Forbes Shire Council

What Forbes Shire Council does

Forbes Shire Council is a local government authority established in 1870 under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), serving the communities of Forbes, Bedgerabong, Garema, Wirrinya, Corninella and Ootha in central western New South Wales, Australia. The Council employs over 150 staff organised across Corporate Services, Planning and Growth, Engineering, and Projects, governed by nine elected Councillors led by Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM for the 2024-2028 term. Its core operations span municipal service delivery including waste collection, water supply and sewerage management, road maintenance, development assessment, animal management, emergency management, and community services, supported by owned infrastructure including the Central West Livestock Exchange, Forbes Aerodrome, the Apex Riverside Tourist Park, Olympic and Indoor Pools, and the Goldridge Estate residential subdivision of 221 lots.

The Council's revenue model is built on four statutory and discretionary streams: quarterly council rates levied on residential, business, farmland, and mining properties based on land value (with 10.5% interest on overdue amounts), water and sewer charges, transaction-based fees and charges (development applications, animal registration, parking fines, facility hire, permits), and intergovernmental grants from Australian and NSW Government programs. Service distribution occurs through in-person counter services at the 2 Court Street administration office, an online self-service portal, mail/BPay/internet banking, and physical community facilities. Digital platforms include the iRecycle Forbes mobile app (being replaced in June 2026), Report an Issue portal, NSW Planning Portal integration, VendorPanel e-procurement marketplace, and a Your Say community consultation platform, with Council meetings live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The Council has secured partnerships with the Federal Government (Agricultural Strategy 2018-2030, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program) and NSW Government (Stronger Country Communities Fund, Regional Sport Facility Fund), and collaborates regionally with Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils on drought resilience.

Name

Forbes Shire Council

Legal name

Forbes Shire Council

Website

https://forbes.nsw.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Forbes Shire Council is a NSW local government authority delivering municipal services (rates, water/sewer, waste, roads, planning, community facilities) to ratepayers across Forbes Shire in central western NSW, funded by property rates, utility charges, fees, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government / Municipal Services

NAICS

Utilities (221), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Municipal infrastructure
• Waste management services
• Water and sewer utilities
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Forbes

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Rates: Property rates levied on residential, business, farmland, and mining categories based on land value. Rates are due quarterly (31 August, 30 November, 28 February, 31 May) with 10.5% interest charged on overdue amounts.
2. Water and Sewer Charges: Water supply and sewerage services charges levied on properties. Separate service charges for water supply, sewer services, and domestic waste management.
3. Fees and Charges: User-pay fees for services including development applications, animal registration, parking fines, facility hire, planning certificates, and various permits and approvals.
4. Government Grants: Funding from Australian Government and NSW Government for infrastructure projects, community services, and regional programs such as the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, Stronger Country Communities Fund, and Regional Sport Facility Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forbes Shire Council is a local government authority delivering essential municipal services to residents, ratepayers, businesses, and visitors of the Forbes Shire in central western New South Wales. Core services include rates collection, water supply and sewerage management, waste collection and recycling, road and infrastructure maintenance, planning and development assessment, animal management, emergency management, library and recreational facilities, tourism services, and economic development programs. The council also operates commercial assets such as the Central West Livestock Exchange (saleyards), Forbes Aerodrome, Apex Riverside Tourist Park, and the Goldridge Estate residential land development.

