Gunnedah local government election day 2016

It’s 9.30am on Saturday at Gunnedah Town Hall and the 2016 council candidates are busy making their final pitches to voters. 

Candidate advertising leaflets in one hand and a big firm handshake the other. 

“Good morning, have you voted yet,” queries one representative, looking to offload some flyers from 50-deep pile. “No not yet but soon,” I reply. 

Each candidate is spruiking their own style. Some go for the loud is best approach, while others prefer a more conservative standing. 

But louder isn’t always better, as one candidate remarks.

There is fresh blood among this year’s candidates and simply their presence has already won over some voters.

“It’s good to see the young fellas having a go,” said Colin, who had seen more than his fair share of local government elections. “There’s still some of the older ones there but it’s not all the same crew.”

Local mum, Elisa, wanted a stronger emphasis on business but thought the only way to achieve that is with a fresh councillor perspective.

“I think there’s needs to be a clean out,” she said.

By 10am vehicle traffic around the polling centre has increased and families from properties outside town are making their way in to vote.

Melinda is waiting outside the hall for her partner to cast his vote. She said environmental issues, the direction of town planning and local business were her main considerations when voting. But her biggest sticking point was a “whole of community” approach of councillors.

Over at Curlewis, the second biggest polling centre outside Gunnedah, a steady stream of voters were casting their preferences for the next local government.

Polling centre manager Helen Johnston received 130 votes in three hours since opening the door at Curlewis but expected about 350 totals votes for the day.

Helen had worked a number of different government elections before. She said they were a great chance for the community to catch up on the happenings around town.

“I don’t need those things,” one voter says, brushing off a pamphlet, “I know who I’m voting for.” 

Among the steady stream of local voters is a gent from Coffs Harbour stops by the Curlewis centre ready to put pencil to paper. He seems non-fussed when told there is no absentee voting in these elections.

“Guess I’ll just have to get the fine then,” he says with a wry smile.

I’m later told he is the second absentee voter who has sought to cast their vote at Curlewis. Another from Sydney also landed at the polling centre hoping to vote but was also refused.