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NSW · Riverina · Local council, made simple

Carrathool Shire Council

One of the largest council areas in NSW by land and one of the smallest by population — about 2,800 people across nearly 19,000 km² of the western Riverina, from the Murrumbidgee at Carrathool north to the Lachlan and Lake Brewster. Hillston is the largest town and Goolgowi holds the council chambers, with Merriwagga, Rankins Springs and Carrathool village in between, on an economy of irrigated horticulture, cotton and rice, broadacre cropping, grazing and poultry. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water and sewer, roads, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Area profile
Population: ~2,767 across 18,934 km²
Mayor & councillors
Mayor: Cr Darryl Jardine (Ward A)
Crime & safety
88 recorded incidents across the 12 major offences, April 2025 – March 2026
Budget & finances
8 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)
The Carrathool Shire council area (official LGA boundary). Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Everyday essentials

The things people actually need from the council — fast.

Bins & recycling

When's my bin day?

Your collection days and what goes in each bin.

Check bin day →Report a problem

Something needs fixing?

Potholes, dumped rubbish, broken lights — how to report it to Carrathool Shire.

How to report →

Open for your feedback

See all →

Things Carrathool Shire Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.

Get to know your council

The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.

Rates & fees

This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.

2026–27 rate peg: 3.7%

Open →Budget & finances

How financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.

8 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)

Open →Crime & safety

What BOCSAR publishes for Carrathool — recorded incident counts.

88 recorded incidents across the 12 major offences, April 2025 – March 2026

Open →Mayor & councillors

Who represents you — and where to read their official profiles.

Mayor: Cr Darryl Jardine (Ward A)

Open →Elections & voting

When the next council election is, and how voting works.

Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028

Open →Contact & services

How to reach the council and report a problem.

Goolgowi: (02) 6965 1900 · Hillston: (02) 6961 7600

Open →Area profile

The basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.

Population: ~2,767 across 18,934 km²

Open →
What the council is working onRecent deliveries, what's underway and what's planned next — each with a source.Priorities →

What's happening

21 updates

Auto-collected from Carrathool Shire Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).

Email alerts aren't switched on yet

We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Carrathool Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.