The successful candidate in the 2005 Queenstown Lakes District Council Wakatipu Ward By-election is Lou Alfeld with 1181 votes, 598 votes ahead of the second highest polling candidate Craig Allan with 583 votes.

The results showed a 40.3 percent (3301 votes) voter turnout, QLDC electoral officer Jo Schmelz said.

Other results were:

Ewen McCammon (554 votes), Philip Norman Jones (373 votes) Warwick Goldsmith (364 votes) Chris Eden (235 votes).

There were 4 informal votes and 7 voting papers were left blank.

"My congratulations go to Lou and my sincere thanks to all six candidates. In this case we had a high calibre of candidates, all willing to take on the enormous task involved in being a councillor in this district. I am very much looking forward now to getting on and working with a full contingent of elected members," QLDC Mayor Clive Geddes said.

Mr Geddes also thanked the community for taking an interest and turning out to vote.

"In actual fact 40 percent is a good result for a by-election. It shows that people continue to have an interest in the council and we really appreciate that," Mr Geddes said.

Mr Alfeld would be sworn in as a councillor at the first available opportunity, Ms Schmelz said.

ENDS

By: Tamah