The Ipswich City Council will hold a special meeting this week to address the vacancy left after Councillor Dave Cullen resigned.
Cr Cullen stepped down due to health reasons.
The meeting will be live streamed through the council’s You Tube channel and open to public from 8:45am on Thursday.
Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cooper said that under Section 166 of the Local Government Act 2009, there are two options to fill the vacancy.
“As the resignation occurred within the first 12 months of an election, Councillors must decide by resolution to either hold a by-election, or have the Electoral Commission of Queensland offer the position to the runner-up of the 2024 Division 4 election ballot,” Ms Cooper said.
“The meeting will be convened to allow Councillors to make this decision as soon as possible,” she said.
The Electoral Commission estimates that a by-election will cost between $320,000 and $550,000.
If it does go ahead it may be held on the same day as the October 26 state election.
Former councillor Russell Milligan was the runner up to Dave Cullen in the March 16 Local Government elections.
