COUNCILS across New South Wales will take centre stage as part of Local Government Week 2025, an annual event celebrating the diverse range of essential infrastructure and services provided to communities.

These include libraries, waste services, road and kerbside maintenance, sports fields, parks, cemeteries, building and development services, pet registration and much more.

Throughout the week, councils across the state will be celebrating with a variety of special events and activities including tours and demonstrations, educational events, community engagement forums, competitions and award presentations.

The celebrations are being led by Local Government NSW.

LGNSW president Phyllis Miller said councils were the backbone of their communities and provided essential services and infrastructure under increasing financial pressures.

“Local Government Week is a wonderful opportunity for councils to showcase the unique and essential role they play in their communities” Cr Miller said.

“In day-to-day life, but more importantly in times of crisis, councils aren’t just delivering services – they’re helping their communities survive and thrive.

“As the closest sphere of government to the community, councils are uniquely positioned to respond, to lead, and to care in ways that make a genuine difference to their towns and cities.

“All our councils are responsible for so much more than just roads, rates and rubbish. They deal with emergency management and rebuilding after natural disaster and, in many cases, water infrastructure and health and aged care services.

“Literally, from the cradle to the grave, your local council is striving to support and serve you in so many different ways.

“Local Government Week is also about celebrating the people who make it all happen – our hardworking councillors and staff – and reinforcing the importance of strong partnerships across all levels of government.”

Narrabri Shire Council claimed top honours at last year’s LGNSW Local Government Week Awards, walking away as the state’s most successful Council with three awards and a Highly Commended award (Image: Narrabri Shire Council).

The week’s celebrations include LGNSW’s Local Government Week Awards in Sydney on Thursday, recognising outstanding achievement across the sector.

Across the north-west and New England, local government is celebrating Local Government Week various ways.

Narrabri Shire Council is shining a spotlight on the many ways its staff serve the community – on the job and in their personal time.

Narrabri mayor Darrell Tiemens said his council is highlighting four local staff members who go above and beyond in and out of the workplace – from the SES to coaching sports teams, supporting community groups and more.

“These are people who keep our water running, our parks clean, and our infrastructure safe – and who then head out after work to coach footy, fight fires or volunteer at local events,” Cr Tiemens said.

“They’re not just employees – they’re part of the fabric of our towns and villages, and that’s something worth celebrating.”

General manager Eloise Chaplain said Narrabri Council is proud of the dual roles many staff play.

“Our people are the heart of this organisation. Local government isn’t just about roads and rubbish – it’s about community, and our team lives that every day,” Mrs Chaplain said.

Readers can follow the stories of four remarkable staff members this week on Narrabri Shire Council’s Facebook Page and celebrate the essential role of local government in everyday lives.

Councils across New South Wales employ almost 50,000 people; maintain more than 168,000km of roads and bridges; recycle 1.75 million tonnes of waste; manage an estimated four million tonnes of waste each year; make kerbside waste collections for more than 3.1 million households; operate more than 380 libraries that attract tens of millions of visits each year; manage more than 1800 community and public centres; manage more than $220 billion of community assets; spend more than $2.5 billion each year on caring for the environment; and spend more than $2.4 billion on culture and recreation.

The highly coveted Local Government Week Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.

The awards dinner recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements made by councils and individuals within local government.

Awards will be presented under the following categories: RH Dougherty Events and Communications Awards; Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Awards; LGNSW Planning Awards; and Cr Pat Dixon Memorial Scholarship.

Last year, Narrabri Shire Council was named the state’s most successful Council with three awards.

Narrabri Council’s community-facing online flood management portal was named the LGNSW Planning Award winner.

Council’s Good Talk Great Mate podcast also took out the RH Dougherty Events and Communications Award for Excellence in Communication and small business liaison officer Gillian Goddard was recognised for her contributions to local government, with an Outstanding Individual Contributions award.

Council also received a Highly Commended award in the RH Dougherty Events and Communications category, Reporting to Your Community.