Georges River and Sutherland Shire local elections: wrapped

The residents of southern Sydney took to the polling booths for the shaken-up Georges River and Sutherland Shire elections. Here’s how they voted.

Georges River Council was “partially affected” by the Liberal Party nomination bungle. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Independents came out in full swing, local parties tried to break away from the pack, and the major parties fought to hold their ground as Georges River and Sutherland Shire residents descended on the polls for the local government election.

The absence of Liberal candidates took centre stage in Georges River where voters in Mortdale Ward and Peakhurst Ward had the pick of only two parties, Labor and the Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party (GRRRP).

Local resident and former Hurstville mayor, Rob Sharpe, said certain voters chose to boycott the election without a Liberal offer on the table.

Early results all but confirmed his reports with Mortdale and Peakhurst wards registering more than 24 per cent informal votes as of 9pm on election night.

“I’ve certainly heard of people screwing up ballot papers and just throwing them away without voting,” Mr Sharp said on Saturday afternoon.

Former Hurstville mayor and Mortdale voter Rob Sharp said the Liberals absence was felt in Mortdale. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

Sutherland Shire had a quieter turnout in the afternoon as the Cronulla Sharks game started. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

“I know people that have been working on the booths and there are people that are angry they can’t vote for Liberals.”

Mr Sharp said the GRRRP looked within reach of a council majority but Labor could thwart those plans after taking the lead in three out of five wards.

Across the border in the Sutherland Shire, odds appeared to turn in the Liberal Party’s favour.

Unscathed by the nomination fiasco, the Shire Liberal ticket is on track to secure eight out of 15 councillor seats with Labor and independents rounding out the mix – despite its own fair share of controversies.

The mayor and deputy mayor, Carmelo Pesce and Carol Provan, are trailing in third and fourth place with 16.3 and 13.5 per cent of the vote in their wards after they were controversially dumped from the Liberal Party and turned independent.

Outgoing Labor councillor Greg McLean said it “would be really interesting to see whether or not there is enough support to get them up as independents” and re-elected for council.