WITH the date of the next local government election still unclear, Wingecarribee Shire councillors have voted to notify the minister for local government of their preferred date.
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In last week's Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillor Duncan Gair successfully moved a motion for council to write to the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole to confirm council's preference to hold the ordinary election of councillors on September 10 this year.
The dates of the next council election have not yet been confirmed because of the possibility of a federal election this year. If the September date was not chosen, it would be possible that the elections would be held in March 2017.
"I don't think this community is quite ready for this council to go another six months and I think they would be quite happy to go to the polls in September," Cr Gair said.
"We shouldn't be beholden to the thought that there's going to be a federal election so we can't have our local government elections."
Cr Gair also said if the elections were held in March next year, the incoming council could not have any input on the budget, which was usually finalised at the end of March.
However, Councillors Ian Scandrett, Juliet Arkwright and Mayor Larry Whipper said they didn't have an issue with the elections being held in March or September.
"September or March, it's irrelevant," Cr Whipper said.
"But, I would like clarity from state government about when it is, and I think the community does too."
Cr Gair's motion was successfully passed with all councillors except Crs Scandrett and Arkwright voting in favour of it.