CouncilBeacon

Shellharbour

A regional city on the NSW South Coast, about 100 km south of Sydney — home to roughly 81,600 people across 19 suburbs. The council runs the local services you use every week (waste, roads, parks, development) and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot — then the stuff that affects your week.

Wollongong

The largest city in the Illawarra, on the NSW coast about 85 km south of Sydney — home to around 221,900 people across more than 60 suburbs, from Helensburgh in the north to Dapto in the south. The council runs the local services you use every week (waste, roads, parks, libraries, development) and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot — then the stuff that affects your week.

Kiama

A small coastal municipality on the NSW South Coast, just south of Shellharbour and about 120 km from Sydney — around 23,200 people across towns like Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo and Minnamurra, known for the Kiama Blowhole and its beaches. The council (nine councillors, no wards) runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, beaches, parks, libraries — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Shoalhaven

A large LGA on the NSW South Coast, about 160 km south of Sydney — around 110,800 people from Berry in the north to the Ulladulla–Milton area in the south, centred on Nowra. Known for its beaches, Jervis Bay and a string of coastal towns. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, water and sewer, beaches, libraries — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Wingecarribee Shire

The Southern Highlands council, about 110 km south-west of Sydney and mostly above 600 m elevation — around 53,500 people across towns like Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Robertson, known for cool-climate gardens, the Tulip Time festival and rural villages. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, water and sewer, parks, libraries — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Sutherland Shire

Sydney's southern shire, between the Georges River and the Royal National Park — around 238,800 people across suburbs from Cronulla and Miranda to Engadine and Menai, known for its beaches and bushland. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, beaches, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Wollondilly Shire

A large, mostly rural shire on Sydney's south-western edge — around 59,800 people across towns like Picton, Tahmoor, Bargo and Appin, with the new Wilton growth area on the way. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, rural roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Camden

One of the fastest-growing parts of NSW, on Sydney's south-western edge — around 141,100 people across historic Camden and fast-rising suburbs like Oran Park, Gregory Hills and Leppington. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Campbelltown

A major city in Sydney's south-west — around 188,300 people across Campbelltown, Ingleburn, Minto, Macquarie Fields and the suburbs of the Macarthur region. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, parks, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Lake Macquarie

A large lakeside city in the Hunter, wrapped around Australia's biggest coastal saltwater lake — around 221,900 people across suburbs from Charlestown and Warners Bay to Toronto and Swansea. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, beaches, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Newcastle

The regional capital of the Hunter and the second-largest city in NSW — around 176,900 people across the harbour city, beaches and suburbs from Mayfield and Wallsend to Merewether and Stockton. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, beaches, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Maitland

A fast-growing river city in the Lower Hunter, part of Greater Newcastle — around 98,200 people across Maitland, East Maitland, Rutherford, Thornton and historic Morpeth. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Blue Mountains

A string of mountain townships along the Great Western Highway, surrounded by World Heritage national park — around 78,900 people across Katoomba, Springwood, Blaxland, Leura and Blackheath. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Blacktown

NSW's most populous local government area — around 438,800 people across about 54 suburbs of Greater Western Sydney, from Blacktown and Mount Druitt to fast-growing Marsden Park and The Ponds. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, pools, early learning, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Central Coast

A large coastal-and-lakes region between Sydney and Newcastle — around 354,800 people across Gosford, Wyong, Terrigal, The Entrance and Woy Woy. The council returned to elected councillors in October 2024 after four years in administration. It runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Canterbury-Bankstown

A large, fast-growing and highly multicultural city in south-western Sydney — around 385,000 people across Bankstown, Campsie, Lakemba, Revesby, Roselands and dozens of other suburbs. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, pools, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Parramatta

The central city of Greater Western Sydney — around 274,900 people across Parramatta, Epping, Westmead, Carlingford, Rydalmere and Wentworth Point, anchored by a fast-growing CBD about 24 km west of the Sydney CBD. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Northern Beaches

Sydney's northern beaches — around 270,800 people across Manly, Dee Why, Brookvale, Mona Vale and Frenchs Forest, with 80 km of coastline and four lagoons. Formed in 2016 from the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater councils, it runs the local services you use every week — waste, beaches, roads, libraries, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.