Wollongong Council Score: 45/100 — What Residents Should Know
Wollongong scores 45/100 overall, with its strongest performance in Community Services (59/100). Ranked #55 of 79 regional councils in NSW.
Wollongong records a composite score of 45/100 (developing), ranking 58th of 79 in its regional peer group and 96th of 128 across NSW. It sits in the lower half of NSW's regional councils, serving roughly 220k residents in a regional centre.On Financial Sustainability, Wollongong posts 37/100 (developing). That trails the regional peer average of 51 and trails 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 59/100 for Wollongong, rated solid. That sits modestly above the regional peer average of 51 and sits modestly 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 — 54/100 — 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, Wollongong lands on 29/100, a needs improvement result. That lags well behind the regional peer average of 51 and lags well behind 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
Wollongong's strongest showing is on Community Services (59) and Lifestyle & Amenity (54). 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, weaker financial sustainability often shows up over time as sharper rates increases, deferred renewals, or borrowing to cover recurrent costs. And a low core operations score is often felt through slower planning approvals, patchier road maintenance, and rougher waste and customer service experiences. The weakest dimensions here — Financial Sustainability (37) and Core Operations (29) — are the areas most likely to shape resident complaints and future rates decisions.Score Breakdown
| Dimension | Score | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Sustainability | 37/100 | developing |
| Community Services | 59/100 | solid |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | 54/100 | solid |
| Core Operations | 29/100 | needs improvement |
| Composite | 45/100 | developing |
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