What is the value of Council Infrastructure in NSW?

NSW Councils collectively own and maintain more than $220 billion in infrastructure assets that serve communities across 128 local government areas (LGAs) and span over 707,600 km² of the state.

These crucial assets support everything from roads, transport, water, and sewer networks to stormwater drainage systems, public buildings, and recreational spaces. The assets are valued at their Gross Replacement Cost (GRC), i.e. what it would cost to rebuild the assets today using like-for-like or modern equivalents.

On average, each square kilometre of NSW LGA contains $311,000 in Council infrastructure. But the density of infrastructure varies dramatically between city, regional, and remote areas.

• Urban LGAs face challenges with maintenance access constraints, disruptions, and increased wear and tear through high density.
• Regional and remote LGAs often manage large areas with sparse assets, challenged with limited local service providers and high travel costs.

Through this assessment, we've identified the top 5 LGAs that are most dense in infrastructure per km² (FY2024):

1. City of Sydney: $242 million / km²
2. North Sydney Council: $150 million / km²
3. Waverley Council: $136 million / km²
4. Woollahra Council: $86 million / km²
5. Lane Cove Council: $75 million / km²

Explore our interactive map below and discover how infrastructure density is distributed across NSW. How does your local area compare?