Stay Up To Date
Review of the Environment and Health Protection Guidelines: Onsite Wastewater Management
The Office of Local Government has released a draft update of the Environment and Health Protection Guidelines: Onsite Sewage Management for Single Households (Silver Book) and is seeking feedback by 21 July 2023.
New Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW released
The new Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government in NSW have been released in draft format to assist councils and joint organisations to commence work on implementing them pending the making of the supporting regulations in early 2023. Councils will be required to comply with the new Guidelines from 1 July 2024.
Popular Resources
Programs and Initiatives
- Public Consultation
- Supporting and Advising Councils
- Infrastructure Renewal
- Apprentice and Trainee Program
- Mutual recognition
- Rural and Remote Council Model for Central Darling Shire
- Joint Organisations
Public Consultation – Your Opinion Counts
- The Office of Local Government welcomes feedback from councils and members of the community.
- If you are interested in providing feedback on other community consultations taking place throughout New South Wales, you can click here to visit the NSW Government Have Your Say website. This website contains a searchable database of community consultations taking place. You can find out what is happening in your community and share your opinions on new projects, services and government policy.
Supporting and Advising Councils
An effective and robust governance framework is essential to the successful performance of a council. The Office of Local Government seeks to promote and support effective internal governance in councils through:
- The prescription of frameworks (such as the Mode Code of Conduct) and appropriate standards, along with the provision of mechanisms to enforce compliance with those standards
- The provision of guidance, advice and support to assist councils to comply with appropriate standards of internal governance
- Monitoring and reporting on the performance of councils
- Working with councils that fail to comply with the appropriate standards of governance to improve their performance
- Taking compliance action where councils breach their obligations or betray the trust of their communities.
- Model Code of Conduct and Procedures 2020
- Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW
- Councillor Induction and Professional Development Guidelines
- Biodiversity Reforms
- Early Intervention Orders
- Standard Contracts of Employment for General Managers and Senior Staff
- Local Government Rank to Grade Guide
- Northern NSW Renewable Energy Blueprint
Infrastructure Renewal
The NSW Government is providing $252.2 million over 6 years to directly support local councils to develop sustainable workforces through the recruitment of trainees, apprentices and cadets.
Local government currently employs more than 50,000 people across the state’s 128 councils and many trainees and apprentices who start their career at councils also go on to work in local industry.
The program aims to increase the local government workforce by 15%, with new apprentice and trainee roles, focusing on in-demand trades including electricians, plumbers, engineers, civil construction workers, mechanics, planning cadets and many more.
ViewThe NSW Government is introducing reforms to create more vibrant public spaces and increase economic opportunity. Mutual Recognition will help achieve this by reducing red tape and streamlining approval processes.
Currently a range of businesses must seek separate approval from councils in each council area they wish to operate, as required under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Mutual Recognition will allow certain mobile businesses to operate across multiple council areas by seeking approval once and having that approval recognised by other councils.
ViewThe Minister visited Central Darling Shire Council recently and announced that the NSW Government will introduce a new council model that will set Central Darling Shire up for a more sustainable future, and return democracy to for the first time in over 10 years.
The Minister’s announcement noted the unique challenges that face the Shire, and the intention to introduce a ‘Rural and Remote Council’ model for the Shire that balances the need for local representation with the provision of essential services to the community.
ViewJoint Organisations
NSW boasts a network of 13 joint organisations to strengthen collaboration and engagement between State and local governments and improve infrastructure and service delivery to regional communities.
Eighty-seven councils in regional NSW are members of the 13 joint organisations: Canberra Region, Central NSW, Far North West, Far South West, Hunter, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast, Namoi, New England, Northern Rivers, Orana, Riverina and Murray, and Riverina.
Each Joint organisation comprises member councils, State agencies and other key stakeholders as determined by each joint organisation board.