Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- Councils consider legal options over an unpopular state tax
- A multi-million dollar parking fine error at Merri-bek Council
- The latest Victorian Council CEO to call it quits
- Golden Plains finally gets its last councillor
- A mayor and union clash over planned job cuts
- A controversial policy voted down on a Mayor’s casting vote
- Townsville workers vote to go on strike, and
- Adelaide Council and the State Government at odds over a controversial golf course plan
- plus much more local government news from across Australia and beyond.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony3 – simple, connected customer experiences.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Here is all the news from episode 465:
Victorian Roundup:
The state government’s controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy continues to cause concern and anger across the state, despite an announced pause on the levy increase for the forthcoming year.
Cardinia Shire Council has this week moved to clarify its position on the levy, after reports that it had rejected joining a proposed council-led revolt.
Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly is leading a push for boycotts and a potential legal challenge, and the Berwick News reported that Cardinia would not be joining in that action.
In a statement, Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik explained that the council has consistently expressed its concerns about the impact of the levy on the community, particularly farmers, but is legally required to collect the fees on behalf of the State Government.
He said the Council is actively working with local government colleagues to advocate on the matter and had submitted a motion to the MAV’s May State Council meeting highlighting the significant impact on local government and the community, especially on primary production properties.
Hobsons Bay City Council has not confirmed if it will be part of a legal challenge after it was mentioned by Cr Jolly in a radio interview as having been part of discussions on the matter.
Mayor Daria Kellander told the Star Weekly that her council opposes the mandate and was against councils being forced to act as tax collectors, and said they are reviewing legal advice and considering next steps.
At Baw Baw Shire, Mayor Danny Goss, back from a recent 21 day suspension, has signed a letter calling on the government to repeal the levy and undertake genuine consultation in developing a more equitable funding mechanism to support emergency services.
The letter is the result of a Council resolution in May, prompted by a Notice of Motion from Cr Ben Lucas.
The decision was made in front of a large crowd of frustrated famers and emergency service volunteers, just days before the government said it would cap the levy for farmers for one year.
A Notice of Motion from Cr Jolly will go before a meeting of Yarra City Council tonight seeking authorisation to obtain legal advice on whether it can refuse to collect the levy, and the possibility of a legal challenge.
The motion also seeks to canvas interest from other councils and interested groups to collectively advocate against the levy.
The Yarra meeting agenda, scheduled for 6.30 at the Richmond Town Hall tonight, also includes the adoption of a new Council Plan and Annual Budget.
An administrative error dating back more than ten years has led to a decision by Merri-bek Council to refund parking fine revenue collected since 2013.
The Council this week announced it would launch a parking refund scheme relating to 11 minor types of infringements incurred up until last week.
It was recently discovered that no formal resolution was in place to set a 0.5 penalty unit for those infringements, which is higher than the default rate of 0.2 penalty units.
The most common infringement affected is for overstaying a parking time limit.
Infringements against road rules are unaffected as those penalties were issued validly under the Road Safety Act.
The Age estimated the total refund figure at between $10M and $12.4M.
Council CEO Cathy Henderson said the historical error was regrettable, and apologised for the impact of the overcharge.
She said its action to fix the mistake showed the council’s commitment to transparency.
The refund scheme is expected to be operational next month, with affected motorists able to apply for a refund for the overcharged amount of their parking fine, ranging between $45 and $59 per parking fine.
Frankston Council CEO Phil Cantillon has announced his resignation after six years in the role, and more than seven at the council.
Mr Cantillon says he will finish up next month, and will be taking a break after 40 years in public service, including roles with state governments in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
He was reappointed on a three year contract in 2023.
Mayor Kris Bolam said Mr Cantillon’s departure would be felt across the organisation and the broader community, and paid tribute to his leadership which has been instrumental in building momentum for the city’s transformation.
Cr Bolam said the council will now appoint an interim CEO before undertaking a comprehensive recruitment process for a permanent successor.
Dominic Cook has been elected as a councillor on Golden Plains Shire Council, after the Victorian Electoral Commission conducted a countback of votes from the October 2024 general election.
The election manager, Kym Ham, declared the result at 4 pm on Monday.
The countback included unsuccessful candidates who were still eligible for election.
