Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has the fourth highest number of candidates running for election, out of the 45 councils whose elections are being managed by the NSW Electoral Commission.
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Central Coast, Orange and Northern Beaches were the only councils with a higher number of nominees, with respectively 94, 88 and 81.
A combination of factors is the likely cause of the unusually high number of candidates, Media Officer for the NSW Electoral Commission.
The last elections took place in each of Palerang and Queanbeyan in 2012.
In Palerang there were 27 candidates for nine possible places on council, in Queanbeyan there were 36 candidates for the nine possible places on council.
With a similar number of council seats available, 11 to each of Queanbeyan and Palerang’s former nine, that means approximately twice as many ex-councilors who may be interested in running for seats, Mr Carroll said.
In addition, a new council means a clean slate and new opportunities.
“It’s a new council, everything’s wide open, so that would reflect itself in the number of candidates” Mr Carroll said.
“It’s new, everything’s up in the air, so it’s really revitalised interest in running for council.”
Prepoll votes for the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council elections begin on Monday August 28.
Venue information is available on the votensw.info website.