and I feel no real need to rush in to things. Current Rockhampton Regional councillor and former Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Bill Ludwig has also been tipped to re-contest his old job. Cairns Regional Councillor for Division 10 Julia Leu - a former CEO of Douglas Shire - confirmed her intention to run for the top job in the re-established council. "Division 10 has been all of the former Douglas Shire Council plus Palm Cove and Clifton Beach," she said. From my perspective, after nearly 20 years in local government and the last five-and-a-half years as the sole Douglas councillor, I am more than ready to take on the challenge of being the first Mayor of the new Douglas Shire Council. Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said the election date had been chosen to allow enough time for councillors to be sworn in and trained ahead of their first day of operation on January 1. Nominations for candidates will open on October 5 and close at midday on October 17. Pre-poll voting will open on October 28 and close the day before the election.