NSW · Northern Rivers · Local council, made simple
Clarence Valley Council
A large regional council on the NSW north coast — around 56,000 people spread across the Clarence River valley and coast, centred on Grafton (famous for its jacarandas) and taking in Maclean, Yamba, Iluka and many smaller river and coastal towns. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, water, libraries, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 4.3%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 5 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyClarence Valley's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
All 12 major offences above the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Ray Smith
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: (02) 6643 0200
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~56,000 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Clarence Valley Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Policy
Resource Recovery Australia to operate the valley's waste facilities
The council appointed Resource Recovery Australia as the incoming operator of its waste and resource-recovery facilities across the Clarence Valley, with the transition commencing from 1 May 2026.
What this means for you: The organisation running the local landfill, transfer stations and recycling centres changes; kerbside bin services continue, and Reviva reuse shops are planned to replace the previous tip shops.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Waste and recycling centres
- Policy
Council to introduce a food-and-garden (FOGO) bin service from 2027
The council resolved on 1 December 2025 to move its kerbside garden-organics service to a fortnightly food-and-garden (FOGO) service from 1 January 2027, with weekly general waste and fortnightly recycling unchanged.
What this means for you: From January 2027, food scraps will be able to go in the (currently garden-only) green-lidded bin, and that bin will be collected fortnightly rather than every four weeks. The council plans community education before the change.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Your waste service explained
- Policy
Council decides not to apply for an environmental rates variation
After exploring an Environmental Special Variation (an average of about $35 per property from July 2026) and consulting the community, the council decided not to apply to IPART, with most survey respondents opposed. It will instead use available internal funds and seek grants for environmental projects.
What this means for you: Rates will not include an extra environmental levy; the council's ordinary rates for 2026–27 are limited to the IPART rate peg of 4.3%.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Funding a better environmental future for the Clarence Valley
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