AN ELECTORAL Commission Queensland spokesman apologised to voters on ABC radio yesterday morning after striking problems with voting, especially in Noosa which was one of the local government areas trialling a new scanning method.

The spokesman said that Noosa's lack of divisions had not helped matters as it makes counting a very complex procedure which saw councillor vote tallies not being posted until almost 24 hours after voting ended.

However he said that the scanner in Noosa on Saturday night struck problems when counting postal votes first up as these tended to be more folded and these folds were being registered by the technology.

He said this forced a switch to counting of the prepolling votes.

However he told the ABC that the IT system used was an old one that was designed for state elections and faced difficulties in handling the state-wide council polls plus the four-year term referendum. This should be the last election that the computer system will be used.

Meanwhile, in the state referendum for four-year fixed terms, Noosa is looking far more decisive with almost 56.73% voting "yes" to making politicians serve their full term and send voters to the poll at a set date, with more than 16,000 votes counted. More than 43% of voters gave this the thumbs down.

This result is similar to the state tally to date with 53.1% voting "yes" after 1.5 million referendum ballots counted from a touch over 3 million eligible voters.

The "no" vote stood at 46.88%.

On the Sunshine Coast, Mark Jamieson, as expected, romped home to stay mayor of the Sunshine Coast, while Division 10 stays in the hands of Councillor Greg Rogerson.

However Councillor Steve Robinson will be anxious as counting resumes in the ever volatile Div 9.

Cr Robinson says he claimed strong wins in Bli Bli and Peregian, putting him in what appeared to be a strong position with his opponents Angela Wilson and Scott Larsen requiring disciplined preference flows to overtake him.

Cr Robinson said he was confident if he could "break even" in the pre-poll count he felt he could hold his position.

He said he was hearing the preference flow had not been overly strong thus far and was confident that may help him to hold level in Coolum.

"Pre-poll is 30% of the vote. I'm certainly not calling it yet."

With seven of 17 booths counted Cr Robinson had 49.7% of the vote, Scott Larsen had 25.95% and Greens candidate Angela Wilson 24.34%.