Mitcham launches Verge Greening Guide
Vandals hit Cooktown, Council seeks information
Enrolment closing soon for Greater Bendigo by-election
NZ Council appeals for help after turtle theft
Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor responds to Sam Groth resignation news
Applications open for South Coast leadership program
New Dubbo art collection website launched
Muswellbrook SRV consultation closing soon
Upgrades and tree removals approved for Torquay Bowling Club
Berri Barmera councillor resignation
Vietnamese migration marker set for Yarra City
New local law settled at Casey City
SA: The City of Mitcham in South Australia has launched a Verge Greening Guide and rebate program offering residents 50% off installation costs (capped at $500) to help landscape their verges with plants, mulch, and soil improvements.
The initiative aims to increase the currently 45% landscaped verges across the city to reduce urban heat and create cooler, greener streets as part of the council’s climate action response.
QLD: Multiple acts of vandalism have occurred across Cooktown last weekend, including burnouts on Queen’s Oval cricket pitch and damage to several other community locations.
Cook Shire Council says it is reviewing CCTV footage and working with Queensland Police to identify those responsible, while urging the community to report any information about the incidents.
VIC: The City of Greater Bendigo is urging Lockwood Ward residents to verify their electoral enrolment by January 14 ahead of a by-election to replace Councillor John McIlrath, who resigned in November.
The postal vote election will take place in March 2026, with nominations opening February 9 and ballot packs being mailed between March 6-12.
NZ: A New Zealand council is urgently appealing for help after a distressing theft at Cornwall Park over the weekend.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, January 3rd, thieves cut a large hole in the aviary’s wire enclosure and stole seven red-eared slider turtles. The turtles, around 20 years old, were part of a group of 14 that have been a beloved attraction for park visitors.
Hasting District Council officials say their priority is the safe return of these animals, which require specialist care. The turtles need to be kept cool with access to water and should be fed a specific diet of pellets and vegetables.
Authorities are warning anyone who has the turtles not to release them into the wild, as they are unlikely to survive if released, and they pose a serious threat to local ecosystems.
VIC: Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh has responded to news of local member and state opposition deputy leader Sam Groth’s decision to step away from politics at the end of the current term.
Cr Marsh said it was deeply disappointing but understandable as a reflection of the environment in which public figures serve.
He said while respectful disagreement is healthy and essential to a functioning democracy, when political disagreement spills over onto families, it is behaviour that sits outside the standards we should expect in public life.
Cr Marsh wished Mr Groth and his family well for a future beyond politics.
VIC: Applications have been called for the 2026 South Coast Community Leadership Program, delivered in partnership between Bass Coast Shire and South Gippsland Shire councils.
The free six session program supports community members to build leadership skills, connect with like-minded locals, and make a positive impact across the region.
Applications close 13th February.
NSW: Dubbo Regional Council has launched a new Reveal Collections website that provides free digital access to heritage and art collections from the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Old Dubbo Gaol, Wellington Caves, and Dundullimal Homestead.
There are 126 items currently available.
The project, funded by NSW Government’s Create NSW Creative Capital Grant Fund, aims to make collections more accessible while preserving significant art and heritage for future generations. There are plans to add more objects over time.
NSW: Muswellbrook Shire Council is reminding residents to have their say on a proposed special rate variation that would establish a Future Fund for the community.
The proposal would see a 29 percent rate increase applied only to mining operations – not to residential, business, or farmland rates. Council says this would generate an initial 6 million dollars for a Future Fund designed to offset declining mining revenue and support economic diversification.
The Council is preparing for the transition with initiatives including STEM education programs for local students, advanced manufacturing support at the MELT Centre, hospitality training partnerships with AGL, and collaboration with major mining companies to repurpose land for new industries.
Public feedback on the special rate variation closes this Wednesday.
VIC: Surf Coast Shire Council has approved Torquay Bowls Club’s planning application to upgrade its facilities, including a third bowling green, clubhouse additions, new lighting, and car park reconfiguration.
The upgrade will involve removing 16 Moonah trees that are approximately 25 years old and not heritage-listed.
The redevelopment was supported due to its alignment with strategic planning policies and the club’s 100-year community role.
SA: A long-serving councillor in the Riverland has stepped down from his role on the Berri Barmera Council.
Andrew Kassebaum resigned last week after 15 years on the council – a decision he said was difficult but necessary due to a change in his personal circumstances — he no longer lives in the area.
Mayor Ella Winnall has praised his service, describing him as passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable. She says he’ll be missed both in the council chamber and in the wider community.
The council will continue with six elected members plus the mayor for the remainder of the term which runs out in November.
This is the second vacancy on the council in recent times — Councillor Rhonda Centofanti passed away in December 2023.
The council can legally carry two vacancies within a year of an election, avoiding what would otherwise be a costly supplementary election process.
VIC: Yarra City Council has approved the design and location of a commemorative marker recognising the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese migration to Australia.
The 2-metre bronze sculpture by artist Van Phu Le is shaped like a mythical crane symbolising wisdom and resilience. It will be installed in Butler Street Park, Richmond by June 2026.
VIC: The City of Casey will implement a new Community Local Law from March 2nd, following input from over 1,000 residents who helped shape regulations around shipping containers, vehicle maintenance, and temporary accommodation.
The consultation process followed controversy early last year when protests led to the abandonment of the first full council meeting after the end of years of administration.
The updated law features clearer definitions and more practical standards while balancing individual freedoms with community amenity, and will be supported by a multilingual education campaign to help residents understand their rights and responsibilities.