Local government facts

Snapshot of local government in Victoria

  • Victoria has 79 municipalities:
    • 31 metropolitan (including 10 interface councils)
    • 48 rural and regional (including 10 regional cities)
    • Populations range from fewer than 3,000 to more than 340,000
    • Land area varies from 10.8 sq km to 22,000 sq km
    • Each also varies in rate base, needs, infrastructure and resources.
  • Each municipality manages significantly different budgets:
    • Rural council budgets average $67 million (smallest is approximately $10.3 million)
    • Metropolitan council budgets average $219 million (largest is approximately $705 million)
  • Governed by 641 democratically elected councillors:
    • 400 male councillors
    • 240 female councillors
  • Employs 43,469 people
    • 26,283 female employees
    • 17,106 male employees
    • 7 gender neutral employees
  • Annual revenue of $11.6 billion
  • Responsible for more than $110 billion in community infrastructure and assets such as roads, bridges, town halls, recreation and leisure facilities, drains, libraries and parks.