NSW · Illawarra · Local council, made simple
Shellharbour City Council
A regional city on the NSW South Coast, about 100 km south of Sydney — home to roughly 81,600 people across 19 suburbs. The council runs the local services you use every week (waste, 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.
When's my bin day?
Enter your street address to find your real collection days, based on the council's official collection-zone map and calendar.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Shellharbour City Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Touring exhibition: Transformations: Art of the Scott Sisters - The Australian Museum.
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.
Your rates, explained · 3-min readWhere your rates go
What a typical household pays, this year's rise, and roughly where the council's money goes — in plain language, every number sourced.
See where your rates go →This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 4.0%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 7 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyShellharbour's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
9 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you, by ward — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Chris Homer (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 4221 6111
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~81,600 (2024)
Open →What's happening
54 updatesAuto-collected from Shellharbour City Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Event
Nature Talk - Fireflies & Glow Worms in the Illawarra
Nature Talk - Fireflies & Glow Worms in the Illawarra
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Play School Star Brings Mermaid Magic to Shellharbour
Play School Star Brings Mermaid Magic to Shellharbour
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Cookbook Club: Probiotics, Strawberry Jam, Summer Salad and Sauerkraut
Cookbook Club: Probiotics, Strawberry Jam, Summer Salad and Sauerkraut
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Clay Artist Invites Community to Build, Break and Create at The Imaginarium
Clay Artist Invites Community to Build, Break and Create at The Imaginarium
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Shellharbour to host 2027 Australian Regional Tourism Convention
Shellharbour to host 2027 Australian Regional Tourism Convention
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Little ghosts and ghouls invited to a free Halloween Spooktacular
Little ghosts and ghouls invited to a free Halloween Spooktacular
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
A whale of a reason to head south
A whale of a reason to head south
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Shellharbour Beaches Water Quality Ranked Among the Highest in NSW
Shellharbour Beaches Water Quality Ranked Among the Highest in NSW
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Summer of Events Set to Shine Across Shellharbour
Summer of Events Set to Shine Across Shellharbour
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Australia Day Breakfast by the Lake
Australia Day Breakfast by the Lake
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Waste
Supporting Sustainable Waste Depot Operations
Supporting Sustainable Waste Depot Operations
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
New Life for Three Local Playgrounds
New Life for Three Local Playgrounds
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
All About Gut Health with Nutritionist Emily Gardem
All About Gut Health with Nutritionist Emily Gardem
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Spooky Spectacular Halloween Disco
Spooky Spectacular Halloween Disco
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Game On For Summer
Game On For Summer
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Nature Talk: Local Butterflies and Butterfly Friendly Gardening
Nature Talk: Local Butterflies and Butterfly Friendly Gardening
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Community invited to discover local wildlife at BioBlitz 2026
Community invited to discover local wildlife at BioBlitz 2026
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
School Holidays Underway with More Free Activities Still to Come
School Holidays Underway with More Free Activities Still to Come
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
October Long Weekend Closures
October Long Weekend Closures
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
A Little Bit of Blue Puppet Show & Puppetry of Paper Workshop
A Little Bit of Blue Puppet Show & Puppetry of Paper Workshop
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
What's on at The Imaginarium
What's on at The Imaginarium
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Create and Play Spring Time Spree
Create and Play Spring Time Spree
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Make the Most of the Spring School Holidays
Make the Most of the Spring School Holidays
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Shellharbour welcomes the start of the 2026/27 swim season
Shellharbour welcomes the start of the 2026/27 swim season
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Election
Councillor Kellie Marsh re-elected as Deputy Mayor
Councillor Kellie Marsh re-elected as Deputy Mayor
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Shellharbour to Ring in the New Year with First-Ever Drone Show
Shellharbour to Ring in the New Year with First-Ever Drone Show
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
The Clown Fairy - with Pauline Calme
The Clown Fairy - with Pauline Calme
