The event, run by Hunter Community Forum and hosted by former lord mayoral candidate Ron Brown, was attended by about 50 people - many of which were candidates' associates.

The five of six candidates in attendance - current councillors John Church (IND) John Mackenzie (GRN) and lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes (ALP); along with Stephen O'Brien (SA) and Jenny Barrie (LIB) - were each given five minutes for an opening address before being asked a series of pre-notified questions about five topics.

Candidates had two minutes to respond to the topics, which included: transparency and budget reporting; the removal of the city's lockout-laws; Supercars; recognising community concerns about development and infrastructure; and corporatisation of council.

Asked about general transparency and the way the council's financials are presented, John Mackenzie received an early round of applause when he said he would work towards eliminating "commercial-in-confidence" provisions from council contracts and activities.

Cr Nelmes did not mention the budget in her allocated two minutes, but accused "John Church and the Independents" of trying to block information about a code of conduct investigation into Cr Allan Robinson being released to the public.

Cr Church said infrastructure reports previously featured associated project costings, but they had dropped off in recent years.

He said commercial-in-confidence provisions in this term had hindered access to key information about the council's move to Stewart Avenue and hosting Supercars.

The motorsport event, which the city will host in March before the council considers extending it for another five years, was discussed at length and mentioned multiple times during the panel.

Asked if they would support extending the event, Jenny Barrie said stepped back from comments in September in which she said she would, saying she was undecided; John Church said he supported hosting it given its tourism benefits, but not in its current east end location; Nuatali Nelmes was non-committal but Labor plans to consult the community after the 2022 race; John Mackenzie said he had never endorsed it; and Stephen O'Brien, who lives on the track, said "no ifs, no buts, no Supercars".

John Church described the event's attendance numbers as a "fabrication" but said the council should consider backing the creation of a motorsport centre of excellence.

Cr Nelmes said it was "fanciful" for John Church to suggest the race could be held elsewhere.

Questions form the audience had a very specific focus.

The first from the audience was about the council supporting a plan to redevelop the former NBN studios site in The Hill; the next was on the amount of Ammonium nitrate at Sandgate and on Kooragang Island; the third was about Stockton beach's erosion woes; and a fourth was about rezoning bushland. A fifth question from a virtual attendee was about the changes to the city's business improvement associations made in this council term.

A Stockton resident called for the councillors and candidates to "see us" and "hear us" and "stop playing politics up there".

The lord mayor said the council had invested $10 million addressing the erosion and "brought the deputy premier to the table".

She said the council was only one of a handful in the state to have a Coastal Management Program in place.

"It can not be all on council," she said.

"Every resolution we've put up about Stockton has been unanimously supported.

"If I had my way, we would already be dredging offshore and replenishing the beach."

John Church said Stockton was one area that he and the lord mayor were in full agreement on.

Similarly, John Mackenzie said Stockton's woes had genuinely galvanised councillors to come up with a solution.

He said he did not generally support sand mining but would in this instance.

"There is no politics in this issue," he said.

Stephen O'Brien said climate change was the ultimate issue that needed addressing and he would make that a priority if elected.

Asked about lockout-laws in Newcastle and Hamilton being wound back, Mr O'Brien said an overlooked issue was poor public transport late at night, particularly trams not running.

John Mackenzie said "the Newcastle solution worked" and the no-lockouts trial had been "largely forced on the city" by the state government.

He said you don't create a vibrant night-time economy by "adding more alcohol" and the Greens planned to establish a permanent office to aid venue owners, residents, council and the public.

John Church said night-time offerings needed to be improved with activations like greater retail trading and markets.

He spoke about the King Street Hotel expansion the council approved earlier this year, saying it was done in the face of opposition from police, health authorities and local residents.

Jenny Barrie said improve CCTV and lighting should be used more to improve safety, rather than restricting venues' trade.

Cr Nelmes said she was proud to have supported the emerging small bar scene over recent years, which had diversified the city's watering holes.