Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- A mayor resigns, as the suspension of another takes effect
- The surprise un-retirement of a former Council CEO
- A Melbourne council to trial 30km speed limits
- Medical dramas for two NSW mayors
- IPART makes its ruling on 6 special rate variation applications
- The eye-watering cost of NSW’s road maintenance backlog revealed
- A group of Queensland councillors under investigation
- and a Lord Mayor lays down the law to ‘sniggering’ councillors
Also today, what can your council do to help with the transition to electric vehicles? Chris is joined by Cameron Rimington from the Electric Vehicle Council to talk about a new resource now available for councils across the country.
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 452:
Victorian Roundup:
Golden Plains Shire Councillor Sarah Hayden has announced her resignation as Mayor, citing the need to make space for other leaders and the toll recent events have taken on her health.
She will continue to serve as a councillor.
The council has called an unscheduled meeting for next Tuesday morning to elect its new mayor.
Cr Hayden said her decision aims to provide stability to the Shire and allow the council to refocus on delivering core services to the community.
Victorian Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins weighed in on the issue via social media this week, expressing her outrage that women are “still bullied out of public life in 2025.”
Ms Hutchins said she was angry about the press taking photos from old social media posts and using them with an unrelated news story, describing outdated and misogynistic views that have been weaponised against Cr Hayden.
She said women can get dressed up and have a drink, and that is has no relevance to their ability to do their jobs.
At Baw Baw Shire, the council has confirmed the suspension of its Mayor Cr Danny Goss following an independent arbitration process which found him in breach of conduct standards during the previous council term.
The 21 day suspension took effect from yesterday, 15th May, and during the suspension period Deputy Mayor Cr Tricia Jones will support the running of Council meetings and briefings.
Cr Goss used his Mayoral Minute segment at the council meeting on Wednesday evening to respond to the arbitration outcome, declaring he would return in three weeks determined to make a positive difference to the Shire.
He said it was a shame that the process has cost ratepayers thousands of dollars, and that it was not of his doing.
Former Whittlesea Council CEO and ex-Victoria Police Commissioner Simon Overland has come out of retirement, joining Moonee Valley City Council’s senior executive team.
The Council has confirmed to the Local Government News Roundup that Mr Overland has commenced in the role of Director of Strategy, Planning and Climate Resilience.
Mr Overland announced his retirement from Burnie City Council in June last year, finishing as that council’s General Manager in November after four years.
His appointment at Moonee Valley comes as part of a shake up of the senior executive team under Chief Executive Officer Helen Sui.
The Council has yesterday updated details on its website, confirming that Mr Overland has joined Sanjib Roy as Director Enabling Services, and Ben Harries as Director Service Delivery in the senior team. The position of Director Governance and Performance is vacant.
In 2019, Mr Overland became the third CEO in four years to be sacked by Whittlesea Council, triggering the appointment of a municipal monitor, and the eventual dismissal of the council and replacement with a panel of administrators.
Moonee Valley CEO Helen Sui served as a director under Mr Overland at Whittlesea, prior to her taking up her current role in August 2020.
Merri-bek Council has voted to trial 30km/h speed limits in select areas of Coburg, Brunswick and Brunswick East, on top of a previous reduction to 40km/h in 2023.
The council will seek approval and funding from the state government for the trial.
A council report quoted data showing significant crash reductions from a similar move in Yarra Council, where they saw a 51% drop in all crashes and 70% drop in serious crashes.
The council resolution, passed by ten votes to one, calls for community engagement in the proposed trial areas, and an evaluation report after 12 months.
Yarra City Council has decided not to return the vandalised Captain Cook Memorial to Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy due to concerns about repair costs and potential future damage.
Mayor Stephen Jolly said it was an economic rather than ideological decision.
The Memorial would cost $15,000 to repair after being removed for safety concerns in January 2024.
The council will explore an appropriate institution to take ownership of the memorial, with the Captain Cook Society having already made an offer.
Seven Melbourne councils have jointly written to Victoria’s Police Minister requesting more frontline police presence in crime hotspots, according to the Herald Sun.
The councils, including Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Monash, Port Phillip, Stonnington, and Boroondara, cite rising community safety concerns and increasing criminal incidents across Melbourne’s southeast metropolitan region.
They are specifically calling for increased police resourcing, greater visibility, and more support for local crime prevention initiatives.
