The Office of Local Government (OLG) strengthens and supports the capability of the local government sector in NSW, overseeing 128 councils, 50,000 council employees, and nearly $170 billion in assets. 

What we do 

Our purpose is to build a strong and sustainable local government sector that delivers effective services and civic leadership to communities across NSW.
We create and uphold a robust governance framework, support councils with advice and training, and intervene when issues arise – but only when necessary. OLG’s intervention and regulatory functions relate to conduct and legislative compliance, and OLG strives to work collaboratively with the local government sector to mitigate the need for intervention as much as possible. 

We also deliver key government programs that benefit communities—such as companion animal reforms, disaster recovery grants, the apprentices, trainees and cadets program, and funding for open spaces and community development. 

Our work is guided by values of integrity, transparency, collaboration, and service to community—ensuring councils are supported to lead with confidence and accountability. 

Why it matters 

Strong councils are the foundation of  healthy communities and functional democracy.  OLG helps ensure councils are efficient, accountable, and resilient—especially in times of challenge.
 

How we work 

We are committed to working collaboratively with local councils, county councils, joint organisations, and peak sector bodies to inform the Government’s policy and regulatory frameworks. 

Our aim is to strike the right balance between monitoring, intervention, capability improvement and engagement activities—ensuring councils are supported to deliver for their communities. 

In January 2025, we adopted a new structure aligned with NSW Government priorities and sector needs. This structure supports our clear strategic direction to strengthen local government in NSW. 

Our work now focuses on 3 core functional areas: sector performance, sector development and service delivery. 

To learn more about how we support and regulate local councils, read Office of Local Government: Who we are.