Parramatta and Cumberland councils election results 2017

CUMBERLAND looks on track to be a Labor dominated council, leading the count in all five wards and Parramatta Council will welcome back former mayor Lorraine Wearne.

Residents voting at Parramatta Town Hall.

10pm:

Counting has finished for the day. Cumberland looks on track to be a Labor dominated council, leading the count in all five wards and in contention for eight out of 15 seats. Former Parramatta Mayor Paul Garrard’s party Our Local Community is also faring well.

In Parramatta the Liberals look set to dominate council again with a potential seven seats going their way. But in an historic first, The Greens are in contention for two seats on the council – with 14 per cent in Parramatta ward and 11.84 per cent in Rosehill ward. Labor looks set to gain five seats while former councillor and independent Lorraine Wearne could hold the balance of power with the final seat in the Epping ward.

9.45pm

Parramatta Council will welcome back former mayor Lorraine Wearne with her party likely to receive the needed quota in Epping thanks to a preference from the Independents. Mrs Wearne said she is ready to represent the people of Epping and Parramatta, with the vote results showing a swing away from the Liberals.

“The electorate has decided to punish the Liberals by voting Independents and Greens,” Mrs Wearne said.

“I’ve been interested in looking at some of the other wards who have moved away fro Liberals as well, Rosehill has had a huge push towards the Greens, which I was surprised about.”

Epping has had a a large amount of informal or “donkey” votes, almost 11 per cent of people choosing to leave a blank voting paper.

“I think local government is taken for granted,” Mrs Wearne said. “It bothers me that we had so many informal votes.”

9.30pm:

Michelle Garrard could continue her father’s legacy at Parramatta Council. The daughter of former Parramatta mayor Paul Garrard, who served on Parramatta Council for more than 40 years, has attracted almost 15 per cent of the vote in the Dundas ward behind Liberal Benjamin Barrak and Labor’s Pierre Esber.

Mr Garrard is set to win a seat in neighbouring Cumberland Council.

Michelle Garrard is tracking well in Parramatta.

8.50pm:

Independents are rocking the boat in South Granville, with 19.3 per cent of the votes going towards dark horse candidate Hicham Zraika.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Izzet Anmak is likely to grab a seat with his Liberals sitting at 25.26 per cent with 37 per cent of the votes counted, behind Labor at 31 per cent.

“It’s neck and neck at this point,” Mr Zraika said.

“Our campaign was very grassroots, so the numbers are showing people in the community are turning away from those major parties, and they want someone they trust. But it’s too early to say whether that’s enough for us.”

Mr Zraika is a former Auburn councillor and Labor party member.

8.30pm:

Parramatta could end up with its first Greens councillor. In the Parramatta ward, Phil Bradley is confident about the early results.

“We’re fairly pleased with those first numbers,” Mr Bradley said.

The Greens sit at 13 per cent of the vote, but can rely on Labor preferences flowing their way.

“To get the quota we need a flow of preferences, and Labor’s results are looking good for the Greens.”

The Greens may also end up with a second councillor, with Chris James tracking well in Rosehill on 12.77 per cent of the vote, behind Labor and the Liberals.

Phil Bradley will make history if he is elected to council tonight.

8.15pm:

Former Parramatta Mayor Paul Garrard is tracking well to win a seat on Cumberland Council. After more than 40 years on Parramatta Council, Mr Garrard was forced to shift his focus to Cumberland which was formed last May from parts of Auburn, Holroyd and Parramatta councils under the state government’s forced amalgamations.

Mr Garrard’s political party, Our Local Community, has almost 30 per cent of the vote, followed by Labor’s Glenn Elmore and Liberal Tom Zreika.

Former Parramatta Mayor Paul Garrard.

7.55pm

Parrmatta Council veteran Lorraine Wearne is a good chance to return as a councillor for Epping Ward, according to early results.

Liberal candidates, led by accountant Bill Tyrrell, had 34.35 per cent of the vote, followed by Labor, led by Donna Davis, with 24.61 per cent.

Ms Wearne’s independents had the third most, 17.45 per cent.

The next best group was the Greens, led by Lindsay Peters, with 12.90 per cent.

Lorraine Wearne looks set to be re-elected to Parramatta Council.

7.50pm:

Early counts have the Liberals in front in Parramatta Council’s Dundas ward, but Labor candidate Pierre Esber is remaining positive.

“There’s been a swing to Labor across the board,” Mr Esber said.

“It’s unlikely that we’ll get all eight candidates across the board, but there’s still going to be a swing to Labor.”

Pierre Esber remains confident despite early results.

7.45pm:

Former Hills Shire Council Liberal mayor Andrew Jefferies has earned a seat on Parramatta Council. Mr Jefferies has over 50 per cent of the vote in the North Rocks ward. The Carlingford resident resigned as Hills Shire mayor last July to act on an advisory committee for Parramatta Council.

Former Hills Shire mayor Andrew Jefferies has been elected to Parramatta Council.

6.45pm:

Standing for Parramatta Council in the Rosehill ward, Steven Issa said the turn out of independents at polling booths was unexpected.

“I think there was a general positive vibe,” Mr Issa said.

“I was surprised by how any independent volunteers turned up to help out, they have a strong following, I do’t think any party will get a majority in the council, so I think it will be interesting when they’re all in one council.”

6.30pm:

Candidates in Parramatta and Cumberland are nervously waiting as the vote counts slowly trickle in, but that hasn’t stop many speculating on the outcome.

Running in the Greystanes ward for Cumberland Council, Ross Grove said he was “certain” that he would be among the candidates to make the cut.

“I’m confident I’ll make it, that Greg Cummings will make it, and while I like George Kafrouni, I do’t think he’ll get the numbers,” Mr Grove said.

Former Holroyd Mayor Greg Cummings has also been tipped to be returned to council, running on an anti-amalgamation platform.

“People are disgruntled with the forced amalgamation,” Mr Cummings said.

“It looks as though I will get my quota and I’ll secure it comfortably, so now I will need to have a discussion amongst those others that are elected about who will be best to be mayor… won’t be as bold as to put my hand up before the numbers come in.”

More than 132,000 enrolled voters were expected to take to the booths in Parramatta wards and 126,000 in the Cumberland areas, with the larger parties conducted informal exit polls, many believe familiar faces may be returned.

“I was expecting a bumpy ride,” Mr Grove said.

“I’m certainly more confident. I’m ready to represent the people of Holroyd and get on with the job.”