The City of Casey is reopening its public gallery at Council Meetings from next week.
A new pre-registration process has been implemented, requiring attendees to register online and bring identification, with a limit of 80 registrations available.
Mayor Stefan Koomen said the new process is needed to ensure safe and orderly meetings can be conducted, after more than 300 people attended the Council’s February meeting.
The council says the process aligns with similar processes used by other metropolitan Melbourne Councils such as Yarra Ranges, Hobsons Bay and Greater Bendigo.
The City of Melbourne‘s 2025-26 draft budget includes significant investments in public safety.
$14 million has been allocated for measures that include a doubling of CCTV coverage, increased lighting, and new community safety officers.
ABC News reported that the $732.4 million budget shows a surplus of $150,000, marking the second consecutive surplus in five years, while also outlining plans for debt reduction, maintaining parking fees, and continued investment in city cleanliness and the Queen Victoria Market renewal.
Cleanaway Waste Management has received ACCC approval to acquire Citywide Service Solutions’ waste and recycling business from the City of Melbourne for $110 million.
The deal includes a 35-year lease for the Dynon Road transfer station, in which Cleanaway plans to invest $35 million to expand capacity.
Business News Australia reported that the ACCC determined the acquisition would not significantly impact competition in Melbourne’s waste disposal services.
Victorian Briefs:
The Victorian Local Governance Association is currently seeking nominations for two board positions with a three-year term.
Nominations are open to councillors from VLGA member councils until May 29, 2025.
The election process includes an online secret ballot in June, with successful candidates commencing their appointment on July 1st.
Hepburn Shire Council has launched the DV Safe Phone Program, which repurposes end-of-life mobile phones to support domestic violence victim-survivors, with phones being collected at various locations throughout the shire.
The program, established in 2020, has already donated over 11,000 devices across Australia through partnerships with more than 400 registered domestic violence agencies, police stations, safe houses, and hospitals.
The City of Greater Bendigo is considering a 12-month extension to its e-scooter trial with Beam Mobility, which would expand the current service area to include Golden Square, Long Gully and White Hills.
Despite mixed community feedback with 66.88% expressing some level of dissatisfaction, the trial has shown potential as a sustainable transport option, recording over 42,000 trips and covering more than 71,000 kilometres since May 2024.
There’s a new toolkit available for Councils to support the transition to and uptake of electric vehicles.
It’s the result of a partnership between the Electric Vehicle Council and the City of Ryde.
To find out more, I’m joined by Cameron Rimington, Senior Policy Officer with the Electric Vehicle Council.
National Roundup:
NSW:
LGNSW President Phyllis Miller has been admitted to intensive care at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney due to a sudden illness.
Vice-President Claire Pontin has temporarily assumed presidential duties.
The incident occurred while Cr Miller was in Sydney for a Country Mayors Association meeting focused on healthcare advocacy for rural, regional and remote areas.
Mayor Patricia White of Shoalhaven City Council is on a leave of absence until May 23 after fracturing her collarbone in a fall at home.
Mayor White was recovering from a virus at the time, and was treated in hospital before returning home to recuperate.
Deputy Mayor Peter Wilkins will be fulfilling mayoral duties during her absence.
IPART has released its determinations after assessing 6 special rate variation applications from NSW councils.
The Tribunal has approved the special variation applications from Federation Council, Gunnedah Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council and Upper Hunter Shire Council, partially approved the special variation application from Northern Beaches Council, and did not approve the special variation application from North Sydney Council.
It also assessed 2 minimum rate increase applications – approving a minimum rate increase application from Gunnedah Shire Council and rejecting a minimum rate increase application from North Sydney Council.
The Sydney Morning Herald has more detail on the implications for ratepayers in the affected LGAs.
The City of Sydney has committed nearly $2.7 billion over the next decade for urban transformation, community infrastructure, and new facilities.
Key projects include the development of Town Hall Square and initiatives to support outdoor dining and community groups.
The city’s draft budget, endorsed by the council this week, includes over $631 million for operational expenses in the next financial year, along with a $276 million capital works budget covering more than 400 projects ranging from park upgrades to pedestrianisation efforts.
New South Wales councils are facing a staggering $3.4 billion road maintenance backlog, according to a new report from the NRMA.
ABC News reported that regional areas are bearing the brunt of the damage following three years of unprecedented wet weather events.
