NSW · Riverina · Local council, made simple
Leeton Shire Council
A Riverina council built around the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area — around 11,400 people across Leeton, Yanco, Whitton, Wamoon and Murrami, on an economy anchored by irrigated agriculture and food processing (SunRice, CopRice, JBS Riverina Beef Feedlot). Winner of the 2025 AR Bluett Memorial Award and an LGNSW Environment Award for its FOGO rollout. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water, 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.
2025–26 rate peg: 4.4%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
5 of 9 OLG benchmarks met — financial sustainability under review
Open →Crime & safetyLeeton's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
10 of 12 major offences above the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: George Weston (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) 6953 0911
Open →Area profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~11,438 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Leeton Shire Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Waste
Council wins LGNSW Environment Award for its FOGO rollout
Leeton Shire Council won the 2025 Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Environment Award (Behaviour Change in Waste — Division A and Overall Winner) for the community-wide success of its food-and-garden-organics (FOGO) service, rolled out from July 2024.
What this means for you: For residents, this recognises that the green FOGO bin (weekly collection, alongside fortnightly red and yellow bins) has been running well since July 2024 — about 752.7 tonnes of organics diverted from landfill and a 0.3% contamination rate in its first year.
Source: The National Tribune — Council Wins LGNSW Environment Award for Outstanding FOGO Rollout
- Policy
Leeton Shire wins the 2025 AR Bluett Memorial Award
Leeton Shire Council was named the 2025 rural recipient of the AR Bluett Memorial Award — NSW local government's highest honour — recognising the council's FOGO rollout, the Chelmsford Town Square upgrade, the $12 million Roxy Community Theatre restoration and a new digital water-network 'digital twin' that has helped reduce water loss.
What this means for you: This is a statewide recognition rather than a new service change, but it points to several projects worth knowing about — the sources below link to the detail on each.
- Policy
Council releases independent Financial Sustainability Report
Council published an independent Financial Sustainability Report (30 June 2025) which found Leeton Shire is not financially sustainable over the long term, and subsequently formed a Financial Sustainability Advisory Committee to guide further preparation work before any future rate-variation decision.
What this means for you: No rate rise beyond the standard IPART rate peg is currently proposed. This is the process to watch if a special rate variation is proposed in future — residents can follow updates via the council's Have Your Say portal.
Source: Leeton Shire Council — Financial Sustainability Report, 30 June 2025
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