Mr Cook was the last eligible candidate standing after John Crowe last week failed to return a declaration of eligibility within the required 48 hours.
The vacancy on Golden Plains Shire Council occurred after the resignation of Councillor Brett Cunningham.
Bass Coast CEO Greg Box has confirmed a break-in at the Grantville Transfer Station this week, resulting in significant building damage.
A stolen safe was quickly recovered with all funds intact thanks to the swift action of Council staff and Victoria Police.
He said while the facility remains operational, visitors may face temporary restrictions and delays as police investigations continue and repair work commences.
The Victorian Government has announced over $4 million in funding for upgrades to 19 libraries across Victoria.
Croydon Library is receiving $1 million for a new facility including a black box theatre and community spaces.
Other major upgrades are planned for Dandenong, Gisborne, Bulleen, Bayswater, Corryong and Thomastown.
The funding program also supports technology improvements, outreach lockers, and after-hours access modifications at libraries across metropolitan, regional, and rural Victoria.
Victorian Briefs:
Frankston Mayor Kris Bolam is planning a return visit to Annapolis, Maryland, later this year to formalise a new Friendship City agreement.
Cr Bolam undertook a self-funded visit to the US city earlier this year to meet with its mayor, before proposing the arrangement which has now been endorsed by both city councils.
Candidate nominations are now open for Darebin City Council’s North West Ward and the City of Whittlesea‘s Lalor Ward by-elections.
Nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday 24 June.
Bass Coast Shire Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from female-identifying artists for a public art commission at The Union Theatre in Wonthaggi.
The artwork will honour the historic Wonthaggi Miners Women’s Auxiliary founded in 1934, and is being funded through the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.
National Roundup:
NSW:
The mayor of Shoalhaven and union representatives have clashed over potential job cuts. The United Services Union claims up to 110 council positions could be axed under a new plan, representing one in five staff members.
However, Mayor Patricia White has strongly rejected the allegations in a report from HR Leader.
The union’s spokesperson, Stuart Geddes, claims that some council employees are deeply distressed, with one member facing possible homelessness if job losses eventuate.
Mayor White maintains that the council is following a transparent financial sustainability project and said her office remains open for discussions with union representatives.
Yesterday the union said it would be meeting with the mayor and wants to know how many jobs will be cut and from what departments.
Angry protesters rallied outside Northern Beaches Council’s meeting last night, as the council voted through its budget, including a 25.2% rate increase over two years.
The council argued the rate hike, equivalent to an additional $168 next year for the average ratepayer, is necessary for financial sustainability and infrastructure maintenance.
The increase will generate an extra $50m in revenue, and comes after IPART rejected an initial bid for a 40% increase over three years.
The Manly Observer reports this morning that dissenters who packed the public gallery, displaying placards, say they will be fighting back.
The budget passed by a vote of eleven to four.
A Mid-Western Regional Council report has revealed that the December 2024 by-election in Mudgee cost nearly $300,000, approximately $50,000 over budget.
The Mudgee Guardian reported that the majority of expenses went to the NSW Electoral Commission to conduct the by-election which was triggered by the resignation of Sharelle Fellows and resulted in the election of Rod Pryor.
There was criticism over the council’s decision to hold a by-election instead of using a less expensive vote countback system.
Meanwhile, Mid-Western Regional Council is seeking direct negotiations for the naming rights of Glen Willow Stadium after a public tender failed to attract any submissions.
The stadium, which has hosted major NRL fixtures and will welcome the Penrith Panthers in August, remains without a naming rights partner despite its growing profile and praised facilities.
The Mudgee Guardian reported that the council is hoping to offset operational costs through sponsorship.
A new elections amendment bill in the NSW Parliament seeks to make a number of changes, including removing the option to use a private election provider.
If passed, the bill will limit pre-poll voting to five days, and remove the option for councils to fill vacancies through countbacks from September 2028.
LGNSW President Phyllis Miller said the peak body is reviewing the bill to understand the implications for the sector.
It comes as councils receive their final invoices for last year’s elections, and Cr Miller said she has been alerted to some extraordinary instances of sharply increased costs.
She is engaging with the Electoral Commission to understand the reasons for the increases.
Kiama Council has extended CEO Jane Stroud’s contract for another three years, taking her through until mid-2028, following a positive performance review.
