Shire of Yilgarn

What Shire of Yilgarn does

The Shire of Yilgarn is a local government entity constituted under the Local Government Act 1995 of Western Australia, headquartered at 23 Antares Street, Southern Cross, Western Australia. It governs approximately 30,720 square kilometres spanning the Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions, with a resident population of around 1,600 concentrated in Southern Cross and seven smaller townsites (Bodallin, Bullfinch, Ghooli, Koolyanobbing, Marvel Loch, Moorine Rock, Yellowdine). The Shire is led by elected Councillors under Shire President Cr Bryan Close, with day-to-day operations managed by Chief Executive Officer Ben Forbes (appointed February 2026). It runs with a lean staff of approximately 14 and operates from the Shire Administration Centre, the Southern Cross Public Library, and the Southern Cross Community Resource Centre.

Its core service portfolio comprises standard local government functions: differential rating across mining, rural, residential/industrial, commercial, and mine site categories; waste collection via contractor Avon Waste; driver and vehicle licensing as an agent for the Western Australian Department of Transport; planning, building approvals and public health services; community facilities (aquatic centre, library, cemetery, sporting complexes); and emergency services coordination via the Whispir alert system. Technology is conventional civic administration software — document management, rates assessment, licensing agency terminals, and library eResource platforms (BorrowBox, Kanopy, Libby, Hoopla, LOTE4Kids) — with no proprietary technology platforms disclosed.

Revenue is generated from three streams: council rates (calculated as Gross Rental Value or Unimproved Value multiplied by cents in the dollar, with minimums of $450–$600), fees and charges (waste, permits, planning, facility hire, licensing agency fees), and grant funding (state/federal grants and the Community Enhancement Fund). Pricing is set annually via Council resolution, with the 2026/2027 Schedule of Fees and Charges effective from 1 July 2026 and differential rates adopted at the April 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting. Customer segments are primarily Residents (primary), Local Businesses, the Mining Industry (primary ratepayer), the Agricultural Sector (primary ratepayer), and Visitors/Tourists. The two economic pillars — mining and agriculture — provide balance through commodity cycles, with tourism identified as a growing third vertical.

Name

Shire of Yilgarn

Legal name

Shire of Yilgarn

Website

https://yilgarn.wa.gov.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Shire of Yilgarn is a Western Australian local government entity serving approximately 1,600 residents across 30,720 sq km of the Wheatbelt and Goldfields, delivering rates administration, waste collection, licensing, community facilities, and emergency services funded by differential rating, fees, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Executive and Legislative Offices, Combined (921140), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Waste collection management
• Community facility management
• Emergency alert systems
• Rates administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Southern Cross

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Rates: Property rates constitute the primary revenue stream for the Shire. Rates are calculated by multiplying a property's Gross Rental Value (GRV) by the rate in the dollar set by Council, subject to minimum payments. The Shire imposes differential rates for different land categories including mining, rural, residential/industrial, commercial, and mine sites. Pensioner and senior concessions are available up to 25% rebate subject to eligibility criteria.
2. Fees and Charges: Various service fees including waste collection, building permits, planning fees, facility hire, licensing agency fees (Department of Transport transactions), cemetery fees, and other council services. The 2026/2027 Schedule of Fees and Charges comes into effect each financial year.
3. Grant Funding: The Shire participates in grant programs including the Community Enhancement Fund for renewable energy and carbon sequestration projects, and various state/federal government grants for infrastructure and community development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Shire of Yilgarn is a local government authority providing statutory civic services to approximately 1,600 residents across 30,720 square km in Western Australia. Core offerings include property rates administration, refuse and recycling collection, driver and vehicle licensing (as an agent for the Department of Transport), planning and building approvals, operation of community facilities (aquatic centre, public library, cemetery, recreation complex), and emergency notification services via the Whispir Alert System.

