City of Wagga Wagga enters caretaker mode ahead of election
Published: 16 Aug 2024 8:40am
The Council of the City of Wagga Wagga has now entered the caretaker period ahead of the NSW Local Government elections on Saturday 14 September 2024.
Nominations closed earlier this week, with more than 61 candidates vying for nine Councillor positions on Wagga Wagga City Council.
General Manager Peter Thompson said while Council’s day-to-day business will continue mostly as usual over the four-week caretaker period, there are some aspects which will be affected.
“During the caretaker period, no major decisions are to be determined by the Council; this includes the General Manager or any other delegate,” Mr Thompson said.
“The restrictions are mainly at that major decision-making level where we can't enter into any contracts that are worth more than $500,000,” Mr Thompson said.
“That's not just the councillor body, that's the whole of council, so I can't enter those contracts either.
“In addition, we cannot make any major planning scheme amendments or determine any Development Applications that would be considered as ‘controversial’.
“Once the new council is in place, we’ll have any matters involving major expenditure ready to go before them for their consideration.”
The last meeting of the current Council is scheduled for 26 August, which is during the caretaker period. It will go ahead as usual and will be open to the public and be livestreamed.
Councillor Dallas Tout has been delegated the functions of the role of Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga from 14 September 2024 until a mayor is elected by the incoming new Council.
The election of mayor and deputy mayor will take place at the first Ordinary Council Meeting of the new Council on Monday 14 October, subject to declaration of the election results.
Pre-poll voting opens on Monday 7 September and closes on Friday 13 September 2024.
The NSW Electoral Commission will facilitate the Local Government election on Saturday 14 September.
The Returning Office has opened at 72 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga, which will also be a pre-poll venue from 7 September.
Postal vote applications are open now and close at 5pm on Monday 9 September.