NSW · Orana · Local council, made simple
Gilgandra Shire Council
An Orana shire on the Castlereagh River where the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh Highways meet — about 4,300 people across 4,831 km², centred on Gilgandra with the villages of Tooraweenah, Armatree, Curban and Collie. Broadacre farming dominates the rate base, and the council is itself a major local employer through its aged-care, disability and supported-employment services. The Coo-ee March of 1915 set out from here. 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.
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: 3.5%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
7 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)
Open →Crime & safetyGilgandra's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
2 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Doug Batten (Independent)
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) 6817 8800
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~4,305 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
4 updatesRecent items from Gilgandra Shire Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Policy
Interim General Manager starts; recruitment opens for a permanent appointment
General Manager David Neeves resigned in June 2026 after ten years with Council. Kathryn Larkin was appointed Interim General Manager and commenced on 3 August 2026, and on 20 August 2026 Council opened recruitment for a permanent General Manager.
What this means for you: The General Manager is the council's most senior staff member and runs its day-to-day operations. This is a change of administration rather than of services or charges; Council's published contact points and service arrangements are unchanged.
Source: Gilgandra Shire Council — Gilgandra Shire Council Welcomes New Leadership
- Waste
Council will not introduce the proposed household rubbish and green waste tip fees
After a six-week consultation that drew more than 100 formal submissions, councillors resolved on 29 June 2026 not to introduce the proposed new disposal fees at the Gilgandra Waste Facility for 2026/27 — a $5 charge per wheelie bin of household rubbish, $5 per wheelie bin of uncontaminated green waste, $15 per ute or trailer load and $20 per cubic metre. A new $5 fee per timber pallet was adopted, and existing fees for categories such as mattresses and tyres rose.
What this means for you: Dropping off household rubbish and uncontaminated green waste at the waste facility stays free of those proposed charges for 2026/27. Council has said the question returns with its Towards 5000 Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy and a review of waste charges ahead of the 2027/28 budget, so there will be another chance to comment.
Source: Gilgandra Shire Council — Council Responds To Community Feedback on Proposed Waste Facility Fees
- Have your say
Draft 2026/27 Delivery Program, Operational Plan and Budget on public exhibition
Council placed its draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27–2029/30 and the associated budget on public exhibition on 22 May 2026 and invited residents to comment. The adopted plan applies the full 3.5% IPART rate peg, lifting total ordinary rate income to $6,397,602, and raises domestic waste charges by 3.5%.
What this means for you: This is the document that sets your rates category minimums, your domestic waste charge and the year's capital program. The adopted version is now published and is the source for the rates figures on this page.
Source: Gilgandra Shire Council — 2026/27 Draft Budget: Have Your Say
- Policy
Gilgandra and Warrumbungle launch a joint drought resilience hub
With the Central West of NSW classified as drought affected, Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shire councils launched a coordinated drought preparedness and communication campaign for the two shires, branded Castlereagh Country. A Groundwater Access Toolkit for the two shires followed on 18 May 2026.
What this means for you: For landholders, businesses and households in the shire this is where Council is pointing people for drought preparedness information and, in the toolkit, for locally specific groundwater information.
Source: Gilgandra Shire Council — Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shire Launch Drought Resilience Hub
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Gilgandra Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.