NSW · Lower North Shore (Sydney) · Local council, made simple
Lane Cove Municipal Council
A small, densely settled Lower North Shore council on the Lane Cove River — around 42,600 people across suburbs like Lane Cove, Greenwich, Longueville, Riverview and part of St Leonards, about 8 km from the Sydney CBD. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, 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.
2025–26 rate peg: 3.9%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets all 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyLane Cove's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
All 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you, by ward — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Merri Southwood (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) 9911 3555
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~42,600 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Lane Cove Municipal Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Waste
New weekly food-waste bin service rolling out from 2026
Lane Cove Council is introducing a separate weekly food-waste service: stand-alone houses receive a maroon-lid bin, kitchen caddy and compostable liners from February 2026, with weekly collections starting 16 March 2026. Units and townhouses can opt in from 2027.
What this means for you: If you live in a stand-alone house, you'll get a new food-waste bin and can put food scraps out weekly from mid-March 2026. Lane Cove keeps food and garden waste separate rather than combining them in one bin.
- Policy
Revised Community Strategic Plan 'Liveable Lane Cove 2035' adopted
Following the September 2024 election, the council reviewed and adopted a revised Community Strategic Plan, 'Liveable Lane Cove 2035', endorsed at the 19 June 2025 Ordinary Council meeting.
What this means for you: This is the council's top-level plan of long-term community priorities, which guides its Delivery Program, budget and services over the coming years.
- Policy
Rates and domestic waste charge changes from 1 July 2025
The council set its 2025–26 general rate rise at 3.9%, in line with IPART's rate peg for Lane Cove (a 3.8% core peg plus a 0.1% population factor), effective 1 July 2025. The domestic waste charge is set separately in the council's annual Fees and Charges.
What this means for you: General rates rose by up to 3.9% from 1 July 2025 (your individual bill also depends on your land value). The bin-service charge is separate from the rate peg — check the current figure in the council's Revenue Policy.
Source: Lane Cove Council — Rates
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