Based on current indications it might even rival the 88-strong field, one of the largest in the state, who stood at the last election in 2017.

At least five people currently not on council have told the Central Western Daily they were planning to head a ticket, each requiring six candidates, at the election.

In the 2017 election six standing councillors also headed their own tickets. That election also saw other groups, who are yet to announce their intentions for 2021, run tickets.

A further nine people, including two councillors, stood alone as ungrouped candidates in 2017. If those trends continued it would see about 80 people standing.

So far, only Greens-aligned candidate Melanie McDonell has registered on the official election list. Nominations close on August 4.

People declaring they will run include Dr Steve Peterson.

He will have Theodore Crane as his running partner.

Gerald Power has also declared he will run while others said they were still deciding.

However, the rollup for council's first information sessions for potential candidates this week has been below expectations.

While sessions in previous years have drawn up to 40 people a council spokesman said so far fewer than 10 people had registered for sessions from 6pm on Thursday and a women's-only event on Saturday, both at the council chambers.

He said it was 'really important' for new candidates to attend. "There'll be people there with the experience and knowledge to answer any questions," he said.

"There'll be information and the two sessions that will look at the work of someone who is elected to serve as a local member, and also the electoral practicalities of getting there.

"One of the strategic decisions a candidate will have to make is whether to run as part of a ticket or to be listed on the part of the ballot paper where people running on their own are listed. There are a number of factors to be weighed up and someone will be there at both events to provide the information."

He said there would also be information about how some current councillors got their start in local government.

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