The NSW Government has announced that all council elections across the State will be postponed until September 2021.
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The decision was made to provide certainty to communities and create continuity of leadership during these unprecedented times.
Local Government NSW President Linda Scott said there has never been a more important time for visionary local leadership that provided hope and guidance for communities across NSW.
"I know all elected councillors will continue to work across political boundaries to pull together for the public good," she said.
"Mayors and councillors are working hard to ensure good governance continues during the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to do so."
Kempsey Shire mayor Liz Campbell said postponing the elections until next year will allow councillors to focus on how to best respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
"We were about six or seven months out from the election and didn't yet know what the plans of the councillors were. But, we had started to think about the election," Cr Campbell said.
"An election does take a lot of planning and they're time intensive. So now we can focus on the situation at hand and how to respond.
"In a time like this the community needs stability in leadership and postponing the elections until next year has done that."
Cr Scott said she is sure many councils across the State will take on the next 12 months to support their community through the coronavirus pandemic.
"When asked to serve for an additional year, I'm confident mayors and councillors will understand the need to provide stability and continuity of governance," she said.
Mayor Campbell said council will now be focusing its full attention on providing stability and leadership for the Macleay Valley.
"Our attention will be on the situation at hand, as it should be at a time like this."
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