On a special edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- IBAC releases the Operation Leo report on its investigation of bribery and misconduct allegations at Moonee Valley City Council
- Mayoral election season in full swing in NSW – I’ll have the latest results.
- And breaking Council CEO resignation and appointment news.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Davidson recruitment and business advisory services.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 382:
Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has tabled a special report on Operation Leo, an investigation into allegations of bribery and misconduct at Moonee Valley City Council.
The investigation has found that some councillors used their positions to inappropriately influence council decisions, bypass decision-making processes and inappropriately disclose information.
IBAC cited one example of a councillor directly progressing property related applications and influencing a council decision outside of proper processes.
Three councillors were found to have used their positions to influence council decisions in favour of the Essendon Royals Soccer Club, at the expense of other local sporting groups.
Those councillors are said to have voted on motions despite having received undeclared hospitality from the club, and actively sought to secure votes to grant the club exclusive access to a reserve and pavilion outside of formal Council meetings.
The three councillors named in the report are Cam Nation, Narelle Sharpe and Jacob Bettio.
Mr Nation, a former mayor, resigned from the Council in March this year.
IBAC heard evidence that Mr Nation had received cocaine in exchange for assisting with a business owner’s parking issue.
Cr Sharpe is a former mayor and current deputy mayor. She and Cr Bettio are both seeking re-election in this month’s council poll.
The Operation Leo report reveals systemic corruption vulnerabilities at Moonee Valley City Council relating to councillor integrity obligations, failure to follow proper processes, conflicts of interest and failure to report corrupt conduct.
IBAC has made a recommendation to the Local Government Minister to ensure that a Model Code of Conduct includes a clear expectation of councillors to report suspected corrupt conduct. That is in addition to 34 recommendations from last year’s Operation Sandon report.
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission
Lachlan Ford has been elected the new Mayor of Bourke Shire. He steps up from deputy in the last term, and succeeds Barry Hollman who was mayor for the last nine years and did not contest the election. Sally Davis has been elected as the deputy mayor. Bourke Shire Council
Bayside Council conducted its mayoral election yesterday. There were two nominations, with Cr Edward McDougall elected mayor by nine votes to six over Cr Michael Nagi.
Cr Heidi Lee Douglas was elected deputy mayor. Bayside Council
Blacktown City Council has elected Brad Bunting as mayor to lead what it described as a new era for NSW’s largest council. Cr Bunting took on the mayoralty in May after the passing of long term mayor Tony Bleasdale.
His deputy mayor is Bob Fitzgerald. Blacktown City Council
Forbes Shire Council has re-elected Phyllis Miller OAM and Chris Roylance as mayor and deputy mayor. Both stood unopposed for the positions. Forbes Advocate
Gilgandra Shire Council has gone with stability for its mayor and deputy mayor. Crs Doug Batten and Ash Walker were each unanimously re-elected to the positions. It makes 16 years as mayor for Cr Batten, and 13 consecutive years as deputy for Cr Walker. Gilgandra Shire Council
Greater Hume’s new mayor is Lea Parker, replacing Tony Quinn in the top position. Ben Hooper as been elected as deputy mayor. Border Mail
At Hilltops Council, the newly elected mayor is Brian Ingram, while Tony Flanery has been elected deputy mayor. Hilltops Council
Change is in the air at Inverell Shire Council, which has elected Kate Dight as its mayor for the new term, and Jo Williams as deputy mayor – another all female leadership team. Inverell Shire Council
The new Leeton Shire Council was sworn in on Tuesday, and an election conducted for mayor and deputy mayor. Cr George Weston is the new mayor, with Michael Kidd re-elected as deputy mayor. They are part of a group of five returned councillors, and are joined by four first term councillors. Leeton Shire Council
Inner West Council conducted its mayoral election on Tuesday night. Cr Darcy Byrne was re-elected as mayor by a majority of 10 votes to five over the only other nominee, Cr Liz Atkins. Mat Howard was elected as deputy mayor, also by 10 votes to five over Cr Izabella Antoniou. Inner West Council
At Ku-ring-gai Council, Christine Kay was elected to the mayoralty in a two-way vote over Cr Martin Smith. Cr Kim Wheatley was elected deputy mayor. Ku-ring-gai Council
Cr Cass Coleman has been elected as mayor of Lithgow City Council for the new term. Cr Steven Ring was elected deputy mayor. Lithgow City Council
MidCoast Council has elected former Mayor Claire Pontin to the position for another term. Jeremy Miller was elected to the deputy mayor position. The first meeting of the new council was notable when two new councillors, Libertarian Party members Michael Graham and Mal McKenzie, refused to stand for the Welcome to Country. Cr Graham was also a candidate for the mayoralty. Daily Telegraph
Mid-western Regional Council has re-elected Des Kennedy as its mayor for a fourth term.