While state and federal governments have allocated some funding to address the crisis, local mayors are calling for a more sustainable, long-term funding solution rather than temporary “splashes of cash.”
The NSW Government’s Fresh Start program is investing $252.2 million to fund 1,300 new apprentices, trainees and cadets in local councils over six years.
More than 1,000 positions have already been approved for this year, with over 60% in regional areas.
The program aims to address critical skills shortages in councils across various sectors, with a goal of having apprentices and trainees make up 15% of the local government workforce.
Sydney City Council has unanimously rejected a proposal for a 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant in Redfern following strong opposition from residents, police and the Aboriginal community.
The Guardian reported that opponents’ concerns ranged from crime prevention to health impacts.
The $3m development plan, which would have created over 100 local jobs, received 269 objections and two petitions with 1,123 signatures against it, and only 17 in support.
Northern Beaches Council has given the state government’s new e-scooter and e-bike rules a mixed scorecard.
It has welcomed speed limits on e-scooters, a review of road rules and infrastructure investment, along with commitment to boost rider and driver education.
However, the council is concerned about a lack of regulation on the speed of e-bikes on footpaths and shared paths, and the risks posed to pedestrians.
Northern Beaches Council has been a leader in addressing e-bike safety concerns, developing and implementing Australia’s first e-bike education campaign called “Know the Code.”
QLD:
Five Fraser Coast councillors are under investigation by Queensland’s council watchdog over allegations of a secret meeting about local caravan parks.
The Fraser Coast Chronicle reported that the Office of the Independent Assessor is looking into claims the councillors met behind closed doors before a controversial vote on the future of the Torquay Beachfront Caravan Park.
The investigation centers on whether transparency rules were breached when councillors allegedly discussed the park’s fate outside of official channels.
The council and the watchdog have declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation.
Brisbane City Council is seeking state and federal funding for major restoration work on the 85-year-old Story Bridge.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has warned that without assistance, the council may need to consider options like tolls or levies to fund the 15-year project, according to a report from the Age.
The Council argues that given the distribution of tax revenue across government levels, with local government receiving only 3 cents per dollar compared to state’s 16 cents and federal’s 81 cents, they cannot complete the necessary repairs alone.
Scenic Rim Regional Council has formed a special advisory committee to maximise opportunities from the 2032 Olympic Games.
The committee will include representatives from local sporting and community groups, government agencies and industry.
Through the committee, the council aims to ensure the Scenic Rim captures the social and economic benefits of having the games in Brisbane.
National Briefs:
Central Coast Council is hosting a free live screening of the Ninja A-League Women’s Grand Final at Industree Group Stadium this Sunday, where the Central Coast Mariners will face Melbourne Victory.
The community event will feature activities including inflatable games, a DJ, food and beverages, and opportunities to meet men’s team players.
The City of Victor Harbor has won two prestigious awards at the LG Professionals SA Leadership Excellence Awards.
It was recognised for its groundbreaking Accessibility in Action initiative supporting South Australia’s first blind Council Member, and for its successful cross-council collaboration on the Murray River and Fleurieu Study Hubs Program.
Lismore City Council is offering $15,000 grants to stimulate the construction of smaller, smarter, and more affordable homes across the Lismore area.
Support is available across six categories including first home buyers, flood-affected relocations, and community housing providers.
TAS:
Launceston City Council has approved plans for a new $20 million Northern Hospice within the Launceston General Hospital precinct.
The development will provide 12 beds for community members with life-limiting conditions in a home-like environment.
It follows 17 years of community campaigning, with the federally-funded facility to begin construction in mid-2025 with completion expected in late-2026.
The City of Hobart is launching a 12-month trial for soft plastics recycling at McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre, partnering with RecycleSmart to collect and process recyclable materials that can be scrunched into a ball.
The collected soft plastics will be transported interstate where they will be recycled into plastic-derived oil for new products or used as asphalt additive, supporting the city’s zero waste strategy for 2030 and Climate Ready Hobart Strategy.
SA:
Adelaide City Council‘s Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith has reportedly issued a stern warning to councillors about their disruptive behaviour during meetings.
The Adelaide Advertiser reported that the warning comes after a contentious budget meeting last month where three councillors walked out in protest over a proposed $600 minimum rate increase.
