Local candidate Eleanor Spence received only 2071 of the 37,613 formal votes counted, or a meagre 5.5 per cent.

This not only placed her well below the re-elected National party candidate Stephen Bromhead and Country Labor's David Keegan, but also saw her outperformed by local independent Paul Sandilands and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Heather Elliot.

Mrs Spence admitted the result was disappointing and that she'd hoped people would have seen the pressing need to address issues such as climate change and the environment.

However, she believed it wasn't a reason to stop advocating.

"It's hard to get people to change their vote," she said.

"When people are unsure they'll go with what they're familiar with."

Mrs Spence said she planned to get out and provide more information to the community about environmental issues, not only to raise awareness, but also in an effort to breakdown some of the misunderstandings that surround environmental sustainability.

"For positive things to happen in the community, we've got to come together and find common ground," she said.

She also admitted there were a lot of positives for her to take away from her candidacy, with the experience giving her confidence should she choose to run again.

"I'm not ruling it out," she said.

"The issues are too important."

Asked what she'd like to see from incumbent Stephen Bromhead in his third term, Mrs Spence said she would welcome more genuine engagement with the community from the Nationals MP, as well as a return of funding for an exclusive women's and children's refuge in Taree.

"He's been given another opportunity and he's made a lot of promises, so I think there's going to be a lot of people holding him to account this time around," she said.

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