Everyday life is improved by the many services we provide as councils, including our street lighting, waste and recycling collection, footpaths, playgrounds, local sporting and community facilities, supported services for ageing well and more.
Key decisions about the services, programs and infrastructure we provide are made by the elected group of councillors who serve a four-year term. Local Government Elections are therefore also held every four years.
As councils are part of the democratic framework of Australia, participating in Local Government Elections is one of the most direct ways you can influence decisions that affect your local area.
Voting in Local Government Elections is not compulsory, but we encourage everyone to participate as an effective way to directly engage and have input in their local community. Voting in the Local Government Elections is only via the post.
Full details on each stage of the 2027 Local Government Elections will be available via the LGA/ECSA Council Elections webpage.
Key dates for the 2027 Local Government Elections:
Roll close: 5pm, Monday 4 January 2027
Nominations open: Tuesday 26 January 2027
Nominations close: 12pm, Tuesday 9 February 2027
Ballot draw: 9am, Wednesday 10 February 2027
Candidate profiles published online: no later than Tuesday 23 February 2027
Mail out of voting materials: Thursday 11 March - Wednesday 17 March 2027
Close of voting (Polling Day): 5pm, Wednesday 7 April 2027
Scrutiny and count: 9am, Saturday 10 April 2027
FAQ's
We hold various records of registered voters and property owners within the boundaries of our community, how these records are managed is subject to various rules and policies. These records can include names of registered local voters or the details of properties we need to manage resources in our area. Some of these records are legislated to be available publicly.
At-risk individuals can apply for name or address suppression on a range of government databases.
It’s important to understand the definition of at-risk. Simply wanting privacy is not enough reason to have these details suppressed. You’ll need to show your safety (or that of another person) may be genuinely at risk if your name or address is obtained by another party.
There are two databases we manage that may be relevant:
The assessment record
Basic information about properties in the Council area like:
- Owner's name and address
- Current valuation
Council Voters Roll
Basic information on registered voters in Council elections including:
- People
- Body corporates
- Groups
How to apply
The best way to suppress both name and address on our databases and the State Electoral roll is to apply for silent elector status directly through the Electoral Commission. A successful application with the Electoral Commission will flow on to our records. You will find more information on the Electoral Commission website.