NSW · Orana · Local council, made simple
Cobar Shire Council
A far-western NSW shire of about 4,015 people spread across more than 45,000 km² — one of the largest local government areas in the state, and bigger than a good many countries. Cobar sits where the Barrier Highway meets the Kidman Way; the council calls it 'The Copper City' and says the shire runs on mining (copper, lead, silver, zinc and gold) and the pastoral sector, with villages at Euabalong, Euabalong West, Nymagee, Mount Hope and Canbelego. The council runs the services you use every week — waste, water and sewer, roads, parks, the library and the pool — plus the regional airport and an aged-care village, and it 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 peg, how bills are struck here, and when instalments fall due.
2026-27 rate peg: 3.7%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
4 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023-24)
Open →Crime & safetyCobar's recorded crime counts and rates, side by side with the NSW average.
1 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Jarrod Marsden — 12 councillors, elected unopposed in 2024
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) 6836 5888
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~4,015 across 45,575 km²
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Cobar Shire Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Development
Council calls for expressions of interest on the Grand Hotel redevelopment
Cobar Shire Council opened an expression-of-interest process for the future use and redevelopment of the Grand Hotel and the adjacent shop in Cobar. The Grand Hotel is the anchor site of the council's Grand Central Precinct Planning and Design Project, which is preparing schematic designs, development approval and construction drawings for several town-centre sites.
What this means for you: Nothing is being built yet — this is the council testing what the market and the community would do with the building. If you have an interest in the site, the EOI notice and the council's project page below are where the detail and the closing arrangements sit.
Source: Cobar Shire Council — Expression of Interest, Grand Hotel and adjacent shop
- Policy
Council adopts its Long Term Financial Plan 2026-2036
Council adopted a ten-year financial plan projecting consolidated income of $50.5M in 2026-27 against a $1.240M operating deficit, a $10.8M capital program, small operating surpluses from 2027-28, and rising cash balances across the decade. The plan states that its capital program takes a "cautious and staged approach to capital renewal" and that the council's cash position leaves it able to increase renewal investment as asset condition data and priorities are developed.
What this means for you: This is the council's own answer to the infrastructure-renewal and operating-result benchmarks it misses in the Office of Local Government's data — worth reading alongside the Budget & finances page rather than instead of it. It also sets the revenue assumptions behind future rate and charge increases.
Source: Cobar Shire Council — Long Term Financial Plan 2026-2036 (adopted 28 May 2026)
- Have your say
Draft Delivery Program, Long Term Financial Plan and Operational Plan went on public exhibition
Council placed its draft Integrated Planning and Reporting documents on public exhibition for comment: the Delivery Program 2025-2029, the Long Term Financial Plan 2026-2036, and the Operational Plan 2026-2027 (which carries the Annual Statement of Revenue Policy and the Fees and Charges). Written submissions closed on 25 May 2026.
What this means for you: These are the documents that set what the council will do and what it will charge — the 2026-27 domestic waste charge of $340, the rate structure and the 9.5% overdue-rates interest all come from this package. The exhibition period has closed, but the adopted documents remain public on the council's Integrated Planning & Reporting page.
Source: Cobar Shire Council — Public Exhibition: Integrated Planning and Reporting Documents
Email alerts aren't switched on yet
We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Cobar Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.