COVID-19 Gunnedah: postponed elections mean Gunnedah councillors have to remain in role for one more year

Owen Hasler and Gae Swain had decided not to re-run for local government, but unless they resign from their role they will have to remain until September 2021 when the elections will now be run.

The elections were postponed this week due to the coronavirus threat.

Cr Hasler said unless something changed in the next year, he would remain in his role for the extended period.

"I think it's important that councillors have a degree of stability and I'm happy to commit to the year although I was planning on a lot more travel but we can't go away in the caravan anyway," he said.

"[COVID-19] is a major issue and I think councillors are being very proactive in attempting to protect both employees and the community in Gunnedah."

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Cr Swain said it was "disappointing" she had to remain in the role for another year but that it wasn't "the end of the world".

She isn't thinking of resigning "at this stage".

"In a contest of what's happening at the moment I understand the decision but it's hard for councillors who have decided to not run again and it makes it a bit difficult," she told the NVI.

"From my own personal perspective I'm getting older and we need some younger councillors there."

She said she understood there were far worse things occurring at the moment.

"It's small in the scheme of things with what's happening with this virus. The virus is having far more impact on people than what the postponement will have," Cr Swain said.