Mayor Reg Kidd has rubbished the notion current Councillors are in care-taker mode and insisted Orange City Council would continue to progress in the face of another delay to local government elections.
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Council elections have been pushed back from September 4 this year to December 4, 2021, NSW Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock confirmed on Saturday.
It's the second time council elections have been postponed, after originally being slated for late 2020.
The delays mean the 11 serving Councillors - Cr Mario Previtera died in August, 2020 - have had over 12 months added to their term, but Cr Kidd says "a sense of civic duty" ensures those in office will continue to work for the people.
"I'll keep operating as a Councillor and just do my job," Cr Kidd said on Sunday.
"I get pissed off when certain people say we haven't been a real council over the last 12 months after the elections were pushed back. It's a rubbish comment. We've been elected by the people for the people and we have that responsibility.
I think majority, right across the state, will have a sense of civic duty to do the job until the end.
- Orange mayor Reg Kidd
"If anyone thinks they've had enough they can resign. But I think majority, right across the state, will have a sense of civic duty to do the job until the end."
Independent advocacy organisation Local Government NSW has urged the government to commit to holding "COVID safe" council elections before year's end.
"COVID safe local government elections must be held by the end of the year, to uphold democracy and ensure renewal," LGNSW President Linda Scott said.
"Public health and safety must always come first, but we do not want to reach a situation in which democracy delayed is democracy denied.
"This latest three-month deferral comes on top of an existing deferral of 12 months from September 2020, with no guarantee further delays won't be incurred.
"Delaying elections further is a risk to democracy."
Cr Scott said a significant number of existing councillors, who had already been asked to extend their term by 12 months, had already chosen not to stand for a further term.
In Orange, Councillors Russell Turner, Stephen Nugent are Jo McRae are the only ones to confirm they won't be standing again come the elections, while Cr Kidd has said he may consider running again if circumstances allow.
"The need for local government leaders has never been greater, as communities and their local economies struggle with the impact caused by going into, out and back into lockdown again," she said.
"Regional NSW local governments are particularly eager for safe NSW elections to proceed, with many areas of NSW without a single COVID exposure.
"Why should the rest of NSW have to suffer because of COVID cases in Sydney?"
Cr Kidd predicted the COVID-19 situation across the state will ensure the upcoming elections now in December will have more candidates than ever before.
"It may mean more people stand. It doesn't matter where you go, every conversation you have is about COVID. Everyone has been impacted," he said.
"But in the mean time, I'll push to reinvigorate committees because I believe strongly in them. We can get them rolling again."
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