Property management

We are responsible for a large portfolio of public properties, buildings and open spaces.

Most of the properties we manage are occupied and used by the community, or by organisations that provide a service to our community. We also hold property as an investment to provide a financial return for the community and also for future development.

Each parcel of land in our portfolio is classified into a certain category, as per the requirements of the Local Government Act (1993). These categories provide a framework for the way land can be developed or used, and determines our approach to management.

The categorisation of land can only be determined by our Local Environmental Plan or by the resolution of Council, ensuring a consistent and sustainable approach to land use. 

Learn more about the properties we manage, our approach to land use and our role in maintaining community spaces.

Public lands

Public lands

Public lands are properties that are owned and managed by Council. All public lands must be classified as either community or operational land, in accordance with the Local Government Act (1993).

The main effect of classification is to determine the use of the land.

  • Operational lands
    Operational land is owned and managed by Council and is used to carry out its operational functions to provide services to the community. This can include properties for sewer and water infrastructure, public car parking or waste facilities. Councils also hold operational land as investments for possible future sale or development.
  • Community lands
     Community land is owned and managed by Council for the use of the community. This land is publicly accessible, and generally provides some amenity or facility to the community, like parks, sporting fields and community halls.  Some Community lands and properties can be hired for private or public functions, or leased and licensed, however they cannot be sold by Council.

Crown lands

In addition to land and buildings that we own, we also manage a number of Crown Land Reserves on behalf of the NSW Government.

When we are appointed as Crown Land Manager, we are responsible for the care, control and management of the property as per the Local Government Act (1993) and the Crown Lands Management Act (2016). This includes much of our coastline, public parks and sporting fields.

On 21 September 2023 Council adopted a Plan of Management (POM) for the community classified Crown reserves that Council manages. A link to this POM is on this webpage. The POM maps the reserves by local areas and shows the boundaries of each reserve. The POM is a reference guide for the current and future uses on each reserve.

Land aquisitions

Councils have broad roles and responsibilities in their communities, including the provision of facilities and the supply of public services.

Sometimes councils need to acquire land to continue providing effective services as their community’s needs change. As communities grow, roads may need to be widened, there may be a need for new bridges, or water and sewer services may need to be expanded. 

In this case, councils have the power to acquire land to facilitate the expansion of their services. All land acquisitions are carried out through a formal process involving negotiation, which will only be enacted once Council has resolved to undertake an acquisition.

The NSW Government's website provides information on how property acquisition works, valuation and compensation processes, and outlines the requirement of authorities. A guide to property acquisition in NSW(PDF, 2MB) is available for download and will provide you with general guidance about the rights and responsibilities of acquiring authorities and property owners, and the role of the NSW Valuer General.

Plans of land proposed to be compulsory acquired by Council, and compulsory acquisition notices, are prescribed as open access information under Schedule 1 of the Government Information (Public Access) Regulation. To request access, phone or email our customer service team and our property team will be in touch.

Land register

We are required to keep and maintain a public register of all land that we own or manage, as per the Local Government Act (1993).

This includes all community, operational and crown land under our care, control and management.

The land register is publicly available upon request. To request access, phone or email our customer service team and our property team will be in touch.

Contact our Property team

Contact our property team if you have an enquiry relating to:

  • easements
  • boundary adjustments
  • land aquisitions
  • road closures
  • road or reserve naming.

Phone   or   Email

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