Former Kiama general manager Brian Petschler. Picture: DAVE TEASE
THE final make-up of the new Kiama Municipal Council will be known today.
The poll will be declared at The Pavilion, Kiama, this morning after the final distribution of preferences.
The Group A team of former Kiama general manager Brian Petschler, which received 28.9 per cent of the first preference vote, is expected to have three representatives on the council.
Cr Petschler and Mark Honey have secured seats, with number three Bob Behl expected to get through on preferences.
Others guaranteed a seat are Greens candidates Andrew Sloan and Kathy Rice, Team Steel's Warren Steel, and ex-detective Dennis Seage who was part of the Locals for Locals ticket which secured 11.4 per cent of the vote.
The three remaining seats are expected to be fought out by Mr Behl, The Right Direction's Gavin McClure, the ungrouped Mark Way and Cr Neil Reilly.
Mr Way, who secured 936 individual votes, has an 84-vote lead over Cr Reilly's Community Voice ticket. However Cr Steel believes the second candidate on his ticket, Sonja McMillan, remains an outside chance of getting through on preferences, along with the Greens' number three Paula Schiller Gowans.