With over 70 per cent of the first votes counted, seven positions on the new Council have been filled, with preferences to decide the other two.

The Kiama LGA is determined using a proportional representation voting system, where a candidate is elected if they reach a quota of votes.

Any surplus of over the quota then gets transferred to the next preferred continuing candidates.

The preferences are scheduled to be distributed on Monday 20 December, after the final date for postal votes to be returned, 17 December.

The election of the final two councillors will not be known until then.

The elected councillors at the time of writing are:

• Kathy Rice, The Greens
• Jodi Keast, The Greens
• Karen Renkema-Lang , SAFE Kiama
• Imogen Draisma, Labor
• Neil Reilly, Team Reilly
• Matt Brown, We Love Kiama Gerringong Jamberoo
• Mark Croxford, Your Community Candidates.

Three candidates are in contention for the final two spots on the Council:

• Warren Steel, No Political Parties
• Stuart Larkins, Labor
• Tanya George, The Greens.

Opinions vary on which of these will miss out, but it could end up a close race.

Given the above, at the very least there will be four women on the new Council, up from the one female councillor serving the community over the last nine years (Kathy Rice).

The Mayor will be voted in at the first meeting of the new Council, on 11 January.