NSW · Riverina · Local council, made simple
Hay Shire Council
A far-western Riverina council on the Murrumbidgee River, where the Sturt and Cobb Highways cross in the middle of the Hay Plains — one of the flattest landscapes in the world. About 2,861 people across 11,326 km², in Hay, Booligal and Maude, on an economy of merino wool and sheep meat, beef feedlots, irrigated cropping including rice, horticulture and road freight. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water, roads, parks, the 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: 4.8%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
7 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)
Open →Crime & safetyWhat BOCSAR records for Hay — the incident counts, and why no rate is published.
89 recorded incidents across 12 major offences (year to March 2026)
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Cr Carol Oataway
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) 6990 1100
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~2,861 across 11,326 km²
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Hay Shire Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Have your say
Community information session on the Hay levee upgrade feasibility study
Council announced a North and South Hay Levee Upgrade Feasibility Study community information session for 5.30pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026, in the CWA/RSL Room at the Kay Hull Centre (Library Complex), 204 Lachlan Street, Hay.
What this means for you: This is the stage where residents can hear what the study covers and put questions before any decision about levee works. No upgrade has been committed to at this point — the study is testing feasibility.
- Event
Rebuilt John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool opens
The replacement John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool held its grand opening on Friday 19 December 2025, with gates open at 10am and formalities from 11am. Construction had run from 3 March to 3 December 2025.
What this means for you: Hay's town pool is back in service after a full rebuild. Council later advised that from 8.00am on Thursday 2 April 2026 the facility moved to unsupervised access as the season wound down — check the council's pool page for current hours.
Source: Hay Shire Council — Pool Opening
- Policy
Council calls for reform of cost shifting onto ratepayers
Hay Shire Council issued a media release calling for urgent reform to address the financial burden of cost shifting — costs transferred to councils by other levels of government — which it says is affecting councils' ability to deliver local infrastructure and services.
What this means for you: This is advocacy rather than a change to any service or charge. It is context for the council's finances: Hay's own-source revenue ratio (28.2% in 2023–24) is well below the OLG benchmark, meaning much of its income comes from grants rather than rates and fees.
Source: Hay Shire Council — Highlights Impact of Cost Shifting on Ratepayers and Services
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Hay Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.