How Council Works
In Australia there are three tiers of Government: Federal, State and Local (Councils). Councils provide essential services to their communities like roads, garbage collection, water, sewer, town planning and governance.
The powers and responsibilities of local councils are derived from the NSW Local Government Act which is administered by the NSW Government.
The Local Government Act requires that councils are responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within their communities.
Democratically elected members make up Local Councils and are elected every four years, like all democratically elected governments in Australia,
Councils have the power to raise revenue (partly through council rates), to maintain infrastructure and services, and to regulate activities like development. Councils can also impose penalties if local regulations are broken.
The elected Council for Snowy Valleys is made up of nine local residents
The role of councillors is to direct and control the affairs of Council, representing the interests of residents while providing leadership and guidance to the community. The majority of decisions are made at Council meetings, which are held each month.
It is the mayor’s role to preside at these meetings and act as the public face of Council. See the Councillors page for more information about your current Council.
The daily management of Snowy Valleys Council is the responsibility of the General Manager. Council functions are divided into three divisions, each of which is controlled by a director who reports directly to the General Manager. See the Leadership & Structure page for more details.