NSW · Lower North Shore (Sydney) · Local council, made simple
Willoughby City Council
A compact Lower North Shore council about 8 km north of the Sydney CBD — around 79,600 people across suburbs like Chatswood, Willoughby, Artarmon, Northbridge and Naremburn, anchored by the busy Chatswood commercial and retail centre. 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.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Willoughby City Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Closes today
Exhibition – A humble exploration of the Sea of Ink
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Bicentennial Reserve playground renewal
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Proposed parking changes for Willoughby Leisure Centre Precinct
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.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 3.8%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 7 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyWilloughby's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
All but two major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you, by ward — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Tanya Taylor (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) 9777 1000
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~79,600 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
25 updatesAuto-collected from Willoughby City Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Event
Tax Help program 2026
14 Sep 2026 Need assistance completing your tax return? The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can help.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Policy
Draft Willoughby City Council Cycling Strategy and Action Plan 2034
Learn more Last updated: 11 Sept 2026 Draft Willoughby City Council Cycling Strategy and Action Plan 2034 The strategy and action plan were adopted in June 2026 Learn more
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Policy
Family picnic and planting day
12 Sep 2026 Free family planting day at Northbridge Park! Learn gardening, beautify the park, grab a free hot drink and picnic together outdoors.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Policy
Richmond Ave Reserve Action Plan
Have your say Last updated: 11 Sept 2026 Richmond Ave Reserve Action Plan Have your say on the draft until Friday 9 October 2026 Have your say
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Event
Festive Flags Competition 2026
14 Sep 2026 Have your artwork displayed in Chatswood during the Christmas and New Years period.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Policy
Council issues penalty notice over Castlecrag construction runoff
Last modified on 19 August 2026 Willoughby City Council has issued a penalty notice to the occupier of 100 Edinburgh Road in Castlecrag after a follow-up inspection found required pollution controls had not been put in place.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Exhibition – A humble exploration of the Sea of Ink
14 Sep 2026 The theme of this exhibition is 'Exploring the vast sea of ink' (墨海蠡测), reflecting the spirit of Chinese calligraphy.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Policy
Willoughby Emerging Art Prize returns after 19-year hiatus
Last modified on 17 August 2026 The Willoughby Art Prize is back after a 19-year hiatus, relaunched as the Willoughby Emerging Art Prize with a $15,000 prize pool for emerging visual artists from across Australia.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Home Grown: Surface Tension
13 Sep 2026 An exhibition exploring notions of visibility Art Space Gallery – The Concourse, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood 2067 13 more dates Tagged as: , Exhibition
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Event
Chatswood Markets featured artist: Breakfast at Tiffany's Duo
11 Sep 2026 Deeply personal and poetic, this husband-wife duo have travelled the world performing together.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Have your say
Car share space proposals
Have your say Last updated: 9 Sept 2026 Car share space proposals Comment on the proposed location of new spaces and a trial of new zones until 23 September 2026 Have your say
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Policy
Willoughby Fauna Fair returns with new Nature Makers Market
Last modified on 09 September 2026 The Willoughby Fauna Fair is back at Willoughby Park on Sunday 20 September, with a new Nature Makers Market, alongside wildlife encounters, live music and hands-on activities for all ages.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Planning Proposal for 28 Beaconsfield Road, Chatswood
Learn more Planning Proposal for 28 Beaconsfield Road, Chatswood Thank you for your input to this engagement. It is now closed for evaluation and review.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Have your say
Bicentennial Reserve playground renewal
Learn more Bicentennial Reserve playground renewal Thank you for your input to this engagement. It is now closed for evaluation and review.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Have your say
Proposed parking changes for Willoughby Leisure Centre Precinct
Learn more Proposed parking changes for Willoughby Leisure Centre Precinct Thank you for your input to this engagement. It is now closed for evaluation and review.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Have your say
Re-exhibition: Reclassification of Council land, Northbridge Plaza
Learn more Re-exhibition: Reclassification of Council land, Northbridge Plaza The Re-exhibition Public Hearing and Submissions Report by the Independent Facilitator has been uploaded to the page.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Have your say
Muston Park Activations - fitness station
Learn more Last updated: 17 July 2026 Muston Park Activations - fitness station Muston Park Activations - fitness station Learn more
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Policy
Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026/27
Learn more Last updated: 20 July 2026 Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026/27 Council adopted the documents at its meeting on 29 June 2026 Learn more
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Have your say
Chatswood to St Leonards Active Way
Have your say Last updated: 11 Sept 2026 Chatswood to St Leonards Active Way Comment on plans for a new separated cycleway, streetscape improvements and traffic calming features until 8 October 2026 Have your say
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby
- Waste
Free support for local businesses as new food waste rules roll out
Last modified on 01 September 2026 Local food businesses can now access free support to prepare for new NSW Government Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) rules, which will require many cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, schools and hotels to separate food waste from general waste.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
MOSAIC semester 2 2026
14 Sep 2026 Learn a new language or cultural activity in one of our 16 week courses commencing July 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Events
- Policy
Planning begins for Chatswood's next chapter
Last modified on 25 August 2026 Willoughby City Council has begun work on the most significant planning project Chatswood has seen in a generation, with Chatswood 2060, a long-term vision and master plan that will shape the centre's growth, liveability and identity to 2060 and beyond.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Major Chatswood development on public exhibition
A State Significant Development Application for a ~$1.3 billion mixed-use project at 8 Wilson Street, Chatswood (two residential towers) was placed on public exhibition through the NSW Government's planning process, with a proposed voluntary planning agreement providing community infrastructure.
What this means for you: If you live or work near Chatswood, this is a NSW Government planning process (not a council decision); the state exhibition page and the council's public notices set out how to make a submission.
- Development
Willoughby Leisure Centre upgrade nearing completion
The council's upgrade of the Willoughby Leisure Centre — with a new pool hall, additional pools and accessibility and sustainability improvements — was nearing completion in early 2026, with the centre expected to open later in the year. The project budget was increased to $65 million.
What this means for you: If you use the Willoughby Leisure Centre, the upgraded facilities are expected to open in 2026; check the council's project page for the latest opening date and any service changes.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Willoughby Leisure Centre upgrade
- Policy
Tanya Taylor re-elected Mayor; new council term begins
Following the September 2024 local government election, Tanya Taylor was re-elected as the popularly-elected Mayor of Willoughby (declared 1 October 2024), and the new council of 13 members was sworn in, with Cr Angelo Rozos elected Deputy Mayor.
What this means for you: This is the elected council for the term to the September 2028 election; the Mayor and Deputy Mayor set meeting leadership while your ward councillors represent your area.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Mayor and Councillors sworn in
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Willoughby City Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.