The Council will hold a briefing and information session for potential candidates before the next Council meeting. The information session will start at 2pm and the Council meeting will start at 4pm on July 28. They will both take place at the Council Chambers.

Information details are also now available on the Upper Hunter Sire Council website or from any of Council offices at Scone, Merriwa or Murrurundi.

Upper Hunter Shire Council General Manager Daryl Dutton said the information sessions are aimed to assist potential candidates to be aware and up-to-date on obligations and responsibilities of a Councillor and will cover topics including recent changes to local government regulations and election funding.

Information will be provided on the Council’s structure, strategic and management planning systems, budget and reporting.

It is important for intending candidates to be informed of the time required of Councillors in preparation and attendance to Council’s meetings and Committees, together with their obligations and expectations.

The information seminars will also cover the election timetable, who can be a candidate and how to nominate, groups of candidates and political party names on ballot papers, mayoral elections, campaigning: election advertising, ‘how-to-vote’ material and public scrutiny of candidates, complaints handling by the NSW Electoral Commission, voting, counting ballot papers, scrutineering and election funding obligations.

It is compulsory for Australian citizens, resident in NSW, 18 years of age or older to enrol and vote for representatives on their council.

Residents not already enrolled must do so by 6pm on Monday, August 4.

Nominations of candidates for the elections open on Monday, August 4 and close on Wednesday, August 13.

Early voting will take place from September 1 to 12, postal vote applications close on September 8. Postal votes open on Friday, August 15 and close on September 15.