Product overview

The Shire of Yilgarn operates as a local government authority covering 30,720 square km in Western Australia with approximately 1,600 residents. The council's digital presence is anchored by its official website which serves as the primary portal for accessing all council services. The service portfolio includes core civic functions (rates management, driver and vehicle licensing via Department of Transport agency, waste collection through contractor Avon Waste), community facilities (Southern Cross Aquatic Centre rebuilt in 2020, Southern Cross Public Library, Southern Cross Cemetery, community venues for hire), and emergency services (Whispir Alert System for bushfire and emergency notifications). The council also provides community development support through the Community Resource Centre, sporting clubs coordination, and organizes community events such as the annual Yilgarn Ladies Day. The library offers digital eResources through partnerships with Bolinda BorrowBox, Kanopy, Libby App, Hoopla, and LOTE4Kids platforms. The council operates under the Local Government Act 1995 and maintains various local laws including Public Places, Local Government Property and Trading Local Law, Bush Fire Brigade Local Law, and Removal of Refuse Local Law.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Waste Collection Services Scheduled refuse and recycling bin collection services for residential and commercial properties across the Shire's townsites, delivered under contract with Avon Waste. Available to all residents and businesses within serviced areas.
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Services Department of Transport agency services including driver's licence applications and renewals, vehicle registration and renewals, boat registrations, computerised theory tests, and practical driving assessments up to MR class. Available Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3:00pm at the Shire Administration Office.
• Southern Cross Aquatic Centre Public aquatic facility featuring a 25-metre swimming pool with wheelchair access, wading pool with water features, basketball half court, cricket nets, BBQ facilities and kiosk. Free entry for swimmers; open seasonally from November to March annually.
• Southern Cross Public Library Services Public library providing physical book lending and digital eResources including Bolinda BorrowBox (audiobooks and eBooks), Kanopy (documentary and film streaming with 4 credits per month), Libby App (eBooks and digital magazines), Hoopla (movies, TV, music, audiobooks), and LOTE4Kids (children's books in multiple languages).
• Whispir Alert System Emergency notification service delivering real-time alerts about bushfires, floods, severe weather, and other emergency situations directly to registered residents via phone calls, text messages, and emails.
• Southern Cross Cemetery Cemetery facility operated by the Shire for burials and related services for residents and families within the local government area.
• Rates Administration Property rates administration with differential rating across mining, rural, residential/industrial, commercial, and mine site categories, calculated by multiplying Gross Rental Value (GRV) or Unimproved Value (UV) by the rate in the dollar. Pensioner and senior concessions up to 25% rebate available subject to eligibility.
• Building and Planning Services Statutory building approvals, planning application processing, and economic development support services for property owners, developers, and businesses operating within the Shire.
• Community Resource Centre Services Community Resource Centre services including Crosswords newspaper, KidSport program, government information access, and various community support services for residents.
• Venue and Bus Bookings Hire of community venues and buses for events, meetings, and community activities within the Shire.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Community Enhancement Fund Advisory CommitteestrategicOthers · 24 June 2025Advisory committee formed to recommend dispersal of funds from the Community Enhancement Fund, established to ensure renewable energy and carbon sequestration projects deliver positive outcomes for the local community.
• Department of Transport (Western Australia)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Shire of Yilgarn operates as an official agent for the Department of Transport's Licensing Services, providing vehicle registration and renewals, driver licensing, boat registrations, computerised theory tests, and heavy vehicle inspections on behalf of the state government.
• Avon WastecoreOthersAvon Waste provides refuse and recycling collection services across the shire. Collection services operate in Southern Cross, Marvel Loch, Moorine Rock, and Bodallin with specified collection days.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Shire of Ravensthorpe: Remote southern WA shire with mining (nickel/gold) and agriculture economic base and a small population — comparable scale and service-delivery challenges.
• Shire of Narembeen: Neighbouring small rural Wheatbelt shire in Western Australia with comparable population, mining-agriculture economy, and local government service profile. Directly comparable as the former employer of the Shire of Yilgarn's incoming CEO.
• Shire of Quairading: Small Wheatbelt shire in Western Australia with similar rural/local-government profile. Relevant as the destination employer of Yilgarn's former CEO, indicating comparable scale and operating model.
• Shire of Coolgardie: Goldfields shire in Western Australia with a comparable mining-and-rural economic base and small dispersed population — a direct regional peer in service delivery and rating structure.
• Shire of Bruce Rock: Small adjacent Wheatbelt shire with a comparable agricultural economy, population scale, and rural local government service delivery model.
• Shire of Dundas: Goldfields shire with a small ratepayer base and significant mining sector exposure, located in the same WA region as Yilgarn with similar governance scale.
• Shire of Kondinin: Small Wheatbelt shire with agricultural and emerging mining interests, providing a directly comparable local-government service model to Yilgarn.

Broad incumbents

• Shire of Esperance: Larger regional shire in southern WA encompassing mixed agriculture, mining, and tourism. Broader incumbent peer operating an overlapping service portfolio at greater scale.
• City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder: Larger Goldfields local government centred on gold mining, located 225km east of Southern Cross. Relevant as a regional incumbent providing a benchmark for scaled local government operations in a mining economy.

Others

• Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA): Peak industry body representing all WA local governments — relevant as the enabling/coordination peer that sets advocacy, training, and procurement frameworks used by the Shire of Yilgarn.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shireofyilgarn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shire-of-yilgarn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Shire of Yilgarn