Baw Baw announces new Acting CEO
Kingston Mayor condemns teenage riot activity in Mordialloc
Darebin Municipal Monitor report released
Waverley commits $100k for Jewish community support
Murrundindi CEO contract renewal
Former Brimbank Council office to be demolished
Noosa Council recovers further $200k of fraud loss
Council CEO shoots down “misleading” media article
New Northern Councils Alliance leadership
VIC: At Baw Baw Shire Council, another acting CEO has been appointed while chief executive officer Tilla Buden focuses on treatment for breast cancer.
Sally Jones, who recently completed a term as interim CEO at Central Goldfields Shire, will step into the role on 6th January, taking over from Mick Cummins who has led the council team in recent weeks.
Ms Jones’ appointment is until 3rd February.
VIC: The Mayor of the City of Kingston has responded to a frightening incident of anti-social behaviour in Mordialloc this week when hundreds of teenagers stormed a Woolworths supermarket and clashed with police at a local beach.
Mayor Georgina Oxley condemned the behaviour and thanked Victoria Police for their swift response to bring the situation under control.
She said the council continues to work with other levels of government and police on resourcing and ways to ensure the foreshore and activity centres remain welcoming and safe places for the community.
VIC: The final report of Municipal Monitors assigned to Darebin City Council has been released this week.
June Anstee and Ross Millard were appointed to serve between April 2024 and June 2025, in response to governance councillor conduct issues raised with the Minister.
They have made 16 recommendations for the council, and one for the Local Government Minister.
They include amendments to the CEO recruitment process and policy; the conduct of service reviews of some in-house services to identify efficiencies; along with outstanding matters from a previous monitor report in 2023.
The monitors have asked the Minister to consider a limit of two Notices of Motion per Council meeting agenda in the current process of developing Model Governance Rules.
The monitor’s report is available on the Local Government Victoria website.
NSW: Waverley Council has committed $100,000 from its operating budget to support Jewish community organisations following the terrorist attack on Sunday.
The council held an emergency meeting this week at which it also resolved to fly flags at half-mast for two weeks, provide a dedicated community gathering space, and encourage residents to light candles nightly during Chanukah in solidarity with victims and their families.
VIC: Murrindindi Shire Council has offered its CEO Livia Bonazzi a new five year employment contract.
Ms Bonazzi commenced with the council in 2021 on an initial five year deal, which concludes in June next year.
Mayor Damien Gallagher said the decision reflected the council’s focus on long-term leadership stability, and provides certainty and continuity at a critical point in its planning and delivery cycle.
VIC: Brimbank Council has issued an emergency demolition order for the former council office building in Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine, after structural assessments confirmed the building is unsafe and poses a risk of structural failure that could endanger human life.
The demolition, which includes the entire building following an earlier partial demolition, will commence immediately at the owner’s expense.
QLD: Noosa Council has recovered an additional $200,000 from a $2.3 million fraud attack in December 2024, reducing its loss to $1.7 million.
CEO Larry Sengstock said there had been no impact on council services or projects, and the council has implemented multiple security measures following the social engineering attack that manipulated staff into changing supplier banking details.
QLD: North Burnett Regional Council says a media article claiming it’s financially sustainable is “incorrect and misleading.”
The council’s CEO Craig Matheson says a reported surplus of 4 million dollars includes restricted capital grants that can’t be used for day-to-day services.
He said the real picture shows an operating deficit of 4.6 million dollars.
The council is taking steps to strengthen its financial position through asset sales and careful rating decisions.
VIC: Whittlesea Council and its Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox have taken on chair duties for the Northern Councils Alliance, after a meeting of newly elected mayors this week.
Mitchell Council and its Mayor Cr John Dougall take on the deputy chair role.
The alliance of seven northern councils will focus on addressing impacts of a lack of transport connectivity and the need for an outer north hospital in its advocacy going into a state election year.