Several new groups have been formed and plenty of shire residents have been motivated to run for the very first time. 

Maureen Searson will run as a Labor party candidate because she is concerned “not everyone is being catered for in council decision making”. 

“I want to be a strong, progressive voice for the Eurobodalla,” she said. 

“I have been thinking about it for some time and joined the Labor party. I was inspired by Fiona Phillips and Leanne Atkinson.”

Ms Searson said a year-round swimming pool was “really important” for the community. 

“The benefits it will bring to all ages will be great,” she said. “It could also be an important attraction for winter holidaymakers in the Bay.”

Fiona Whitelaw, of South Head, Moruya, will run as an independent and is supporting Lindsay Brown for mayor. 

“This is a great place to live and I think council is a really great way to keep it that way,” she said. 

Peter McLaughlin, of South Rosedale, believes he has the “management and leadership experience” that would assist council. 

“Councillors have three critical roles,” he said. 

“They are to make sure that services provided by council meet the needs of the community and that they are delivered in an efficient way. They need to listen and act on community concerns and they need to take a leadership role in relation to the bigger issues that they don’t have responsibility for, but they need to advocate on behalf of the community. 

“I have a strong view on the need to improve health services locally, so locals are not having to travel for services that could be provided here.”

John Suthern, of Tuross Head, said he was running because he wanted to make the shire a “better place than it already is”. 

“I have worked with business and community groups and I think there is a need for a voice in council for smaller communities,” he said. 

Community Voice Eurobodalla candidate Tom Wells said he would like to see council protect the nature coast and play a part in the collective effort against climate change. 

“I would like to see a sustainable economy developed, based on organic agriculture, ecotourism and renewable energy, infrastructure, goods and services.”