This Saturday, 14 September, voters across New South Wales will witness the restoration of democratic governance in three local government areas as Central Coast Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, and Balranald Shire Council return to the polls. These councils, previously placed under administration due to performance and governance issues, will once again see residents elect their representatives.

The former government placed the councils under the control of an administrator following concerns over their governance. Now, as the councils transition out of administration, a significant milestone will be reached with the election of new councillors.

In Central Coast Council, where 77 candidates are competing for 15 councillor positions, the council has been under administration since October 2020. The suspension and subsequent dismissal followed a public inquiry that highlighted serious governance issues.

Wingecarribee Shire, whose councillors were suspended in March 2021 and later dismissed after another public inquiry, will see 60 candidates vying for 9 councillor spots.

Meanwhile, in Balranald Shire, 13 candidates are competing for 8 councillor positions. The shire has been under administration since January 2020, also following a public inquiry.

To facilitate a smooth transition, the Minister for Local Government has issued a Performance Improvement Order for each council. This order will be in effect for 12 months post-election and focuses on critical areas such as budget discipline, financial sustainability, and governance. The councils will be required to adhere to strict guidelines, including:

• Gaining concurrence from the Office of Local Government before making major staffing decisions, such as terminating the General Manager, restructuring the organisation, or altering budget allocations.
• Ensuring compliance with adopted council policies, particularly in meeting practices, councillor request systems, and councillor/staff interactions.
• Consulting with the Council’s Audit, Risk, and Improvement Committee before implementing significant changes to council priorities.

While the 2024 local government elections will restore democratic representation in nearly all affected areas, Central Darling Shire Council in far west NSW remains an exception. This council, which has been under administration for over a decade, will see its elections deferred until March next year as part of a new Rural and Remote Council model.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig emphasised the importance of these elections, stating, “Democracy is an important part of our society, and every resident should be given the opportunity to elect the people they want to represent their local interests."

He added, “The issues that led to these councils being placed under administration in the first place were very serious. While the new councils are finding their feet, I want to make sure there is a framework in place to ensure stable and strategic governance, which is why I intend to issue each council with a Performance Improvement Order.”