All three wards in the Greater Hume Shire will be contested for the first time since 2008 this coming council election.

Unlike the 2012 election, there will be contested votes across the shire's three wards which are made up of three councillors.

In the south ward, which is centred on Jindera and was the only one to go to a vote last time, incumbents Denise Osborne, Jenny O'Neill and Karen Schoff will be challenged by Matt Hicks.

The competition in the Holbrook-based east ward involves existing councillors, mayor Heather Wilton and Tony Quinn and Stuart Heriot, and fresh faces Kim Stewart and Bruce Quick.

In the Henty-Culcairn north ward, the group of Doug Meyer, Annette Schilg and Terry Weston will face Jenni Turner and Peter Knight.

Cr Osborne said it was pleasing all wards would be contested for the first time since 2008.

“I really do think people need an opportunity to get to know the people that are going to represent them and the only way to do that is to have a campaign to get out and about and meet people,” Cr Osborne said.

John McInerney, who has moved to the Port Stephens area, is the only councillor not recontesting his seat after having been on the council since 2005.