By Adam Coleman

Former Victorian Liberal Party leader Robert Doyle has defeated 11 other mayoral candidates to become the City of Melbourne’s next lord mayor.

Mr Doyle was declared the winner of the heavily contested mayoral election at 11pm last night, finishing 4,700 votes (including preferences) ahead of his nearest rival, long-term councillor Catherine Ng.

Among his priorities, Mr Doyle has outlined a controversial plan to re-open Swanston Street to traffic, 17 years after it was made a pedestrian mall.

His blueprint for the city also includes increased housing for the homeless, putting an end to junkets, securing the town hall’s future and setting up a Melbourne economic development agency.

Mr Doyle has big shoes to fill in those of former Lord Mayor, John So whose popularity in office resulted in him being named World Mayor for 2006.

John So announced on 1 October 2008 that he would not seek re-election for a third term as Lord Mayor.