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.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Lane Cove Municipal Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Proposed Relocation of Bus Stop Riverview Street, Riverview
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Anglo Road, Greenwich - Proposed Road Closure
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Proposal: Parking Restrictions 10-16 Holdsworth Avenue, St Leonards
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 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
25 updatesAuto-collected from Lane Cove Municipal Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Development
Council moves to protect residents' voice on development
Published on 09 September 2026 Lane Cove Council will at its September Ordinary Council meeting consider taking a motion to the 2026 Local Government NSW Annual Conference calling on the NSW Government to keep councils' ability to notify neighbours and communities about development applications that may affect them.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Lane Cove Council — News
- Policy
Council to retire Food & Wine by the River
Published on 09 September 2026 Following a review of its events program, Council will not continue delivering Food & Wine by the River. Burns Bay Reserve will host a new community event in November.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Lane Cove Council — News
- Policy
Three new sculptures launched across the Lane Cove Villages
Published on 02 September 2026 Bronze flying foxes, a stainless steel kookaburra and a tower of etched steel histories are the newest additions to Lane Cove's public art collection, unveiled recently across three village sites.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Lane Cove Council — News
- Have your say
Draft Kindy Cove Governance Policies
Council has created new governance policies for Kindy Cove Early Education and Care Service to reflect recent changes to child safety requirements and to make roles and responsibilities clearer.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Surveillance Camera Policy
Give your feedback on Council's draft policy on other surveillance cameras in some public spaces and Council facilities to help keep our community safe and protect Council assets.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Intranet User Survey
Our new intranet is coming this Spring! We've developed a two-minute survey to capture your ideas on the content, resources and features you'd like to see on the new Intranet.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Planning Proposal – 2-8 and 10 Finlayson Street, Lane Cove
A Planning Proposal has been lodged with Council for the site known as 2-8 and 10 Finlayson Street, Lane Cove. The proposed amendments for the site are to allow additional permitted uses of Commercial premises, health services facilities, information and education facilities and recreation facilities (indoor).
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Consultation on Community E-Shuttle Bus
Background In July 2024, Council passed a Notice of Motion to conduct preliminary investigations into the feasibility, cost and logistics of introducing a community E-shuttle bus or regular bus service within the Lane Cove LGA. A review of the feasibility of introducing a community E-shuttle service in Lane Cove has been completed and a report has been referred to the April 2026 Council meeting.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Proposal: Parking Restrictions 10-16 Holdsworth Avenue, St Leonards
Proposal to install parking restrictions on Sofala Avenue
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Proposal: 2P Parking Restrictions on Sofala Avenue
Proposal to install parking restrictions on Sofala Avenue
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Kindy Cove Philosophy Feedback
Kindy Cove Philosophy Feedback
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Burns Bay Reserve Masterplan
Burns Bay Reserve Masterplan
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Data Breach Response Policy
Draft Data Breach Response Policy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Planning Proposal - No. 1 & No.3 Austin Crescent, Lane Cove
Planning Proposal - No. 1 & No.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Revised Events Management Policy
Draft Revised Events Management Policy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Centennial Ave / Arding St No Stopping Extension Proposal
Centennial Ave / Arding St No Stopping Extension Proposal
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Engagement Strategy, Policy and Digital Engagement Strategy
We are seeking feedback on strategic documents that direct how we engage and communicate with the community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Proposed Relocation of Bus Stop Riverview Street, Riverview
Proposed Relocation of Bus Stop Riverview Street, Riverview
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Anglo Road, Greenwich - Proposed Road Closure
Anglo Road, Greenwich - Proposed Road Closure
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Planning Agreements Policy
Draft Planning Agreements Policy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Affordable Housing Policy
Draft Affordable Housing Policy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Fire Safety Policy
Draft Fire Safety Policy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- 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
Email alerts aren't switched on yet
We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Lane Cove Municipal Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.