The Lord Mayor has called out sniggering, interruptions, and potentially bullying conduct on the part of some councillors, and said she will exercise powers available to ensure meetings are conducted in an orderly way.
The council has been plagued by a range of issues including defamation action between members, accusations of intimidating behaviour towards women, and difficulties maintaining quorum after four Central Ward positions were recently voided.
The council has elected Phillip Martin as its new Deputy Lord Mayor, following the voiding of those four council positions.
The council amended its meeting procedures to allow Cr Martin to remain in the room during the vote, where he was the sole nominee.
Northern Areas Council has completed a required representation review which will result in two major changes from next year.
The Mayor will be elected by the whole community rather than chosen by Council, and the current four-ward system will be abolished in favour of area-wide representation.
The changes will see the council comprised of an elected Mayor and 8 area councillors.
Mayor Sue Scarman said the new model will ensure decisions are made from a whole-of-community perspective.
The District Council of Coober Pedy is proposing a $7.5 million upgrade to its drive-in theatre, contingent on securing external grant funding with no cost to ratepayers.
Despite that commitment, the proposal has raised questions about the council’s priorities, given its challenging financial position. More from the Adelaide Advertiser.
WA:
The City of Wanneroo has implemented speed limit reductions from 50km to 40km on two busy streets in Jindalee and Butler following community concerns about speeding and pedestrian safety.
The city announced that its application to Main Roads WA had been approved, after a comprehensive study of traffic in the Butler/Jindalee area.
It follows similar successful speed reductions in other parts of Wanneroo and aims to significantly increase pedestrian survival rates in the event of accidents.
The City of Stirling is reviewing its approach to outdoor basketball courts due to increasing demand and noise complaints from residents
PerthNow reported that the city currently has 38 facilities despite being Western Australia’s most populous local government area with 234,000 residents.
A report addressing planning challenges and noise mitigation strategies will be presented to the council in November, following a councillor introduced motion highlighting the need for more facilities, particularly in high-density areas with smaller backyards.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Moray Council in northeastern Scotland has approved new guidelines that will restrict mobile phone usage in schools starting from August.
Phones will be banned in primary schools and required to be turned off and out of sight in secondary schools.
A council spokesperson said the policy was aimed at reducing bullying and harassment, and inappropriate use that detracts from learning.
A survey that received more than 3,000 responses found 73% in favour of the ban. That included strong support from parents and staff, but a mixed response was received from pupils, with a majority against a ban.
USA:
In Virginia, Richmond City Council has fired its Inspector General James Osuna after six years.
The decision was made in a closed session meeting and no specific reasons have been made public.
The Office of the Inspector General is the city’s government watchdog investigating waste, fraud and abuse, and has been conducting investigations into retirement payments and potential abuse of city funds.
The city announced that an interim IG will manage the ongoing work while the Council oversees a transition in leadership.
VPM News reported that the IG’s office had come under scrutiny last year for not publishing reports for public review as required for nearly five years.
CANADA:
Thompson City Council in Manitoba has reversed a decision made last month to remove public comment periods at council meetings following significant public opposition.
CBC News reported that the council has voted 4-2 this week to reinstate the bylaw.
The city’s mayor, Colleen Smook, was one of the two dissenting voices.
She said she is concerned about potential abuse of the open mic format.
NZ:
Long-standing Bay of Plenty Regional Council councillor Paula Thompson has announced her resignation effective May 23.
Ms Thompson said her personal circumstances have changed and she is no longer able to commit the time and effort required to be an effective councillor.
The seat will remain vacant until the local body elections in October, with no by-election triggered by her departure.
Prior to her election to the council in 2010, Ms Thompson served as Chief Executive Officer of Tauranga City Council for seven years.
Auckland Council is intensifying its investigation into asbestos-containing material that has been washing up on East Auckland beaches, particularly after storms.
While the risk to the public is considered low, the council advises against handling the contaminated cement board fragments and has contacted local schools through the Ministry of Education to ensure safety during beach activities.
Hurunui District Council has voted 8-3 to establish a water services council controlled organization (CCO) in partnership with Kaikōura District Council, allowing for increased borrowing capacity of up to 500% of revenue for water infrastructure management.
The decision comes after receiving 53 public submissions, with Kaikōura set to make its final decision on May 28.
The Otago Daily Times reported that the door remains open for other councils including Waimakariri to join the coalition.