Counting continues to determine councillor positions

Counting has continued this week to determine the nine councillors who will form the next Narrabri Shire Council.

Check counts have been completed for many polling booths, with a few yet to be finalised as of Wednesday afternoon.

Below-the-line first preference votes have been counted since The Courier’s update last week.

Results from Baan Baa Hall, Narrabri pre-poll as well as provisional and postal votes are still to be checked.

Since last week, the below-the-line votes so far have favoured Group B with 269 first preferences for current mayor Darrell Tiemens.

In Group D, Wee Waa Newsagency operator Roxanne Whitton received the most individual votes with 108, Group F Brett Nolan 75, Group A Joshua Roberts-Garnsey 53, Group C Greg Lamont 32 and Group E Mark Crutcher 15.

The percentage of first preferences has increased for Group B (Darrell Tiemens), Group D (Ethan Towns) and Group E (Ian Passmore).

However, more than 3400 votes were cast at the Narrabri pre-poll voting centre at the aquatic centre and this is yet to be included in the check count.

The counting process experienced a slow start as technical issues were experienced at the returning office.

The deadline for the completion of local counting is Monday, September 30.

The counting of postal votes will be conducted in Sydney.

The distribution of preferences will likely play a major role in who is elected to council.

Current results indicate at least seven of the councillors will be new to council.

The results also show Group B (Darrell Tiemens), Group D (Ethan Towns) and Group F (Brett Nolan) are certain to gain a quota in their own right.

Information from the NSW Electoral Commission states the distribution of preferences to determine the elected candidates can only be conducted after the close of receipt of postal votes at 6pm on Friday, September 27 and after all check counts are complete.

It is performed using the NSW Electoral Commission’s computer count system.

The electoral commission’s online virtual tally room will display the final count reports as soon as practicable after each distribution of preferences is completed.

If further clarity is available prior to next Thursday’s Courier, an update will also be published online.