NSW · Illawarra · Local council, made simple
Wollongong City Council
The largest city in the Illawarra, on the NSW coast about 85 km south of Sydney — home to around 221,900 people across more than 60 suburbs, from Helensburgh in the north to Dapto in the south. The council runs the local services you use every week (waste, roads, parks, libraries, 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: 4.7%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 5 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyWollongong's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
4 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you, by ward — and where to read their official profiles.
Lord Mayor: Tania Brown (Labor)
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) 4227 7111
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~221,900 (2024)
Open →What's happening
2 updatesRecent items from Wollongong City Council's public channels, in plain language.
We check Wollongong City Council's website every day, but we can't read it. It refuses requests from our collector, so anything below was recorded by hand and may be out of date. This says nothing about what the council has published — these are the pages we watch:
- Have your say
Draft Community Safety Plan 2026–2031 on public exhibition
The council prepared a draft Community Safety Plan 2026–2031, informed by BOCSAR crime data and community input, and placed it on public exhibition.
What this means for you: If community safety in your area matters to you, you can read the plan and make a submission during the exhibition period.
Source: City of Wollongong — Community Safety Plan 2026–2031
- Policy
Delivery Program 2025–2029 & Operational Plan 2025–2026
The council's 4-year Delivery Program 2025–2029, annual Operational Plan 2025–2026 and Resourcing Strategy 2025–2035 set out planned services, works and budgets.
What this means for you: These documents show what the council plans to do and fund over the next four years, including how your rates are used and which major projects are prioritised.
Source: Let's Talk Wollongong — Delivery Program & Operational Plan
Email alerts aren't switched on yet
We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Wollongong City Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.