He thanked his supporters and turned his focus to what can be achieved over the next four years.

“Well it looks like there was good reason for us to enjoy our election night celebrations so fervently last night,” Mr Besseling said on social media this morning.

“Thank you so, so, so much to all of the people who have supported us through this campaign by volunteering and spreading the word.

“And of course a huge thank you to those who voted for us. We are all really excited about what we can do over the next four years to shape our great region.”

Sunday, 7.30am: Counting will resume this morning but Peter Besseling with a convincing lead over Peta Pinson and Sharon Griffiths for the mayoral hat will be returned to the position today.

Saturday, 10.30pm: On first preferences, Peter Besseling has on Saturday evening secured 58.03% (or 16,951 votes) of the vote for the position of mayor over his nearest rival.

Peta Pinson is following in second place with 27.97% of first preference votes while Sharon Griffiths sits at 14%.

Counting is expected to continue throughout Sunday where a final result for the position of mayor is expected to be declared.

As of Saturday evening, 29,209 votes had been counted. More than 61,000 residents went to the polls.

Counting has also commenced for the eight councillor positions.

As of Saturday evening, the progressive results are:

Group D (Peter Besseling 6.96%, Justin Levido 0.31%, Rob Turner 0.37%, Geoff Hawkins 0.20%): 41.39% or 10,391 votes

Group A (Mike Cusato 1.98%, Lee Dixon 1.30%, John Saunders 0.57%, Steve Cusato 0.37%): 16.70% or 4,307 votes

Group B (Sharon Griffths 2.68%, Katie Scott 0.14%, Sheryl Barnett 0.11% and June Bricknell 0.06%): 12.83% or 3,336 votes

Group C – Country Labor (Peter Alley 0.98%, Mark Hughes 0.14%, Andrew Blundell 0.25% and Karen Wiles 0.09%): 11.40% or 3001 votes

Group E – The Greens: (Drusi Megget 0.15%, Mick Hall 0.05%, Lauren Edwards 0.39%, Stuart Watson 0.34%): 6.37% or 1,661 votes

The ungrouped independent candidates were ranked as follows:

Lisa Intemann: 4.73%

Kingsley Searle: 2.63%

Greg Freeman: 2.03%

Sue East: 1.34%

Des Randall: 0.60%

Gwaine Robinson: 0.32%

For live results visit the NSW Electoral Commission website by CLICKING HERE

Saturday, 6pm: The queues were short and the rain briefly halted campaigning at Saturday’s local government elections across the Hastings.

A quiet election day has been put down to the thousands of residents taking advantage of pre-polling in the lead-up to voting day.

Rolling results of the Port Macquarie-Hastings council election will become available as they are counted when polls close at 6pm on Saturday, September 10.

The first results are estimated to be available about 6:30pm and most election night results by 10pm.

Counting will be conducted in the Returning Officer's office.

It is estimated that all mayoral counts will be completed on Tuesday, September 13.

The distribution of preferences in any councillor and mayoral election cannot commence until after 6pm on Monday to ensure that all postal votes are included.