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NSW · Sydney CBD & inner city · Local council, made simple

City of Sydney Council

Australia's premier CBD council — around 237,300 residents packed into just 26.7 km² (the highest population density of any NSW LGA), spanning the Sydney CBD, Redfern, Glebe, Surry Hills, Pyrmont, Potts Point and more. Clover Moore, Lord Mayor since 2004, was re-elected in September 2024 to a directly-elected sixth term, leading a council of 9 councillors elected at large (no wards). The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, parks, planning, footpaths — and sets your rates. Recorded crime rates here read high largely because BOCSAR divides CBD incidents by a comparatively small resident base against Australia's largest daytime, retail and nightlife population — see the Crime & safety page for that context. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

City profile
Population: ~237,300 (2024) — NSW's densest LGA
Mayor & councillors
Lord Mayor: Clover Moore AO (Independent, 6th term)
Elections & voting
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Crime & safety
All 12 major offences above the NSW rate — CBD context applies (see note)
The City of Sydney council area (official LGA boundary). Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Everyday essentials

The things people actually need from the council — fast.

Bins & recycling

When's my bin day?

Your collection days and what goes in each bin.

Check bin day →Report a problem

Something needs fixing?

Potholes, dumped rubbish, broken lights — how to report it to City of Sydney.

How to report →

Open for your feedback

See all →

Things City of Sydney Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.

Get to know your council

The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.

Rates & fees

This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.

2025–26 rate peg: 4.1%

Open →Budget & finances

How financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.

Meets 7 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks

Open →Crime & safety

Sydney's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average — read alongside the CBD context below.

All 12 major offences above the NSW rate — CBD context applies (see note)

Open →Mayor & councillors

Who represents you — and where to read their official profiles.

Lord Mayor: Clover Moore AO (Independent, 6th term)

Open →Elections & voting

When the next council election is, and how voting works.

Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028

Open →Contact & services

How to reach the council and report a problem.

Customer service: 02 9265 9333 (anytime, any day)

Open →City profile

The basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.

Population: ~237,300 (2024) — NSW's densest LGA

Open →
What the council is working onRecent deliveries, what's underway and what's planned next — each with a source.Priorities →

What's happening

116 updates

Auto-collected from City of Sydney Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).

Email alerts aren't switched on yet

We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from City of Sydney Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.