Product overview

Forbes Shire Council operates as a local government authority providing comprehensive community services through both physical infrastructure and digital platforms. The council's digital portfolio includes consumer-facing mobile applications (iRecycle Forbes App for waste management), online service portals (Report an Issue, Online Payments, Development Application Tracking), and procurement systems (VendorPanel Marketplace). Physical services encompass the Central West Livestock Exchange, water and sewer utilities, aerodrome facilities, residential development (Goldridge Estate), and community venues including the Apex Riverside Tourist Park and Town Hall. The council integrates with external platforms including NSW Planning Portal, SurveyMonkey, Facebook, and YouTube for service delivery and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Central West Livestock Exchange Council-owned livestock selling facility providing animal welfare-compliant auction services for cattle, sheep, and other livestock with pollution monitoring. Available to livestock producers across the region.
• Goldridge Estate Council-developed residential land estate offering 221 affordable lots ranging from 550sqm to over 5,000sqm, many with rural views, located 3.5km from Forbes CBD. Targets home buyers, investors, and people relocating to the Forbes region.
• Forbes Aerodrome Council-managed aerodrome providing aviation facilities and services for the Forbes region. Available to pilots, aviation businesses, and visitors requiring air access to the shire.
• Water and Sewer Services Municipal water supply and sewerage management services including drinking water quality management, low pressure sewer connections, and water main extensions. Available to connected properties across the Forbes local government area.
• Community Funding Program Council program providing annual donations to support community organisations and projects across the Forbes Shire. Targeted at not-for-profit community groups, sporting clubs, and local initiatives.
• Forbes Pound Council-run animal shelter providing impoundment services for stray and abandoned animals with pet registration management. Available to residents for lost pet recovery and animal management services.
• Apex Riverside Tourist Park Council-operated caravan park offering camping and cabin accommodation by the river in Forbes. Available to tourists, travellers, and visitors to the Forbes region.
• iRecycle Forbes App Mobile application enabling Forbes residents to manage waste and recycling schedules, access bin information, and receive collection reminders. Targeted at residents within the Forbes local government area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ staff delivering services across Corporate Services, Planning and Growth, Engineering and Projects
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Government (Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program)coreOthers · 10 March 2025Funding provided for the Spooner Oval Grandstand Project, a two-level facility with 210 seats, lift access, dressing rooms, club room, bar and canteen.
• NSW Government (Stronger Country Communities Fund and Regional Sport Facility Fund)coreOthers · 10 March 2025Joint funding for the Spooner Oval Grandstand Project alongside Australian Government funding.
• Future Drought FundminorOthers · 10 March 2025Federal government program providing joint funding for drought management plans for recreational water bodies across Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils.
• Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils (Joint Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Joint funding from Future Drought Fund to prepare drought management plans for key recreational water bodies across the three shires. This was an action identified by the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Regional Drought Resilience Plan, demonstrating inter-council collaboration on regional resilience initiatives.
• Federal GovernmentcoreOthers · 1 February 2019Jointly funded the Agricultural Strategy 2018-2030, the first of its kind for Local Government in NSW. Strategy launched by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP in February 2019.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lachlan Shire Council: Adjacent NSW rural council and third partner in the joint drought resilience initiative with Forbes and Parkes. Similar size, agricultural economy, and infrastructure delivery mandate.
• Parkes Shire Council: Neighbouring NSW regional council in the Central West; jointly partners with Forbes on the Future Drought Fund resilience initiative and shares comparable population scale, agricultural economic base, and service delivery profile.

Regional players

• Weddin Shire Council: Small NSW Central West council serving Grenfell and surrounding localities. Comparable in scale to Forbes Shire with similar rural/agricultural rate base and service mix.
• Hilltops Council: NSW regional council formed through merger of Young, Boorowa, and Harden shires; operates across a comparable rural footprint with similar service delivery and rates base structure.
• Narrandera Shire Council: Riverina NSW rural council with similar small-population, agricultural-economic profile and comparable scope of utility, waste, and community services.
• Cabonne Shire Council: Central West NSW council with similar small-population profile, agricultural economy, and mix of utility, roads, and community service delivery responsibilities.
• Bland Shire Council: Neighbouring NSW rural council with comparable population, rates base, and infrastructure responsibilities including water utilities and rural road networks.

Broad incumbents

• Orange City Council: Larger Central West NSW local government authority serving a regional city. Comparable service portfolio (water, sewer, waste, planning, recreation) at a meaningfully greater scale, useful as an upper-bound benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk1vvOoLX2YsHGsL4JViHwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForbesShireCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbesshirecouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forbes Shire Council