Mayor Kay Fraser has declared victory in Lake Macquarie where she has more than double the votes of her nearest counterpart.
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The Labor first term mayor currently has 53.76 per cent of the vote with just under half the votes counted.
Liberal Jason Pauling was second with 21.78 per cent, and said earlier in the night that Cr Fraser was "home and hosed".
Labor party insiders are confident of the party retaining its six seats on council, with two in East and North wards, but not as assured about a second seat in West Ward, saying it could either go to Labor or the Greens with where the votes were at so far.
Liberal councillor and mayoral candidate Jason Pauling thinks his party will retain its three councillors, with a representative in each ward.
As the vote stands, the Lake Mac Independents were the next in line to retain their seat in each ward.
There has also been a higher than normal informal vote in the wards.
Cr Fraser said she was very pleased to have a swing towards her, and was looking forward to the council term ahead.
"I want to thank the residents for their support," she said. "I'm very humbled.
"It will be very exciting to see who the new councillors are, it's going to be an exciting time."
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
