NSW · Inner West (Sydney) · Local council, made simple
Strathfield Municipal Council
A compact, densely populated inner-western Sydney council — around 48,500 people across Strathfield, Strathfield South, Homebush and Homebush West / Flemington, anchored by Strathfield's major rail interchange and home to large South Asian and Korean communities. 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.
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 settings, how they compare across NSW, and why bills differ.
Multi-year special variation runs to 2026–27
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 5 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyStrathfield's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
7 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Benjamin Cai (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) 9748 9999
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~48,500 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
3 updatesRecent items from Strathfield Municipal Council's public channels, in plain language.
- Development
Council exhibits Additional and Diverse Housing planning controls
Strathfield Council placed a draft planning proposal and development control plan on public exhibition to allow more diverse housing — dual occupancies, multi-dwelling housing and manor houses — in the R2 and R3 residential zones, with a community information session held in March 2026.
What this means for you: If adopted, these controls would change what can be built on low- and medium-density residential land across the LGA; the council's Have Your Say page sets out the detail and how to comment.
Source: Have Your Say Strathfield — New Residential Controls
- Policy
Have your say on the Draft Urban Forest Strategy
The council invited residents to comment on a Draft Urban Forest Strategy covering the existing tree canopy and the future character of Strathfield's urban forest.
What this means for you: The strategy will guide how the council manages and grows tree canopy across streets and parks; residents can contribute views through the Have Your Say platform.
Source: Have Your Say Strathfield — Draft Urban Forest Strategy
- Policy
Multi-year special rate variation reaches its final year (2026–27)
Strathfield's IPART-approved permanent special variation — a cumulative 92.83% increase in general income (including the rate peg) phased over 2023–24 to 2026–27 — reaches its final phased year, a 7.5% increase, in 2026–27.
What this means for you: 2026–27 is the last year of the phased rate increases the council sought to restore financial sustainability; the increase applies to the council's total rates income, not equally to every bill.
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