Narrabri Shire Council election poll result in limbo

Results from the Narrabri Shire Council election remain unclear as a race for preferences looks likely to determine a majority of the councillor positions.

As of Monday, declaration votes, iVote and postal vote first preference results, totalling 1414 ballot papers, were added to the NSW Electoral Commission’s tally.

A total of 7273 ballot papers had been counted, including 585 informal votes.

Current mayor Ron Campbell had received 1104 first preference votes and topped the list of individual candidates. Cr Campbell will be re-elected, with his first preference vote count likely to be well above the quota even once counting is complete.

In the groups, Group A is on track to secure two positions on council to Greg Lamont and Robert Browning with a combined 1644 first preference votes for that group.

As the results currently stand, positions four to nine on council look to be determined by a race to claim preferences.

In the individuals, Darrell Tiemens is second in the count with 556 first preference votes, Lisa Richardson 443, John Clements 410, Cathy Redding 347, Brett Dickinson 347, Ronald (John) Tully 270, Cameron Staines 223, Ron Campey 171, Les Knox 157, Lloyd Finlay 154, Maryanne McDonald 138 and Crystal Dwyer 114. Group B had recorded a combined 610 first preference votes.

With the total formal votes that had been counted as at Monday, the progressive quota needed to secure a position on council on first preferences alone was 669.

In its election results information, the NSW Electoral Commission says results for councillors will be reported on its online virtual tally room after the check count and distribution of preferences are conducted in the third week after election day. This means the exact makeup of the next Narrabri Shire Council could be unknown until next week.