NSW · Hunter · Local council, made simple
Singleton Council
A large Hunter Valley council on the Hunter River — around 25,600 people across the town of Singleton and rural villages like Broke, Bulga and Jerrys Plains, in a major thermal coal-mining and agriculture district on the New England Highway. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads and bridges, water and sewer, 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: 4.3%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 7 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetySingleton's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
5 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Sue Moore (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) 6578 7290
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~25,600 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
22 updatesAuto-collected from Singleton Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Event
Tech Savvy Seniors | One-On-One Sessions
16 Sep 2026 Need help with using your device, or searching the Internet? Book a session and we'll help you navigate the digital world!
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Event
@ HOME 2026: Year in Review & Summer Challenge Launch
16 Sep 2026 Join Jo Taranto and Jill Absolom as they reflect on the 2026 @ HOME program where they'll share community success stories and help you turn a year's worth of sustainability knowledge into practical, everyday steps for your household.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Event
Make it Sew Beginners Sewing Class | Term 3
15 Sep 2026 Learn to sew while completing a term-long sewing project. 1st + 3rd Tuesday | 3.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Event
LOL - Little Ones Library
15 Sep 2026 LOL (Little One's Library) is an interactive 30 minutes full of rhyme, song and dance for 2 to 3 year olds.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Policy
Industry Pathways connects locals with careers in construction
Published on 25 August 2026 Strong engagement, valuable conversations and new connections have marked the successful launch of Singleton Council’s new Industry Pathways program, giving locals a clearer picture of how to build a career in one of the region’s leading industries.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Policy
Anambah to Branxton Draft Structure Plan
On display until Tuesday, 06 October 2026 At its meeting of 18 August 2026, Council resolved to place the Anambah to Branxton Draft Structure Plan on public exhibition in conjunction with Cessnock and Maitland councils.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Planning for future growth: Have your say on Anambah to Branxton
Published on 24 August 2026 The Cessnock, Maitland, and Singleton communities are invited to have their say on the draft Structure Plan for one of the Hunter Region’s most significant growth areas.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Development
Draft Singleton Development Control Plan 2014 Amendment – Huntlee URA
On display until Monday, 21 September 2026 The purpose of the amendment is to provide site specific provisions for an Urban Release Area known as the Huntlee New Town (Huntlee).
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Playgroup at the Library
11 Sep 2026 Fridays | 9. 30 - 11am Library Playgroup is on every Friday.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Policy
Defence opportunities take off with launch of Industry Growth program
Published on 10 September 2026 The first event in Singleton Council’s Industry Growth series has launched a missile for local businesses looking to diversify and tap into global defence opportunities— without leaving the Hunter.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Event
BIBS - Babies into Books
15 Sep 2026 A weekly 30 minute session of rhymes, songs and play for babies and their carers.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Council meeting
Decisions from Council's August meeting
Published on 20 August 2026 Councillors have gone against a recommendation to adopt the draft Singleton Town Centre Masterplan at Singleton Council's August meeting, describing the document as “flawed” and that amendments were not given due consideration.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Event
D'Vine Food + Wine Festival
13 Sep 2026 The D’Vine Festival returns to the Hunter Valley for a weekend of food, wine and entertainment. Enjoy unique cellar door experiences, live music, vineyard views and a vibrant festival atmosphere.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Event
Pixel Pals | Term 3
14 Sep 2026 Every Monday during the school term. Pixel Pals is a creative, computer science–based club designed to spark curiosity and build digital skills through hands-on, engaging activities.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Event
Broke Village Fair and Vintage Car Display
13 Sep 2026 Head to McNamara Park, Broke, on Sunday 13 September 2026 from 9am to 2pm for a fun-filled family day! Enjoy 70+ market stalls, international food, local wine, live music, kids' rides, roaming magic, piglet races, woodchop events, medieval combat and more.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — What's On
- Policy
A new chapter for Singleton Public Library
Published on 20 August 2026 Singleton Public Library is getting a refresh, with $189,125 in NSW Government funding helping us create a more modern, accessible and flexible space for our community. To get the transformation underway, the Library and the adjoining carpark will be closed on Monday 12 October.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Policy
Local businesses invited to explore defence opportunities
Published on 01 September 2026 Singleton Council will launch its new Industry Growth series with a practical forum on Thursday 10 September that will explore how local businesses can tap into Australia's growing defence sector.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Council meeting
Council Extraordinary meeting - 1 September 2026
Published on 31 August 2026 An extraordinary meeting of Council will be held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday 1 September 2026 with Public Forum at 5. 30pm, followed by the Council meeting at 6pm.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Policy
Nominations now open for 2026 Wambo Coal Singleton Hall of Fame
Published on 27 August 2026 It’s time to shine a spotlight on those individuals, organisations and families with a connection to Singleton who have achieved state, national or international acclaim in their field of endeavour with nominations for the Wambo Coal Singleton Hall of Fame open until Friday 25 September 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Singleton Council — News
- Development
Singleton bypass on track to open in late 2026
The NSW and Australian governments' $700 million, 8 km Singleton bypass on the New England Highway is on track to open to traffic in late 2026. It is a Transport for NSW project (not a council project) and includes a 1.6 km bridge across the Hunter River floodplain.
What this means for you: Once open, the bypass is expected to remove around 15,000 vehicles a day from Singleton's town centre and bypass five sets of traffic lights, changing traffic through the CBD. Timing depends on weather and construction.
Source: NSW Government — Singleton bypass construction update
- Waste
Weekly FOGO green-bin service launches across Singleton
From 30 June 2025, Singleton (with Cessnock and Maitland councils) introduced a weekly food-and-garden organics (FOGO) green-bin service. Food scraps now go in the green bin with garden waste; the red general-waste and yellow recycling bins move to fortnightly collection.
What this means for you: Put food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread) in your green bin, which is now collected weekly. Your red and yellow bins are collected fortnightly on alternate weeks; urban households can pay extra to keep a weekly red bin.
Source: Singleton Council — Maitland, Cessnock and Singleton councils launch FOGO service
- Election
Council adopts a shared Deputy Mayor arrangement
After the September 2024 election (at which Mayor Sue Moore was re-elected by popular vote), councillors voted for a shared Deputy Mayor arrangement: Cr Sue George serves for the first two years to September 2026, then Cr Mel McLachlan for the remainder of the term to 2028.
What this means for you: Singleton has a popularly-elected Mayor (Sue Moore) plus nine councillors elected across the whole undivided LGA. The Deputy Mayor role is being shared across the term rather than held by one councillor.
Source: Singleton Council — Council elects shared approach to deputy leadership
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Singleton Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.