2016 New South Wales local elections

The 2016 New South Wales local elections were held on 10 September 2016 to elect the councils of 79 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) of New South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.

The elections were conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission, with the exception of Fairfield, Gunnedah, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie and Penrith, who chose to conduct their own elections.

The election in Tweed was deferred until 29 October 2016 due to the death of a candidate.

Background
Following the 2012 elections, major changes occurred as a result of the enactment of the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948 and as a result of a review by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) that commenced in 2013. On 12 May 2016, following a further review by the Minister for Local Government and the independent Local Government Boundaries Commission, Premier Mike Baird announced Stage 1 starting with 19 new councils, through amalgamations and mergers, with immediate effect. The Minister indicated in principle support to create a further nine new councils, subject to the decision of the courts. On the same day, the Governor of New South Wales acted on the advice of the Minister, and proclaimed the 19 new local government areas. Another proclamation occurred a few months later with the amalgamation of City of Botany Bay and City of Rockdale.

This resulted in 46 councils not being contested until 2017, before the vast majority contested together again in 2021.

Parties
The following registered parties contested this election. This does not include groups of independents:
 * Animal Justice Party
 * Christian Democrats
 * Greens
 * Labor Party
 * Liberal Democrats
 * Liberal Party

In addition, a number of local government-registered parties also contested the elections.

Party changes before elections
A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2016 elections.

In Fairfield, Labor councillor George Barcha was handed a 6-month suspension for branch stacking and ran fourth on the party's Cabravale Ward ticket at the election.

By-elections
The New South Wales Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections to fill vacancies on councils after the 2016 elections up until 2021.