Former deputy chief minister Peter Styles has the edge over incumbent Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis after Saturday's council election. Styles holds 23 percent of first preferences with just over half of all votes counted. And with voter participation sitting at just 54 percent across the Territory, some local council races could be decided by just handful of votes.
00:00Counting is finally underway, but it could be more than a week before the results.
00:08After a long campaign, many are today sighing a breath of relief.
00:13It was hard work, and I have to say it was the hardest campaign I've seen in my 30 years in politics.
00:19I can't believe the venom, the poison, the innendo, the make-up stories with no foundations.
00:25The results so far showing a tight race in Darwin City, with Convat Scholars hoping to secure a third term, lagging behind former CLP Deputy Chief Minister Peter Stiles.
00:36People are telling me out there that they're tired of not knowing what's going on in council.
00:40The decision we made was the best decision we made for the community, the whole community.
00:45Neither candidate is taking a win for granted, with preferences yet to be distributed, the campaign failing to inspire many potential voters.
00:55We've got some wards which have seen a participation rate of around 11%.
00:59Then we've also seen some of our councils and wards around the 70%.
01:03Voter turnout not helped by polling booths in these communities being open for just half an hour.
01:09In Palmerston, incumbent Mayor Athena Pascoe-Bell secured more than 50% of the primary vote.
01:16After a recent 4.9% rate hike, which put many ratepayers offside.
01:22It is very difficult when council costs increase. Some of our contract costs have increased by 30%.
01:28So having to juggle what we're able to deliver with rising costs is an unfortunate factor of council.
01:35In Alice Springs, where Mayor Matt Paterson is stepping down, lawyer Astor Hill holds a narrow lead over sitting councillor Ellie Malky.
01:45One of the key issues that I campaigned on was changing the story of our town.
01:49Because we have been in the news for all the wrong reasons for quite a long time.
01:54It's impacted tourism, our local workforce and economy.
01:57I predicted that I would be further behind, but I'm pleased I'm not. So we're in the hands of the counters now.
Be the first to comment