Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore is on course to win a historic sixth term, early results from Saturday’s NSW local elections show.

While more counting is to come, Moore is expected to retain the mayoral role she has held since 2004.

Securing almost 37% of the vote so far, independent candidate Moore has scored more than double the votes of her closest rival Labor’s Zann Maxwell.

Acknowledging “it was a pretty tough campaign and some awful things were said”, Moore said she was “encouraged and happy” that city constituents had endorsed her once again.

Speaking Sunday morning, 78-year-old Moore said she was “delighted” at the preliminary result.

Moore told reporters the makeup of City of Sydney council will be known in the days ahead.

Moore said her sixth – and possibly final four-year term – would be spent implementing capital works projects including street upgrades, tree planting, greening, and revitalising Oxford Street and China Town.

Moore was one of 37 NSW mayors up for election at the weekend, including Liverpool City Council mayor Ned Mannoun who is currently leading with 44% of the vote.

The south-west Sydney council has been mired in controversy of late. Earlier this month, the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled that an investigation into Liverpool City Council over allegations of maladministration and corruption could continue after efforts were made to block the inquiry.