In July 2008, the Minister for Local Government, Paul Lynch, announced that all civic offices at Shellharbour City Council were declared vacant until 2012, and Mr David Jesson was appointed Administrator of the Council.

Council has a number of committees to assist it in making decisions on important issues.

COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES
Staff Committee

COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Australia Day/Special Promotions Committee
Disabilities Services Advisory Committee
Illawarra Airport Advisory Committee
Shellharbour Aboriginal Advisory Committee

MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL COMMITTEES - EXTERNAL
Council Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) 
Elliot Lake - Little Lake Floodplain Management Committee
Horsley Creek Floodplain Risk Management Committee
Shellharbour Traffic Committee

WORKING PARTIES
Illawarra Airport Working Party
Sport and Recreation Working Party
Aquatic Facilities Working Party

DELEGATES TO OUTSIDE COMMITTEES AND ORGANISATIONS
Dunmore Lakes Sand Quarry - Stage 1 Community Consultative Committee
Healthy Cities Illawarra Management Committee
Illawarra Bushfire Committee
Illawarra Community Housing Trust
Illawarra Noxious Weeds Authority
Illawarra Regional Information Service (IRIS)
International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives - Water Program
Lake Illawarra Floodplain Management Committee
Shellharbour City Sports Assistance Fund
Shellharbour Community Safety Team
Shellharbour Rural Fire Service Liaison Committee - Service Level Agreement
Southern Councils Group (SCG), formerly IROC
Southern Region Joint Planning Panel
Tourism Shellharbour
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Illawarra Area Assistance Scheme - Regional Advisory Committee
Lake Illawarra Authority
Trustees of the Killalea State Recreation Area

ADMINISTRATOR'S APPOINTMENTS
Illawarra Academy of Sport