There are currently a total of 128 local government areas in NSW, following a series of recent mergers, bringing the number down from a previous of 152.
Of the total number of Councils, 30 are considered to be within metropolitan Sydney. New
Councils that were created as a result of recent mergers in 2016 are as follows:
Armidale Regional Council: The merger of Armidale Dumaresq and Guyra Shire councils
Bayside Council : The merger of City of Botany Bay and Rockdale City councils
Canterbury-Bankstown Council: The merger of Bankstown City and Canterbury City councils
Central Coast Council : The merger of Gosford City and Wyong Shire councils
City of Parramatta Council : The merger of Parramatta City*, The Hills Shire*, Auburn City*, Holroyd City* and Hornsby Shire* councils
Cumberland Council : The merger of Parramatta City*, Auburn City* and Holroyd City* councils
Dubbo Regional Council: The merger of Dubbo City and Wellington councils
Edward River Council : The merger of Conargo Shire and Deniliquin councils
Federation Council : The merger of Corowa Shire and Urana Shire councils
Georges River Council : The merger of Hurstville City and Kogarah City councils
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council: The merger of Cootamundra Shire and Gundagai Shire councils
Hilltops Council : The merger of Boorowa, Harden Shire and Young Shire councils
Inner West Council : The merger of Ashfield, Leichhardt Municipal and Marrickville councils
Mid-Coast Council : The merger of Gloucester Shire, Great Lakes and Greater Taree City councils
Murray River Council : The merger of Murray Shire and Wakool Shire councils
Murrumbidgee Council : The merger of Jerilderie Shire and Murrumbidgee Shire councils
Northern Beaches Council : The merger of Manly, Pittwater and Warringah councils
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council : The merger of Palerang and Queanbeyan City councils
Snowy Monaro Regional Council: The merger of Bombala, Cooma-Monaro Shire and Snowy River Shire councils
Snowy Valleys Council: The merger of Tumbarumba Shire and Tumut Shire councils
One of the most notable mergers was the creation of Cumberland Council and changes to the boundaries of the City of Parramatta. Below is a map showing the old boundaries of Parramatta (prior to 2016).
As can be seen in the map, Parramatta previously formed a "propeller" shape, stretching south of the Parramatta CBD towards Granville and then northeast towards Dundas/Epping and northwest towards Northmead and Winston Hills.
The new (current) boundaries of the City of Parramatta can be seen below:
As shown in the map, the boundaries of Parramatta now tend to shift mostly north of the Parramatta CBD, with a majority of Granville shifted to Cumberland Council. The Sydney Olympic Park area is now within Parramatta as well as more areas immediately north of the CBD including North Rocks and Carlingford.
For any questions about how recent Council boundary changes affect planning and Development Applications, feel free to get in contact.