NSW · Hunter · Local council, made simple
Dungog Shire Council
A Hunter shire below Barrington Tops — about 9,900 people across 2,250 km² of the Williams, Paterson and Allyn river valleys, centred on Dungog, Clarence Town, Paterson, Vacy and Gresford, on an economy of beef and dairy grazing, timber and national-park tourism. Two replacement river bridges, at Clarence Town and Gresford, are the shire's largest works in a generation. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads and bridges, parks, library, 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.
2026–27 rate peg: 4.0%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
4 of 9 OLG benchmarks met — average rate 37% above the NSW average
Open →Crime & safetyDungog's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
11 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Digby Rayward (popularly elected)
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) 4995 7777
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~9,905 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
6 updatesAuto-collected from Dungog Shire Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Policy
Draft Memorial Furniture, Trees and Plaques Donation Policy
Dungog Shire Council is seeking community feedback on its Draft Memorial Furniture, Trees and Plaques Donation Policy.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Council Connect 4 September, 2026
Published on 04 September 2026 This week, Mayor Digby Rayward talks about: - Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) - submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) calling for greater recognition of Dungog Shire’s role as a source community for the Lower Hunter’s drinking water supply.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Development Consents Public Notification - June 2026(PDF, 229KB)
Development Consents Public Notification - June 2026(PDF, 229KB)
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Dungog Shire Council — Development Applications on exhibition
- Development
Durham Street at Clarence Town permanently closed from 10 August
From Monday 10 August 2026, Durham Street at the Duke Street intersection in Clarence Town was permanently closed as the next stage of the Clarence Town Bridge project began — the rehabilitation of the old Brig O'Johnston Bridge, undertaken with Transport for NSW so the historic bridge remains a community asset.
What this means for you: If you drive through Clarence Town, the Durham Street–Duke Street route is no longer available and traffic uses the new bridge alignment. The new Clarence Town Bridge has been open to single-lane traffic under traffic management since around May 2026.
Source: Dungog Shire Council — Council Connect, 7 August 2026
- Event
350 free native trees given away for Local Government Week
For Local Government Week and National Tree Day, the council gave away 350 free native tube-stock trees — up to three per household — from Tuesday 4 August 2026 at the council administration building in Dungog, the Clarence Town Post Office and Riverdene Nursery at East Gresford, while stocks lasted. Community groups and schools could claim up to 25 bush tucker or native trees by arranging a voucher with the council.
What this means for you: A small recurring giveaway rather than a service change, but a useful one to watch for next year — the 2026 round sold out at most outlets within days.
Source: Dungog Shire Council — Celebrate Local Government Week with a Free Native Tree
- Policy
Council adopts its Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035
Dungog Shire Council adopted the Dungog Shire Community Strategic Plan 2025–2035 on 18 June 2025, along with a Resourcing Strategy 2025–2029. The plan sets out the community's vision and five themes — Our Community, Our Environment and Planning, Our Economy, Our Infrastructure and Our Leadership — which every other council plan must support.
What this means for you: This is the document the council's Delivery Program, annual Operational Plan and budget are measured against for the next decade, so it is the place to look if you want to know what the council has committed to work on and how it says it will measure success.
Source: Dungog Shire Council — Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Dungog Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.