NSW council elections: Population: 2350. Candidates: 111

NSW RESIDENTS in 81 councils will head to the polls next Saturday but they’ll have to wade through a ridiculous number of candidates in some - with one small shire fielding 111 hopefuls.

Some residents will have to wade through a ridiculous number of campaign advertisements on their way to vote, like this pre-polling in Camden.

THERE have been severed pigs’ heads, a death and the strangest of bedfellows, but one of the more bizarre local government elections is almost over with voters set to head to the polls on Saturday.

Almost two million residents in Western Sydney, as well as rural and coastal areas will vote in 81 local elections.

The Baird government amalgamation process means the remaining 71 councils have been excluded this time around, with the vast majority in metropolitan areas.

While half the state may be oblivious to the approaching elections, the rest have endured aggressive campaigning with streets lined with leaflet-toting volunteers and tit-for-tat public politicking.

Voters will be forced to sift through a staggering 1600 independent candidates, with most not aligned to a major party or the Greens.

The Liberals have endorsed 107 candidates, Labor is putting up 92, and 67 are standing for Country Labor.

There area staggering 1600 independent candidates this election.

Balranald Shire Council in southwestern NSW has a population of just under 2350 people but there are an incredible 111 candidates for the shire’s eight council seats.

The Greens are making a push into new territory with 150-plus candidates, including in Albury and Broken Hill.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said it will be the first time the party has tried for a spot on Broken Hill Council, which is in a heavily unionised Labor electorate.

He said there was a mood for change, with many residents concerned at the impact of cotton growers on the Darling River. “This is new territory for the Greens,” he said.

Among the more high-profile battles being waged is in Fairfield with the expulsion of the Mayor Frank Carbone from the Labor Party for running against the party’s endorsed mayoral candidate.

Mr Carbone teamed up with political rival Dai Le, who was subsequently suspended from the Liberal Party.

The pair has been campaigning aggressively while battling with Labor over the use of old party posters.

The Fairfield chapter will be remembered for severed pigs’ heads being left on the lawn of a Labor councillor, which party officials claim was interpreted as a “message not to run”. There is no suggestion Mr Carbone or Ms Le were involved.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, pictured at a protest against council amalgamations earlier this year, says his party is fielding a candidate in Broken Hill for the first time.

The death of a candidate in Tweed in the state’s far north has forced officials to postpone the elections. Popular retiree Ken “Stents” Nicholson, running on a “no high-rise” group ticket, died last week after a heart attack.

While some “independents” are members of the major parties, the majority are running solo or representing a minor party.

The most high-profile independent team is being led by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who is expected to be returned despite facing a tough battle against Liberal Christine Forster together with new eligibility rules ­allowing businesses vote.

It’s believed Ms Moore will not serve her full term if elected, with Dr Kerryn Phelps touted as a “succession plan”.

Ms Moore is holding a fundraising cocktail party on Tuesday. “We know how to win this — but to do it we need bright campaign T-shirts, attention-grabbing posters to get the message out, and clear, easy to read how-to-vote flyers,” she said in a mail-out.

CANDIDATES VYING FOR YOUR VOTE

Balranald 111

Campbelltown 95

Blacktown 79

Hawkesbury 69

Wingercarribee 56

Wollondilly 55

Eurobodalla 55

Blue Mountains 53

Wagga Wagga 53

Lismore 50

Cessnock 59

Liverpool 48

MYSTERY REMAINS DESPITE MISSING DAD BEING FOUND ALIVE