Annual Report Card Revels Resilience of Local Councils

An annual report card on the local government sector has revealed the resilience and hard work of local councils in continuing to serve their communities in the face of bushfire, flood and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock today released the updated Your Council website with the latest comparative statistics about the operations of the state’s 128 local councils and the profile of their local communities.

“The data on the NSW Government’s Your Council website reflects the work of our councils to withstand the economic impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires, as well as last year’s floods and the onset of COVID-19 while continuing to support their communities,” Mrs Hancock said.

“The website provides ratepayers with detailed information about their council and the local government sector as a whole at the click of a button.

“Comparative statistics collected by the Office of Local Government from NSW councils show local government has maintained spending on services, employment levels and asset maintenance despite facing these challenges.

“Local councils across NSW have been instrumental in supporting their communities to respond and recover from these crises, as well as continuing to provide infrastructure and services. 

“Councils have been rolling out comprehensive stimulus packages to provide financial relief and support for residents and businesses including waiving fees, interest charges and offering grants.”

Mrs Hancock said the NSW Government has also continued to support local councils and their communities with billions of dollars in bushfire, flood and COVID-19 response packages.

“The NSW Government announced a $395 million COVID-19 Local Government Economic Stimulus Package in April last year to safeguard council jobs, local services and infrastructure,” Mrs Hancock said.

“The package included a $1,500 a fortnight Job Retention Allowance subsidy to help councils retain staff as well as enhanced access to affordable loans to fund community infrastructure projects and help generate jobs and investment.

“The NSW Government will continue to stand side by side with our local councils to help them to deliver for their local communities during these challenging times.”

For more information, visit www.yourcouncil.nsw.gov.au.  

Your Council website Fast Facts for 2019-20

Total expenditure was $12.5 billion in 2019-20, an increase from $12.4 billion in 2018-19

• Expenditure on services per resident was $1,600 in 2019-20, compared to $1,574 the previous year
• In 2019-20, NSW councils owned and controlled assets worth $177.9 billion compared to $153.7 billion in 2018-19 which includes roads, bridges, footpaths, buildings and structures, stormwater and drainage, and water and sewer networks
• Asset maintenance expenditure in 2019-20 was $1.94 billion, compared to $1.87 billion in 2018-19
• Councils managed 109,190ha of open space and maintained 167,584km of roads
• There were 471 public pools and 1,786 public halls managed by NSW councils
• Councils determined 57,811 development applications in 2019-20