The NSW Government has updated its website for comparing the performance of councils. 

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock has announced 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,” Ms 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.

The website’s ‘Fast Facts’ for 2019-20 are;

  • 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