The anti-mosque champion who has won a spot on the Bendigo council said she had struck a chord with disaffected ratepayers. 

But one of the former councillors she will replace said she was a destructive force on the previous council and had nothing to offer the city. 

Speaking at the official announcement of the City of Greater Bendigo election results yesterday morning, Whipstick ward councillor-elect Julie Hoskin denied she would be a disruptive force on council and promised a fresh start in her relations with the city council.

Ms Hoskins took the ultimately unsuccessful challenge against the city’s first mosque to the High Court but said yesterday the mosque “wasn’t really a factor at the moment”.

“On the other hand, I’ve had an enormous amount of support here, and that's just flowing on,” Ms Hoskins said. 

“I've struck a chord with the residents as being a voice for them – and councillors are meant to be a voice for the people.

“We start from scratch and we move forward from here and as long as councillors act for the will of the residents and represent the residents – which is what they’re meant to do – we should all be getting along very well.” 

Ms Hoskin said her first priority as councillor would be “listening to people”. 

But one of the five former councillors who were rejected by voters, Mark Weragoda, said Ms Hoskin’s anti-mosque campaign had damaged the city. 

“I don’t think she’s going to give anything to our council or to our city, I feel very strongly about that,” he said.

“She was so destructive to the last council regarding a very important issue – the mosque.” 

Despite his acrimony toward Ms Hoskin, Mr Weragoda was philosophical about the election result and felt the council was – overall – in good hands. 

“I’m very happy in my ward that there's two candidates who are really going to shine and help our council grow and our community grow in Yvonne Wrigglesworth and Margaret O’Rourke,” he said. 

“Overall, I think it’s a good council, with some really good people and I’m delighted that James Williams and Rod Fyffe were re-elected, so at least there is some continuity.

‘I’m disappointed that councillors [Peter] Cox and [Barry] Lyons and myself didn't get elected – but there’s more to life than council.”