By AIDAN KNIGHT
THE plot has thickened for the Morwell River Ward this August, as what was described as the “friendliest by-election” between only two candidates has now transformed into a five-man race.
Nominations are officially closed.
The ballot was drawn last Wednesday (June 23).
Long-time Morwell resident John Ellingham, who had previously been undecided about contesting the election, has confirmed his candidacy after campaign material began appearing across the ward in late June.
Mr Ellingham joins Moe resident and three-time candidate Gus Lambden, Glengarry resident and (separate) council employee Dean Sutton, Moe coffee supplier Robert Moffat and Yallourn North resident and Latrobe Valley Computers Chief Executive Graham Lougheed in the race.
Speculation had circulated in recent months that Morwell Maltese Museum founder and OAM recipient Mario Sammut may also nominate. Upon investigation, the Express can confirm these baseless suggestions are untrue.
Since the by-election was first announced in April, the outgoing councillor Tracie Lund deactivated her Facebook account and publicly came out as Labor’s candidate for the seat of Morwell at the upcoming state election.
Ms Lund’s tenure has become an early point of discussion among candidates, with differing views emerging over the role of a ward councillor.
With the campaign only opening last Wednesday, there are already stumbles within some of the candidates’ camps, as those nominated are pressed with what their key policies will be.
Housing and safety have emerged as strong points, following recent coverage of a proposed social housing development at the former Morwell Central Hotel site.
Mr Lambden argued the CBD was the wrong location for such a project, going so far as to comment publicly on the Express Facebook page that it “is for businesses not residential living”.
However, when discussing his priorities with the Express in April, he himself suggested vacant buildings in Morwell’s commercial centre could be repurposed to provide additional housing opportunities.
Ms Lund sat on Latrobe City Council for five years, seeing the evolution of boundaries change the West Ward into what is now Morwell River. She also served as deputy mayor in 2024/25.