In a statement, the council said it had approved a 3% pay rise and Ms Stroud’s request for the three year extension.
She joined the council in 2021, after previous senior roles Logan and Southern Downs Councils in Queensland.
And tributes are being paid to the first female mayor of the city of Lismore, Ros Irwin, who has died at 82 after a short illness.
Dr Irwin was first elected to the council in 1991, and then as mayor in 1997, stepping down in 2008.
She is being remembered as a “trailblazer” for women in government.
Read more from ABC News, The Daily Telegraph and the Lismore App.
QLD:
Frontline staff at Townsville City Council have reportedly voted to begin strike action.
The council says it has presented a good faith pay offer that was financially responsible, but the AWU told the Townsville Bulletin its members are demanding a ratepayer value committee to divert money away from senior executives.
The vote to pursue protected industrial action was taken yesterday.
A controversial policy requiring Cairns councillors to organise meetings with developers through official channels has been rejected in a 5-5 vote, with Mayor Amy Eden casting the deciding vote against it.
The Cairns Post reported that Mayor Eden was very critical of the proposal, believing that it would create “institutionalised mistrust.”
The policy was proposed by council officers to promote transparent governance and equal access to councillors, with those in favour arguing it would ensure ethical behaviour and clear guidelines for developer interactions.
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has announced it will relocate from Townsville to Cairns in next year due to infrastructure limitations.
The Townsville Bulletin reported that the decision to relocate has prompted Townsville’s federal member Phillip Thompson to criticise the City Council for poor leadership.
The controversy has centred on a debate over the allocation of funding between a proposed Concert Hall and Reef HQ refurbishment.
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney has defended the council’s decision-making in a financially challenging environment.
Meanwhile, Cairns Regional Council has expressed its excitement at securing the event from July next year, saying it is helping to bring more live music, creative opportunities and vibrancy to the region.
Dalassa Yorkston has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) in Cape York.
Ms Yorkston is moving from Torres Shire Council where she has served for 17 years.
She will commence in the role on August 4.
Her appointment comes after a period of instability at the council, which included several short-term CEOs and the recent ousting of former chief executive Kate Gallaway after a community petition called for her dismissal.
National Briefs:
Central Coast Council and the University of Newcastle have announced a collaboration to create a ‘MakerSpace’ on the top floor of the new $32.7m Gosford Regional Library.
The facility will provide advanced equipment like 3D printers and virtual reality goggles for students, community members, and local businesses.
Townsville City Council will reduce its Rate in the Dollar by 18% in response to a 27% increase in State Government land valuations, aiming to ease cost-of-living pressures on households.
It’s the first time in 10 years the council has reduced its rate in the dollar.
The City of Greater Geraldton is calling on residents to register their plantings of seedlings, shrubs and trees as part of its efforts to reach 1 Million Trees planted by 2029.
Since the project’s launch in 2010, more than 563,000 plantings have been registered, and Mayor Jerry Clune is looking for a concerted effort to make every tree count.
TAS:
Central Coast mayor Cheryl Fuller says the community is devastated at the this week’s fatal shooting of 25 year police veteran Constable Keith Smith.
She said the effects of the tragedy will be broad and long-lasting, and told the Advocate the council had reached out to staff at the police station.
The council’s CEO Vicki Brereton has a background in policing, and said everyone is feeling a sense of shock and worry.
NorthWest Tasmanian council, Circular Head, is set to pass its budget this week, including a 4.8 percent increase in rates income.
Mayor Gerard Blizzard said the council understands the pressures faced by residents, and that they’d developed a budget that balances affordability with real outcomes.
It includes a $3.8M West Esplanade Foreshore Transformation as a budget centrepiece, conditional on securing half of that in grant funding.
The council has forecast an operating loss of $1.4M for next year.
SA:
Adelaide City Council has expressed strong opposition to the State Government’s unilateral decision to take control of North Adelaide Golf Course for LIV golf.
Acting Lord Mayor Phil Martin said yesterday the announcement had come amid ongoing negotiations and despite the Council’s century-long management of the facility.
He said the Council remains committed to maintaining public ownership of the course, protecting trees, and ensuring proper consultation.
