The Office of Local Government

The Office of Local Government is the NSW Government agency responsible for strengthening the sustainability, performance, integrity, transparency and accountability of the local government sector.

OLG has a policy, legislative, investigative and program focus in regulating the State’s 128 local councils. The agency also works collaboratively with the local government sector to support local councils to deliver for their local communities. OLG, which is part of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, is the key adviser to the NSW Government on local government matters.

Local Government Apprentice and Trainee Program

Have your say on the Companion Animals Act 1998 review

Quarterly Budget Review Statements – Consultation Guide – Submission on the Consultation Guide

For the Public For Councils

Programs and Initiatives

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.

- NSW Government Have Your Say

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.

Infrastructure Renewal

The NSW Government is committed to encouraging councils to focus on the renewal and management of their assets and provide local communities with the key infrastructure they need and deserve. Through various programs and initiatives, the Government has assisted local councils in NSW to reduce the infrastructure backlog from $7.5 billion in 2010-11 to $3.8 billion in 2018-19.

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.

View

The 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.

View

The 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.

View

Joint 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.

Joint Organisations