The following results had not been officially declared by Returning Officer Keith Whiteman or approved by the State Electoral office at time of printing, but were expected to be declared at 12pm today.

The 12 candidates elected were Ian Woodcock, Robert Greenaway, Alan Friend, Peter Waterford, Darryl Cooper, Grahme Slack-Smith, David Lane, Margaret Bow, Lawrence Walford, Charlie Mitchell, Lyn Carney and Danielle Osborne.

In first preference votes, which do not include other preferences, section votes, or some postal votes, Lightning Ridge candidate and former mayor Ian Woodcock received the most first preference votes with 427.

Robert Greenaway received 277 votes, Alan Friend received 263, Darryl Cooper received 226, Peter Waterford received 219, Grahme Slack-Smith received 193, Margaret Bow received 163, David Lane and Neil Warden received 102, Charlie Mitchell received 92, Lawrence Walford received 85, Lyn Carney received 83, Danielle Osborne received 69, Jason Wilson received 65, Ted Fernando received 63, Terry Balsdon received 62, Gan Bruce received 54, Wadih Jury received 46, George Fernando received 43, Wendy Spencer received 34, Jamie Collins received 32, Mary Casey-Marshall received 28, Michael Taylor received 25 and Leopold Poppenberger received 10.

Walgett shire voters also agreed with the proposed referendum to reduce the number of councillors to nine instead of 12.

This will come into affect at the next election.

The appointed commissioner into the public inquiry into Walgett Shire Council Robert Bulford has confirmed the public hearings will begin on April 20 in the Walgett Shire Council Chambers in Walgett between 10am and 4pm.

Mr Bulford will decide how many days the hearings will run for.

He has also extended the date for written submissions to be handed in from March 24 to April 13.

He has received 21 written submissions so far which are on display in Walgett Shire Chambers, Walgett Library and Tourist Information Centre, Lightning Ridge agency and library, Collarenebri agency, Burren Junction and Carinda post offices.