But Cr Moore, who will govern Sydney's central business district for a fourth term with an increased majority, said she was determined to work with Mike Baird's government to deliver infrastructure and amenity for the inner city's swelling population

"I think there was a tremendous result against that gerrymander," Cr Moore said on Saturday, after securing a swing of about 10 per cent.

"It was so unjust, so unfair, so undemocratic to give two votes to businesses and one vote to residents," she said.

"We have had an unprecedented win for democracy here in the city."

Of the ten councillors on City of Sydney council, at least six will come from Cr Moore's independent team.

That means high-profile GP Kerryn Phelps and architect Phillip Thalis will sit on council for the first time, as will sustainability advocate Jess Miller, festival director Jess Scully, joining existing councillor Robert Kok.

As at Sunday, Liberal candidate Christine Forster and Labor's Linda Scott were definitely elected to council.

The remaining two candidates could come from Liberal, Labor, Greens, or independent Angela Vithoulkas, and there was even a possibility Cr Moore's seventh candidate for council, strata-expert Catherine Lezer, could be elected.

Observers from all sides of politics said hostility to the government's business voting changes - which required Council staff to enrol two directors from eligible businesses to vote - played a part in the lord mayor's success.

Cr Scott said she was pleased to have held Labor's vote in the face of a strong protest vote against the government's changes. "I had people entitled to a business vote angry about the fact they were entitled to a vote," she said.

A Liberal MP, meanwhile, said both major parties needed to learn "fiddling" with electoral rules around the City of Sydney would not work. "Hopefully they now will," the Liberal said.

There had been suggestions during the campaign that Cr Moore, who is 70, may not stay on for a full term. But she scotched these on Sunday, saying she was "absolutely" committed to the job.

"I've just been resoundingly elected with a 10 per cent swing for my fourth term - of course."

The former state member for Sydney was forced to choose between her job as lord mayor or a spot in parliament by laws introduced under former premier Barry O'Farrell.

Cr Moore has been a consistent thorn in the side of the major parties in the inner city since winning a spot on South Sydney Council in 1980.

Nevertheless she said on Saturday she had good relations with government ministers, and wanted to make the ties to work.

"We have a program of providing very dense residential development in the city and we are providing the infrastructure that local government needs to provide," said Cr Moore, who has presided over development precincts at Harold Park and Green Square.

"We really want the state to also provide the schools and to provide the transport for those increasing population densities."

A spokesman for Mr Baird said in a statement: "Changes were made in 2014 in the Sydney Local Government area to make the system fairer for businesses, which are the largest contributor of rates in the area.

"Voters have had their say and we congratulate Clover Moore on her win."

Cr Moore called on the premier to repeal the business voting legislation.