He and Alex Karavas who is the new deputy mayor were elected to their positions unopposed. Mid-Western Regional Council
Darrell Tiemens has been re-elected mayor of Narrabri Shire Council, and Brett Dickinson is again deputy mayor. Narrabri Courier
At Narromine Shire, the council has elected Ewen Jones as mayor. He was one of two nominations for the position, the other being Cr Les Lambert.
Cr Lambert also nominated for deputy mayor, but the council chose Stacey Bohm for the role. Narromine Star
Narrandera Shire Council has elected Neville Kschenka as mayor, continuing in the role he has held since 2016. Cr Susan Ruffles was re-elected as deputy mayor for a second term. Narrandera Shire Council
Zoe Baker has been re-elected as mayor of North Sydney Council for the next two years. The deputy mayor remains unchanged also, with Godfrey Santer elected to the position for one year. North Sydney Council
Cr Sue Heins has been elected mayor of Northern Beaches Council, and Ruth Robins as deputy mayor completes an all female leadership team for that council. Northern Beaches Council
Cr Neil Westcott has been re-elected as mayor of Parkes Shire Council. The council has also re-elected Cr Marg Applebee as Deputy Mayor. Parkes Shire Council
At Penrith Council, Todd Carney has been re-elected as mayor – he was first elected to the position in September last year. Cr Ross Fowler OAM was elected deputy mayor. Penrith City Council
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has re-elected Kenrick Winchester as its mayor for the new term; and Esma Livermore has also been re-elected as deputy mayor. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Former Randwick mayor Dylan Parker has been returned to the leadership position at this week’s election by a margin of nine votes to six. Cr Parker was previously the youngest mayor in New South Wales when elected in 2021. His Labor colleague Marea Wilson was elected as deputy mayor. Randwick City Council
At Strathfield Council, the new mayor is John-Paul Baldi, while Benjamin Cai has been elected this week as deputy mayor. Strathfield Council
Wingecarribee Shire Council has returned to a democratically elected Council after a period of administration, and Cr Jesse Fitzpatrick has been elected as mayor unopposed this week.
There were two nominations for the deputy mayor position, with Cr Erin Foley elected over Cr Heather Champion. Wingecarribee Shire Council
And Woollahra Council has held its mayoral election. The new mayor is Sarah Swan, and there’s a new deputy mayor in Sean Carmichael. Woollahra Council
The City of Sydney’s new council will hold an extraordinary meeting this evening, after an event in George Street to formally announce the election of the Lord Mayor Clover Moore and nine elected councillors.
The city’s Town Crier Graham Keating will gather crowds to the hear the Declaration of the Poll at 4.30pm on the steps of the Town Hall.
Murray River Council CEO Terry Dodds is leaving this November after nearly four years at the council to take up the CEO position at Livingstone Shire Council in Queensland.
His appointment follows the departure of Cale Dendle who has moved to the CEO position at Isaac Regional Council.
New Murray River Council mayor John Hardie said the resignation had come as a shock and paid tribute to Mr Dodds’ work in bringing stability and structure to the organisation.
Details of a process to recruit a new CEO are pending. *Murray River Council; Livingstone Shire Council*
Townsville City Council has scrapped a controversial plan to expand paid parking along its popular beachfront areas.
ABC News reported that the decision follows community backlash and criticism of a lack of consultation
Councillors unanimously voted to halt the expansion until sufficient evidence of need is presented.
A proposal from Mayor Troy Thompson to suspend all paid parking in the city did not get enough support and failed to pass. ABC News
It’s understood that a decision has made on the appointment of a permanent CEO for Townsville Council. Media reports suggest that a preferred candidate has been approved by the council, and an announcement of the successful applicant is believed to be imminent. Townsville Bulletin