Local government has traditionally provided basic services such as waste collection and disposal, maintenance of the road network and social services such as meals-on-wheels. There is increasing awareness and demand from stakeholders for social and environmental information which is also being played out in the media. The objective of this study is to identify the key influences which affect the pattern of sustainability information. The findings suggest that population growth, climate change and the extension of the urban growth boundary are the significant issues that are impacting on local government. These concerns along with local government leadership, communication with stakeholders and community engagement are influencing sustainability reporting. These findings could have implications for local government managers in their quest to maintain and enhance notions of accountability, transparency and effectiveness in meeting the expectation of increasingly sophisticated stakeholder groups.