2016 NSW council elections: Lack of rural candidates means incumbents have little opposition

AN astonishing 29 people will be “elected” to rural NSW councils tomorrow without winning a single vote — because nobody else wants the jobs.

Coolamon mayor John Seymour faces no opposing candidates for the position.

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THERE’S a new drought in the bush — too few politicians.

An astonishing 29 people will be “elected” to rural NSW councils tomorrow without winning a single vote — because nobody else wants the jobs.

As rivals scratch each other’s eyes out to claim a seat on Sydney’s hotly contested councils this weekend, two rural councils, and four wards at three others, have so few candidates that everyone who stands automatically wins.

John Seymour: “They would prefer to think the community are happy with the representation they have.”

Coolamon and Carrathool shire councils in the Riverina have more land than Slovenia, around 6750 residents and combined annual revenues of $30 million.

But just 19 people nominated to fill the 19 seats across both councils — meaning each candidate gets a guernsey without an election.

Carrathool went similarly uncontested in 2008 and 2012, so its residents haven’t had a “proper” council election since 2004.

In 2012 one council — Leeton — couldn’t even find enough candidates to fill all its seats, forcing it to hold a by-election.

“We have been criticised by some that because we are not required to hold an election nobody is interested in the council or its business,” said Coolamon Mayor John Seymour, going around for another term.

“I see this as a glass-half-empty view and would prefer to think the community are happy with the representation they have.”

Another 10 councillors will automatically be elected to two uncontested wards tomorrow at Lachlan Shire Council in the central west, one ward in Warren northwest of Dubbo and one ward at Lockhart, in the Riverina.

It means 29 councillors — about 3 per cent of all the seats up for grabs this election — will be “elected” without a ballot.

“I am keen to promote a much higher representation, particularly of younger people, women and those from diverse backgrounds to stand for council,” Local Government Minister Paul Toole said last night.

The drought contrasts starkly with the scraps in Sydney and some regional centres. There are a 95 candidates in Campbelltown chasing 15 seats. Blacktown has 79 candidates, Liverpool has 48 and Sutherland has 34. Cessnock has 49 candidates chasing 13 seats.

The reason for the lack of candidates is not clear, although lower rural populations and time constraints associated with running rural businesses are key issues.