Kempsey Shire council election countdown begins

The Electoral Commission's current register of candidates indicates there are eight nominees already in the running for the Kempsey Shire council elections.

The nomination period opens today, Monday, October 25 and closes strictly at 12 noon Wednesday, November 3.

The current registered candidates so far are:

NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, postponed the local government elections scheduled to take place on September 4 earlier this year.

It was the second time, because of COVID, the elections were put on hold. They were originally to be held in September 2020.

Mrs Hancock said the decision had been made following extensive discussions with NSW Electoral Commission and NSW Health in relation to the current COVID pandemic situation in Greater Sydney.

NSW has just emerged from tight restrictions under a new roadmap to recovery.

Mrs Hancock said the election date had been pushed back to December 4 for all NSW councils except the Central Council which was in the hands of an administrator.

Voters will be able to participate in the December elections in person, by post or online and pre-poll voting will begin two weeks before election day.

Nominations, which were to open on July 26, were instead postponed until October 25.

The NSW government must commit to holding COVID safe NSW local government elections before year's end.

"COVID safe local government elections must be held by the end of the year, to uphold democracy and ensure renewal," Local Government NSW president Linda Scott said.

"Public health and safety must always come first, but we do not want to reach a situation in which democracy delayed is democracy denied."

Cr Scott said a significant number of existing councillors, who had already been asked to extend their term by 12 months, had already chosen not to stand for a further term.

For campaign advertising, contact Trudy Lonie at trudy.lonie@austcommunitymedia.com.au