The NSW Electoral Commission has finalised the poll results for Gunnedah shire’s nine elected representatives – three of them first-term councillors.

The new council team includes Colleen Fuller, Linda Newell, Tammey McAllan, Ann Luke, Rob Hooke, Kate McGrath, Robert Hoddle, Juliana McArthur and Cameron Moore.

Councillors Newell, McAllan and Moore will sit at Gunnedah’s Elgin Street council chambers for the first time.

Others such as Juliana McArthur are returning for consecutive terms on council.

“I’m very grateful for the result,” Ms McArthur said.

“There is a lot still to achieve and hard decisions to be made.”

One of the first items on the agenda will be the 38.88 per cent special rate variation proposal for the Gunnedah shire. The SRV was foremost in thoughts of many voters at this year’s council election.

Ms McArthur said striking the right balance between revenue and services would be key to achieving a good outcome for the community.

“I think there needs to be an SRV, we need to be fiscally responsible,” she said. “There hasn’t been a rate increase in a long time.

“[But] we’ll look at efficiency gains first.”

Other high priority items on the program for the returning Gunnedah councillor include completion of the master plans.

Several designs were recently exhibited for community feedback including the draft Riverine Precinct (including Donnelly and Namoi Playing Fields and Woolshed Reserve), Gunnedah Showground, Kitchener Park and Wolseley Park master plans.

Ms McArthur was also eager to start a “road fund” dedicated to the upkeep of sealed and unsealed local roads as well as more investment in plant and machinery to assist with this fund.

First-term councillor Cameron Moore said it will be big a task ahead for new council and a collaborative approach would be crucial.

“If we work as a team, hopefully we can get the job done,” he said.

The 34-year-old said several areas could help ease the SRV burden but ultimately some form of rate increase may be necessary.

“If we can limit [the SRV], that would be great,” Mr Moore said.

“We need to be as efficient as possible, try and utilise what we have so we don’t have to go to the community with our hand out.”

One of two of the 11 Gunnedah candidates to miss out on a seat was Mitchum Neave.

The Breeza resident was in an elected position until this week’s preference distribution scuttled his election hopes.

Although disappointed by the result, especially for the village communities who he stood to represent, Mr Neave was taking a glass half-full perspective.

“I’m over the moon for the 369 number one votes I received,” he said.

“That is an excellent thing.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me.”

The Gunnedah representatives will meet later this month for their first council meeting and to elect a mayor and deputy mayor.

The election result follows a two-week wait to allow for the finalisation of postal votes.

A check count of votes was completed last week and the progressive distribution of preferences started on Monday.

The declaration of the vote is scheduled today.

When all the votes have been counted, the returning officer will declare the election in writing, which is an official announcement of the election result.

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