This election is being held 12 months later than originally planned due to uncertainty last year over the state government’s program of forced council amalgamations.

As a result, the next term of council will be just three years instead of the usual four.

There are 40 candidates for this year’s election, with nine councillor positions to be filled.

The ballot paper will have seven “above-the-line” group tickets of at least five candidates, one below-the-line group of two candidates and two solo candidates.

The full list of candidates as they will appear on the ballot paper [with links to published articles] is:

Group A: Bobby Bourke, Jacqui Rudge, Mick Forde, Steve Ellery, David Conroy.

Group B: Monica Morse, Rebecca Mathie, Janelle Lindsay, Donald Alexander, Laura Cole.

Group C: Jess Jennings, Steve Semmens, Leah Moulden, Saskia-Jayne Handley, Tony Hatch.

Group D: Ian North, David Veness, Katreena Shelley, Bob Triming, Alaine Fitzpatrick.

Group E: Warren Aubin, Robert “Stumpy” Taylor, Judy Doulman, Wayne Loader, Benjamin Fry.

Group F: Don Grant, Gordon Crisp.

Group G: Graeme Hanger, Vince Connor, Megan Jackson, Stuart Driver, Jim Sheehan.

Group H (The Greens): John Fry, Cathie Hale, David Harvey, Emma Paterson, Michael Mullen, Elizabeth Barrett.

Ungrouped: Nick Packham.

Ungrouped:  Alex Christian.