CANDIDATES have left the starting line and launched campaigns, while several serving councillors had plans locked post their scheduled council departure in September.
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The postponement of the local government elections in NSW for the second time due to COVID concerns has left many feeling disappointed.
NSW Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock announced the local government elections scheduled to take place on September 4 will be postponed to December 4.
Mrs Hancock said the decision had been made following extensive discussions with NSW Electoral Commission and NSW Health in relation to the COVID pandemic situation in Greater Sydney.
Mayor Peta Pinson, who heads up the Team Pinson group ticket, said she is in a position of acceptance about the delay in the council elections until December 4.
"I really feel for all those people that have put up their hand and now the pause button has been pressed just as they announced," she said.
"It's wonderful we have seen so many people respond and hopefully the pause will entice others to put their hand up."
Cr Pinson is standing on a group ticket with Adam Roberts, Cr Sharon Griffiths, Danielle Maltman and Josh Slade.
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann, who is running on the Fighters for our Region group ticket with Kingsley Searle, Narelle Milligan, Stewart Cooper and Paul Bradford, said the decision is an unfortunate disruption and called on the government to "get their act together" on electronic and postal voting options.
"I'm hugely disappointed they've adopted such a heavy-handed approach and postponed local government elections across the whole state, disrupting people's lives even in places like ours with no virus cases for a long time," Cr Intemann said.
"Speaking on behalf of sitting councillors around NSW, I really feel for my colleagues who weren't going to stand for re-election, but are now forced to serve an extra three months, on top of the extra 12 months from last year, and with no guarantee that won't be further extended."
Nik James Lipovac leads the Hastings First group ticket. He is supported by Kerry Fox, Linda Lenord, Michael Clarke and Justin Hardie.
Mr Lipovac said they were disappointed by the council election postponement.
He said they would rather get the election done, in terms of getting some fresh faces on Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, but the poll postponement was a statewide decision given the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.
The Greens' lead candidate Lauren Edwards said community safety came first, however, our community had already been waiting quite a long time to exercise its democratic right to elect our councillors and mayor.
"I think a postal vote should probably have been in place and enacted in these times we are facing," she said.
Miss Edwards is running for election on The Greens' ticket with Stuart Watson, Les Mitchell and Drusi Megget.
Independent for Camden Haven Jon Bailey, who is having his first election run, said given the changing situation in Greater Sydney the decision is logical.
"For the sake of public health and safety, it's probably the right way to go especially to protect the elderly and more vulnerable people in our community," Mr Bailey said.
John Saunders, who is also running as an independent candidate for Camden Haven, said the elections must be held this year.
"I'm just concerned we've lost two councillors because of the time frame and delay already and I and wouldn't like to see it drag into next year. Let's get on top of COVID before December," Mr Saunders said.
Cr Rob Turner will not be contesting the next election and said it is a shame the government did not develop a strategy to prevent further delays.
"It's disappointing that the NSW government wasn't better prepared for this happening, given they've had more than 12 months to put a COViD-safe plan together for the election," Cr Turner said.
"Extending the term for the second time by an extra three months is disruptive and inconvenient for everyone - including council staff."
Cr Peter Alley will also be stepping down from his role come election time.
"It is disappointing that the NSW Electoral Commission does not seemed to have planned the running an election during a lockdown," he said.
"They should have had the plans in place for a massive expansion of both postal voting and electronic voting."
Cr Alley said despite the delay, he is honoured to serve his community for another three months.
"It gives the community more opportunity to meet the prospective candidates."
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