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Create and Play: Spring into Free Family Fun Day
Create and Play: Spring into Free Family Fun Day
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Youth Services Spring School Holiday Activities
Youth Services Spring School Holiday Activities
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Young detectives invited to solve a puppet mystery
Young detectives invited to solve a puppet mystery
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Bestselling authors heading to Shellharbour City Library this October
Bestselling authors heading to Shellharbour City Library this October
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Learn To Swim School Holiday Intensive Program
Learn To Swim School Holiday Intensive Program
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Shellharbour Skate Park Community Day
Shellharbour Skate Park Community Day
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Tiny Homes Pilot Program now open in Shellharbour
Tiny Homes Pilot Program now open in Shellharbour
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Nature Talks - Wombats of the South Coast and Southern Highlands
Nature Talks - Wombats of the South Coast and Southern Highlands
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Eats and Beats Oak Flats
Eats and Beats Oak Flats
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
What's on at the library
What's on at the library
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Aria Swan - Where the Ocean Grows Quiet
Aria Swan - Where the Ocean Grows Quiet
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
Community and Australia Day Awards Nominations
Community and Australia Day Awards Nominations
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Council Adopts Parking Strategy for Growing City
Council Adopts Parking Strategy for Growing City
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Destination Management Plan sets vision for Shellharbour's visitor economy
Draft Destination Management Plan sets vision for Shellharbour's visitor economy
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Council streamlines community funding information
Council streamlines community funding information
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Spring into Eats and Beats Oak Flats
Spring into Eats and Beats Oak Flats
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Touring exhibition: Transformations: Art of the Scott Sisters - The Australian Museum.
Touring exhibition: Transformations: Art of the Scott Sisters - The Australian Museum.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Event
What's on at the Civic Centre
What's on at the Civic Centre
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Shellharbour Council — What's On
- Policy
Planning for Shellharbour's Pools
Planning for Shellharbour's Pools
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Aria Swan's underwater world surfaces across Shellharbour
Aria Swan's underwater world surfaces across Shellharbour
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Step back in time with the art of the Scott Sisters
Step back in time with the art of the Scott Sisters
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Have your say: where trees, shade and green spaces are needed most
Council is asking residents where trees, shade and green spaces are needed most across the city.
What this means for you: If there's a spot near you that could use more shade or greenery, this is a chance to flag it directly.
Source: Let's Chat Shellharbour
- Have your say
Parking Strategy on public exhibition
Council's Parking Strategy is on public exhibition. Each town centre is being reviewed and residents are invited to say whether they support the plan.
What this means for you: If you park in or visit a Shellharbour town centre, this could affect future parking rules. You can read it and make a submission during the exhibition period.
Source: Let's Chat Shellharbour
- Policy
Draft Pesticide Notification Plan on public exhibition
At the March Council meeting, Council resolved to place the draft Pesticide Notification Plan on public exhibition for 28 days.
What this means for you: This plan sets out how the community is notified about pesticide use in public places. You can review it and provide feedback.
Source: Let's Chat Shellharbour
- Policy
Draft Naming and Addressing Policy on public exhibition (28 days)
At the April Council meeting, Council resolved to place the draft Naming and Addressing Policy on public exhibition for 28 days.
What this means for you: This policy covers how places and addresses are named. If that interests you, the draft is open for feedback during the exhibition period.
Source: Let's Chat Shellharbour
- Development
Current development proposals open for submissions
Council lists development applications currently on exhibition, with their exhibition periods and how to make a submission.
What this means for you: If a development is proposed near you, you can see the details and make a written submission before the exhibition period ends.
- Council meeting
Ordinary Council Meeting — business papers and recording
Council meetings are held through the year. Business papers are published the Thursday before each meeting; minutes and the webcast recording are published afterwards.
What this means for you: This is where decisions that affect the city are made and recorded. You can read the agenda beforehand and watch the recording afterwards.
Email alerts aren't switched on yet
We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Shellharbour City Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.