VIC · Great South Coast — Glenelg · Local council, made simple
Glenelg Shire Council
About 19,900 people live in Glenelg Shire, in Victoria's far south-west on the South Australian border — Portland, Heywood, Casterton and a string of smaller towns across 6,200 km². Seven councillors are elected by the whole Shire, and they choose the Mayor each year. The council runs your bins, local roads, parks, libraries and planning, and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the things that affect your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Glenelg Shire Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Portland Community Infrastructure Refurbishment
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Safer Local Roads and Streets Program
Have your say →
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 cap, how your bill is worked out, due dates and help paying.
2026–27: average general rate +2.75% (state cap); kerbside charge $512
Open →Budget & financesThe council's standard financial measures, each next to the Victorian median.
Average rate per property: $1,852 (Vic median $1,937), 2024–25
Open →Crime & safetyOffences recorded in the Shire by Victoria Police, next to the Victorian rate.
Offences recorded, year to June 2026
Open →Mayor & councillorsYour seven councillors, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and how they are chosen.
Mayor: Cr Karen Stephens (re-elected Nov 2025)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, how the Shire votes, and the 2024 result.
Next election: Sat 28 Oct 2028 (by post)
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Phone: 1300 453 635 (1300 GLENELG)
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is, which towns it covers.
Population: 19,908 (2025)
Open →What's happening
18 updatesAuto-collected from Glenelg Shire Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Policy
National Tree Day at Yarraman Park
Published on 02 August 2026 Around 30 community members braved wet and windy conditions to plant 333 locally indigenous trees, shrubs and groundcovers at Yarraman Park during Glenelg Shire Council's inaugural National Tree Day event.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Advocating for Glenelg Shire in the halls of Parliament
Published on 18 August 2026 Glenelg Shire Council has taken its advocacy priorities directly to Victorian Parliament House last week, with Mayor Cr Karen Stephens and CEO Helen Havercroft meeting with Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Members of Parliament to champion the needs of local communities.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Portland Gymnastics upgrade progress
Published on 05 August 2026 The upgrade of the Portland Gymnastics Club facility is a step closer, with Glenelg Shire Council supporting the next stage of a project that will deliver significant improvements for gymnasts, families and the wider community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
How to keep your pets safe
Published on 04 August 2026 Residents are being reminded to keep dogs on a lead and away from sick or dead birds following the detection of avian influenza (bird flu) in the Portland area.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Glenelg Shire Records Strong Summer Tourism Growth
Published on 03 August 2026 Glenelg Shire has recorded a strong summer tourism season, with visitor numbers and spending increasing significantly compared to the same period last year.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Major milestone reached for Portland Foreshore
Published on 09 September 2026 Council is pleased to announce a major milestone for the Portland Foreshore Community Infrastructure Refurbishment Project, with tenders awarded and works expected to commence in late 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Hooked on Portland set to return in 2027
Published on 26 August 2026 Hooked on Portland will return to Portland on the 23 January 2027 with a new partnership agreement between Glenelg Shire Council and the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA).
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Rose garden renewal works
Published on 19 August 2026 In the coming weeks our Parks and Gardens team will be working on the garden beds at the corner of Bentinck and Julia Streets, removing the existing roses and replacing them with drought-tolerant flowering native species.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Portland Foreshore refurbishment tenders awarded
Tenders have been awarded to refurbish the Portland Angling Club and Portland Yacht Club buildings. Works are expected to start in late 2026 and finish in 2027; the total project budget is $4.09 million.
What this means for you: Expect construction activity on the Portland foreshore from late 2026. Project updates are on the council's Your Say Glenelg page.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Major milestone reached for Portland Foreshore
- Have your say
Portland Community Infrastructure Refurbishment
Exciting progress for t he Portland Community Infrastructure Refurbishment project. This project will refurbish the Portland Angling Club and Portland Yacht Club , helping to improve these valued community facilities for local clubs, members and the wider Portland community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Your Say
- Waste
FOGO: 272 tonnes diverted from landfill in first three months
Between April and June 2026 the council collected 272.72 tonnes of food and garden organics, and kerbside rubbish sent to landfill fell from 922.28 tonnes in the same period of 2025 to 709.22 tonnes — 23.1% less.
What this means for you: The lime-green bin takes food scraps, including meat, bones and dairy, as well as garden waste. It is collected every second week.
- Policy
H5N1 bird flu detected in a tern at Portland
Preliminary testing identified highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in a single greater crested tern found in Portland. The council urged residents and visitors not to touch sick or dead birds or marine mammals.
What this means for you: Report sick or dead wildlife to Agriculture Victoria or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Keep dogs on a lead and away from birds.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Detection of H5N1 avian influenza in South West Victoria
- Policy
Glenelg Libraries Strategy 2026-2029
We're developing Glenelg Shire's next Library Strategy for 2026-2029, and we want to hear from our community about the future of our libraries. Libraries are more than places to borrow books, they are welcoming spaces that connect people with learning, creativity, culture and each other.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Your Say
- Policy
2026–27 Budget adopted
The council adopted its 2026–27 Budget, with a $16 million capital works program focused on renewing roads, buildings and community facilities, within the 2.75% rate cap.
What this means for you: The kerbside waste charge for the three-bin service is $512 a year. The first rates instalment is due 30 September 2026.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Glenelg Shire Council adopts 2026–27 Budget
- Policy
Narrawong, Dutton Way and Allestree Framework Plan
Glenelg Shire Council is committed to supporting the future of Narrawong, Dutton Way, and Allestree by fostering sustainable communities through the development of a Strategic Framework Plan for these areas . The Narrawong, Dutton Way, and Allestree Framework Plan will be a comprehensive planning framework that outlines the future planning and development of the area to 2040.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Your Say
- Election
Mary Picard elected to council on countback
The Victorian Electoral Commission filled the vacancy left by Cr Mike Noske's resignation on 28 April 2026 with a countback of the 2024 ballot papers, electing Mary Picard on 1 June 2026.
What this means for you: The council still has seven councillors. The next general election is on 28 October 2028.
Source: Victorian Electoral Commission — Glenelg Shire Council countback
- Have your say
Safer Local Roads and Streets Program
A series of local road and pedestrian safety upgrades will soon get underway across the Glenelg Shire, thanks to funding secured through the Transport Accident Commission’s Safer Local Roads and Streets Program (SLRSP).
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Your Say
- Council meeting
Cr Karen Stephens re-elected Mayor, Cr Matt Jowett Deputy Mayor
At the Statutory Meeting on 19 November 2025 the councillors re-elected Cr Karen Stephens as Mayor — her fifth term — and elected Cr Matt Jowett as Deputy Mayor, both for 12 months.
What this means for you: Victorian mayors are elected by the councillors, not by voters. The next Statutory Meeting is on 18 November 2026.
Source: Glenelg Shire Council — Glenelg Shire Mayor and Deputy locked in
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Glenelg Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.