Wendy Tuckerman prepares for Goulburn office

Liberal Wendy Tuckerman only has to wait until the official declaration of the poll on Friday to assume the mantle from Pru Goward.

The NSW Electoral Commission's count for the recent State election in Goulburn was completed on Thursday with the full distribution of preferences.

It showed Mrs Tuckerman snared 22,359 votes (53.55 per cent) to Labor's Dr Ursula Stephens' 19,398 votes (46.45pc).

The Liberal Democrats' candidate Dean McCrae was excluded from the count first. He drew 828 votes. Then came Animal Justice Party candidate Tracey Keenan with 1260 votes; The Greens' Dr Saan Ecker on 4374 votes; One Nation's Richard Orchard with 4905 votes and Shooters, Fishers and farmers' nominee, Andy Wood on 6182 votes.

The Electoral Commission received a total 52,673 ballot papers from 57,564 eligible voters. There were 1616 informal votes.

"I'm very pleased, obviously," Mrs Tuckerman said of the win.

 "We have another little period before it's declared but certainly thrilled with the result."

While the Liberals' margin in the seat has taken a hit from Ms Goward's 6.6 per cent, the Member-elect said she thought it would be closer. The margin is yet to be worked out but it was thought to be between two and three per cent.

Mrs Tuckerman said she was looking forward to starting work, once inducted into Parliament. The party made several large funding announcements during the campaign and delivering on these was a priority. They included $4.5 million for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit in Goulburn and $10 million for the city's aquatic centre upgrade.

Voters had also raised road issues with her and she pledged to advocate on their behalf. 

"There are commitments to be delivered but I also want to get around to communities, meet people, talk to them about concerns and make sure I'm going to be a good voice for everyone in the electorate," Mrs Tuckerman said.

She will move into Ms Goward's former office in Auburn Street when she receives the all clear. This will be Mrs Tuckerman's main office but she also hopes to use space in Bowral for constituent interviews.

Meantime, Goulburn Labor president Jason Shepherd said he was unlikely to request a recount despite signalling this last week.

Any party can request a recount before the poll's declaration on Friday at 4pm.

On Thursday Mr Shepherd told The Post the recount was not necessary given the voting patterns across the electorate.

"The Southern Highlands booths dragged us down," he said.

"That wasn't the case in Gouburn and Yass, which we won, but those who voted for Labor will have to put up with a Liberal."

Mr Shepherd said while the Liberals lost nine to 10pc of its primary vote, Labor's fell "only" 0.4 per cent based on the 2015 result.

"With the margin now on about 2.7pc it's a proper swing seat," he told The Post.

"...We'll be watching to see if the Libs keep their promises. If they don't, we'll get them next time."

Meantime, Labor will take a tilt in next year's Goulburn Mulwaree Council election.

While political parties have not traditionally run in the local poll, Mr Shepherd said with Cr Leah Ferrara's election in 2016 for The Greens, it was now "open slather."

Labor contemplated running a ticket at the 2016 council election but Mr Shepherd pulled out for personal reasons.

"We'll either run a ticket this time or a candidate but it would be silly if it wasn't a ticket," he said.  

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