Richmond Valley Council Score: 53/100 — What Residents Should Know
Richmond Valley scores 53/100 overall, with its strongest performance in Community Services (74/100). Ranked #32 of 79 regional councils in NSW.
Richmond Valley records a composite score of 53/100 (solid), ranking 34th of 79 in its regional peer group and 58th of 128 across NSW. It sits in the upper half of NSW's regional councils, serving around 24k residents in a regional centre.On Financial Sustainability, Richmond Valley posts 34/100 (needs improvement). That lags well behind the regional peer average of 51 and lags well behind the NSW state average of 51. It captures how well the council balances its books, manages debt, and funds future infrastructure without over-relying on rates increases.Community Services comes in at 74/100 for Richmond Valley, rated strong. That stands well above the regional peer average of 51 and stands well above the NSW state average of 51. It captures the reach and quality of libraries, childcare, aged support, community centres, and grants that touch daily life.The council's Lifestyle & Amenity result — 52/100 — reads as solid. That roughly matches the regional peer average of 51 and roughly matches the NSW state average of 51. It captures parks, sportsgrounds, cultural venues, events, and the general liveability of the area relative to what residents pay.For Core Operations, Richmond Valley lands on 51/100, a solid result. That roughly matches the regional peer average of 51 and roughly matches the NSW state average of 51. It captures the essentials — roads, waste, planning approvals, and how efficiently the council runs its day-to-day services.
What This Means For Residents
Richmond Valley's strongest showing is on Community Services (74) and Lifestyle & Amenity (52). Practically, strong community services translate into more reliable libraries, maternal health, aged support and community programs — a real day-to-day benefit for families and older residents. Alongside that, strong lifestyle and amenity scores point to better-maintained parks, sportsgrounds and cultural venues, and generally a more liveable public realm.On the flip side, a low core operations score is often felt through slower planning approvals, patchier road maintenance, and rougher waste and customer service experiences. And weaker financial sustainability often shows up over time as sharper rates increases, deferred renewals, or borrowing to cover recurrent costs. The weakest dimensions here — Core Operations (51) and Financial Sustainability (34) — are the areas most likely to shape resident complaints and future rates decisions.Score Breakdown
| Dimension | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Sustainability | 34/100 | needs improvement |
| Community Services | 74/100 | strong |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 52/100 | solid |
| Core Operations | 51/100 | solid |
| Composite | 53/100 | solid |
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