Local council coverage: who decides what near you
Greater Sydney is governed by dozens of local councils. Their decisions shape daily life more than most people realise.
A Sydney suburban council building with civic flags
Local councils across Greater Sydney make decisions that touch almost every part of a household's week. They look after most of the parks, footpaths, libraries, waste services and many of the community facilities people rely on. They also play a major role in local planning.
Council meetings are usually open to the public, and council documents are usually online, but it can be hard to find the parts that actually matter for a given suburb.
Our local-government coverage aims to translate that activity. It will focus on the decisions that change something visible at street level, and on the budget choices that shape services over the medium term.
Expect coverage that takes councils seriously without getting lost in process.
From the desk. Sydney and Surrounds is a practical local newsroom for Greater Sydney. If there is something in your suburb that deserves more attention, we would like to hear about it.
