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NSW · Orana · Local council, made simple

Warrumbungle Shire Council

One of the most sparsely populated councils in NSW — about 9,200 people across 12,372 km² of central-western NSW, roughly one person per square kilometre. It is six towns rather than one: Coonabarabran (the council seat) and Coolah each have an administration office, with Dunedoo, Binnaway, Mendooran and Baradine alongside them, so which town you live in changes your bin day, your pool and your counter. The shire holds Warrumbungle National Park — Australia's first dark sky park — and Siding Spring Observatory, which is why outdoor lighting is planned for here in ways it isn't elsewhere. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water and sewer, roads, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.

Area profile
Population: ~9,239 across 12,372 km²
Mayor & councillors
Mayor: Kathryn Rindfleish
Crime & safety
3 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Budget & finances
4 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)
The Warrumbungle Shire 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 Warrumbungle Shire.

How to report →

Open for your feedback

See all →

Things Warrumbungle Shire 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.

2026–27 rate peg: 3.9% (applied in full)

Open →Budget & finances

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

4 of 9 OLG benchmarks met (2023–24)

Open →Crime & safety

Warrumbungle's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.

3 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate

Open →Mayor & councillors

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

Mayor: Kathryn Rindfleish

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.

Coonabarabran: (02) 6849 2000 · Coolah: (02) 6378 5000

Open →Area profile

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

Population: ~9,239 across 12,372 km²

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

What's happening

48 updates

Auto-collected from Warrumbungle Shire 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 Warrumbungle Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.