VIC · Melbourne — CBD & inner city · Local council, made simple
Melbourne City Council
The City of Melbourne covers the CBD and inner suburbs including Carlton, Docklands, East Melbourne, Kensington, North Melbourne, Parkville, Southbank and West Melbourne, home to about 194,000 people. Its Lord Mayor is elected directly by voters. The council runs your bins, local streets, parks, libraries and planning, and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, followed by what 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.
How Melbourne calculates rates, this year's rise, the waste charge, and when it's due.
2026–27: average general rates +2.75% (state cap); rated on Net Annual Value
Open →Budget & financesMelbourne's financial indicators, each shown next to the Victorian median.
Average rate per property: $2,345 (Vic median $1,937)
Open →Crime & safetyMelbourne's recorded offence rates, side by side with the Victorian rate.
All 11 offence rates above the Victorian rate (rates are per resident)
Open →Lord Mayor & councillorsThe Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and 9 councillors, and how they were elected.
Lord Mayor: Nicholas Reece (2024–2028)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, how Melbourne votes for its Lord Mayor, and the 2024 results.
Next election: Sat 28 Oct 2028 (by post)
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council: phone, counter hours and address.
Phone: (03) 9658 9658
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: 194,481 (ABS, June 2025)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Melbourne City Council's public channels, in plain language.
We check Melbourne City Council's website every day, but we can't read it. It refuses requests from our collector, so anything below was recorded by hand and may be out of date. This says nothing about what the council has published — these are the pages we watch:
- Have your say
Proposed smoke-free areas at 62 community and recreation facilities
The council proposes new smoke-free areas outside 62 of its community and recreation facilities, such as libraries, arts venues, community hubs and sports and recreation centres, under its Activities Local Law 2024. Consultation opened on 7 September 2026.
What this means for you: You can view the maps and give feedback until Friday 27 November 2026. Findings are due in January 2027 and a decision by the Future Melbourne Committee in March 2027.
Source: Participate Melbourne
- Have your say
Have your say on data centres and AI infrastructure (closes 30 September)
The council's Future Melbourne Committee endorsed a draft Data Centres and AI Infrastructure Position Paper for consultation on 18 August 2026. It covers how large facilities use land, energy and water, and how the council will approach planning policy and advocacy.
What this means for you: You can complete the survey or make a submission on Participate Melbourne until Wednesday 30 September 2026. The committee is due to consider the final paper in February 2027.
Source: Participate Melbourne
- Have your say
Climate and Environment Strategy: early feedback closes 7 October
The council is asking what a thriving and resilient Melbourne looks like to residents, to shape a new 10-year Climate and Environment Strategy. Consultation opened on 12 August 2026.
What this means for you: Complete the survey or visit a pop-up session before 7 October 2026. A draft strategy is due for consultation in February–March 2027.
Source: Participate Melbourne
Email alerts aren't switched on yet
We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Melbourne City Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.