It is highly critical of the Premier’s approach of using legislation to bypass Council involvement despite previous collaborative discussions.
A long standing South Australian Mayor has sounded a warning for the local government sector, after an unprecedented wave of resignations among council members due to widespread bullying and harassment.
Robert Bria, Mayor of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Council since 2005, says women in leadership positions are being disproportionately targeted.
He has revealed in an opinion piece published by InDaily that at least three current mayors have already decided not to contest the 2026 elections due to ongoing harassment.
Mayor Bria has joined other council leaders in supporting a call for the Equal Opportunity Commissioner to conduct a formal inquiry into bullying and harassment within local government.
The proposed investigation aims to gather concrete data on the scope and impact of this issue, particularly its gender-based aspects.
LGA South Australia CEO Clinton Jury is leaving the role after nearly four years, according to a report from Inside Local Government.
The association will appoint an Acting CEO while conducting a recruitment process for a permanent replacement.
During his tenure, Mr Jury has strengthened member value, fostered a positive workplace culture, and successfully secured new funding and partnerships.
WA:
The Shire of Mundaring Council has elected a new Deputy Shire President at its latest meeting.
Cr Luke Ellery has stepped into the role vacated by outgoing Deputy Shire President Trish Cook, who resigned after being elected as the Federal Member for Bullwinkel.
The council is seeking approval to leave Ms Cook’s position vacant until elections in October.
Meanwhile, the council has adopted a new AI policy based on state government principles to maximise benefits while managing risks.
The policy was adopted despite concerns from some residents and councillors about data privacy and protection, according to a report from the Echo Newspaper.
The policy emphasises that AI tools should only be used as a starting point and not replace human decision-making.
Global Report:
UK:
Labour has lost its majority control of Cheshire West and Chester Council after two councillors resigned from the party, according to BBC News.
They both said they no longer recognise the party and that isn’t representing working-class interests.
The council is now under no overall control.
Labour holds 35 of 70 seats, the Conservative Party has 22 seats and the remaining seats are split between independent councillors and smaller parties.
A merger proposal by two councils in Sussex and Surrey will not go ahead, after the government said it didn’t meet the specified criteria.
BBC News reported that the decision has been met with disappointment at Crawley Borough Council, with a spokesperson saying it was perplexing, and not based on the merits of the proposal.
The leader of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Richard Biggs, said he was disappointed but accepted the government’s decision.
USA:
A Texas city manager has been fired after a secret recording emerged of him allegedly threatening to kill a council member, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle.
Freeport City Council terminated the employment contract of Lance Petty, following a complex investigation involving the city’s Police Chief.
The city council voted 3-1 to terminate Petty’s contract and at the same time unanimously decided to cancel their agreement with its legal counsel.
St. Cloud City Council in Florida has unanimously voted to remove its Deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher, their first openly gay member, from his position following controversy over his public statements about the council blocking a Pride Month proclamation.
The decision came after Fletcher accused the council of targeting Pride Month by implementing a pause on all city proclamations, though he later apologised for some of his statements while maintaining his belief that the action was “undemocratic.”
The Orlando Sentinel reported comments from the council meeting that suggested the reason for the removal was false information and resulting negative media coverage from Fletcher’s statements and press release.
CANADA:
Requests from local governments for the province of Nova Scotia to pause uranium exploration have not gone down well with the Premier.
CBC News reported that Premier Tim Houston has sent detailed letters to municipalities who oppose uranium exploration, listing millions in provincial funding they had received and suggesting future funding depends on allowing economic development projects to proceed.
West Hants Regional council recently resolved to request a pause to give communities more time to become better informed on the issue.
The council’s mayor said it was surprising to receive the letter, given that it came before it had even sent its official request.
In a historic moment for neurodiversity awareness in Canada, Moncton in New Brunswick has this week become the first Canadian city to raise a neurodiversity pride flag.
The initiative, part of the global Neurodiversity Pride Day celebrated on June 16, aims to promote understanding and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals while highlighting their contributions and needs across more than 60 participating countries.
NZ:
Auckland Council and NZ Police have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen their collaborative relationship in maintaining public safety and addressing community concerns.
The agreement formalised a commitment to work together on areas of common interest, including tackling issues like retail crime and supporting vulnerable people.
The MOU will be reviewed within five years.