Candidates and councillors across the MIA say the decision to once again postpone local government elections is frustrating but necessary.
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It was confirmed on Saturday that council elections across NSW that were meant to take place on September 4 had now been pushed back to December 4, due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.
The elections had already been delayed by 12 months from September 2020 due to the pandemic.
Griffith councillor Christine Stead said the announcement of further delays were not a surprise.
"I've been wondering for a while now when it would be announced because the safety of the community is so unknown at the moment and unfortunately it's a decision which is out of our hands," Cr Stead said.
"It's just really frustrating, both for the existing councillors who are running again, the new candidates and also the retiring councillors."
It's just really frustrating, both for the existing councillors who are running again, the new candidates and also the retiring councillors.
- Griffith councillor Christine Stead
Cr Stead said she was worried about what would happen in December if the situation has not improved and questioned whether or not the election could be hosted online.
Griffith resident Laurie Testoni, who announced his candidacy earlier this month, felt the delays were unavoidable.
"I mean what can you do really?" Mr Testoni said. "Unfortunately it's just the times we're in at the moment and we've got to do what we've go to do,
He suggested the extra three months could potentially strengthen his campaign and that of other new candidates - but he admitted the potential of further delays would be hanging over their heads.
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The delay means the current councillors will be serving a term of at least five years and three months, a situation retiring Griffith mayor John Dal Broi said was far from ordinary.
"It's unheard of where council's have gone in to terms of five and a quarter years," Cr Dal Broi said.
The extended term for the current council has sparked frustrations for multiple MIA candidates, according to Carrathool Shire Council general manager Rick Warren.
"I've had a couple of potential candidates on the phone who are less than happy with what has happened," Mr Warren said.
"The frustration for a lot of people is the current council has had nearly five-and-a-half years in office and the next lot of councillors are only going to get about two-and-a-half."
Murrumbidgee Shire Council mayor Ruth McRae also expressed frustration at the decision.
"If you're going to postpone it do it by one month or six months," Cr McRae said. "To do it at the beginning of December, which is already an incredibly busy month, is just ridiculous."
"But really in this day and age why can't it be done online?"
The deadline to enrol to vote in your local government election has been pushed back to October 25, which is also when councillor nominations will open.
Council nominations will now close at noon on November 3.
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