In the Monday, 16th March edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- A Council worker convicted of fraud appeals his jail sentence
- An apology to artists whose work was damaged in a Council chamber
- A council calls for a shake up to the rate cap system in Victoria
- A new general manager for Dubbo Council means a vacancy in Alice Springs
- A tourism push to recapture “that Bondi feeling”
- A long serving WA councillor steps down
- and a NZ Council CEO speaks out after public debate turns personal
Also today, world leading civility campaigner Diane Kalen-Sukra with an update on preparations for the second Global Civility Summit, which is just one month away.
All of that and more on Australia’s number one local government podcast.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony 3.
Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform, or by clicking here.
Transcript for Episode #563
Victorian Report
A former City of Greater Geelong employee jailed for fraud is appealing the sentence… after admitting to a string of offences involving misuse of ratepayer funds.
Ryan Brumley worked as a plant and fleet officer… and pleaded guilty to misconduct while a public official… and to using false documents across several dates last year.
The Geelong Advertiser reported that the court has sentenced him to three months in prison… plus convictions and fines… and ordered more than twenty-three thousand dollars in compensation to the council.
Council Chief executive Ali Wastie said a robust internal investigation uncovered the misuse… and pledged the city’s commitment to transparency and strong governance.
Merri-bek City Council has issued a public apology to two artists… after changes inside the Coburg Council Chambers damaged an artwork on the ceiling.
The council says technology infrastructure was installed over several years… without consulting the artists, Dr Geoff Hogg and Xiaoping Zhou.
It says the integrity of the work has been harmed, and it is deeply sorry.
The council says it will now begin a conservation project over the coming months… to restore the artwork.
Bass Coast Shire Council is calling for a major shake-up of Victoria’s rate cap system to ensure long-term financial survival.
A motion set for Wednesday’s meeting seeks a one-off six per cent rate cap adjustment for Bass Coast and nine other low-rating councils.
It’s argued that the current cap is a “blunt tool” that ignores historic funding gaps, with local costs now rising faster than inflation.
If endorsed by the Council this week, the proposal will be submitted to the Municipal Association of Victoria in May.
It’s also being asked to support three other motions for State Council regarding emergency services funding, regional bus network reform, and concerns about recent planning systems changes.
In Melbourne’s north-east… Banyule Council says Darebin Parklands has been targeted by suspected wildlife poachers... slipping in on weekends when rangers are not on site.
The council says nest boxes in the trees have been broken open… and animals may have been taken.
Rangers and local “friends of” groups use the boxes to monitor urban wildlife… and the council says theft can undo years of conservation work.
It is asking anyone who sees people inspecting nest boxes… or carrying ladders or other gear… to report it to authorities.
Litter can feel like a small, local problem… until it turns up in waterways… blocks drains… and harms wildlife.
Across Melbourne’s south-east… councils and agencies are now treating it as one shared catchment issue.
Glen Eira, Port Phillip and Bayside Councils… with Melbourne Water and EPA Victoria… have launched the Elster Creek Litter Action Plan… combining education… behaviour change… and targeted infrastructure to stop rubbish before it reaches the bay.
Glen Eira Mayor Cr Dr Simone Zmood says litter does not recognise municipal boundaries… and neither should the response.
Port Phillip Mayor Alex Makin says the plan is also good news for bird and marine life… as Elster Creek flows into the Bay through the Elwood Canal.
In Melbourne’s south east… Greater Dandenong Council says the push for more homes near train and tram corridors should not come at the cost of local control.
The Star Weekly reported that a draft submission urges the Victorian Government to wind back proposed tower heights in Springvale and Noble Park… up to 16 storeys in some “deemed to comply” zones.
Council wants to keep its own structure plans instead… twelve storeys in Springvale and six in Noble Park… shaped by years of community consultation.
It also opposes removing third party appeal rights at VCAT… warning residents would have less say… and says a proposed infrastructure levy could deter investment.
The City of Melbourne is testing a new way to let local businesses help shape the streets they trade on… and pay for improvements together.
The council will consider a voluntary co‑investment pilot for Docklands and Collins Street… modelled on Business Improvement Districts used in cities like New York and London.
If councillors back it… businesses would help set priorities through co‑design workshops… with participation optional.
In Hepburn Shire… opposition is building to the Western Renewables Link… as the state moves to speed up land acquisition for new transmission lines.
Council says it argued the case at recent hearings… with experts on tourism, agriculture and options for putting the line underground.
Mayor Cr Tony Clark says the new law would let energy companies compulsorily acquire private land… before key environmental assessments are finished… and even before the project is formally approved.
Council says the change has left farmers deeply distressed… and is urging the government to clarify what it means on the ground. The inquiry panel is now preparing recommendations for the Planning Minister.
Keeping aerodromes ready for emergency and medical flights is the bottom line in Yarriambiack Shire.
The Council has adopted an Aerodrome Activities Policy… spelling out what can and cannot happen at its CASA-certified aerodromes at Hopetoun and Warracknabeal.
Mayor Andrew McLean says council will back aviation uses like flight schools… and has endorsed a private hangar at Hopetoun… while exploring more fuel options at Warracknabeal.
But the policy rules out events that would require shutting the strip to aircraft… or that could damage the runway and threaten certification.
Victorian Briefs
Moyne Shire Councillor Karen Foster has been elected chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association... a national group representing councils dealing with coastal change.
Cr Foster says the new role underlines shared challenges across the country… from erosion to rising seas… and the need for stronger research and advocacy.
Merri-bek Council has unveiled the winning design for a new sixty‑million‑dollar library and public piazza in Coburg.
The four‑storey building would link directly to an open square… creating a new civic anchor for reading… digital learning… and community programs.
The concept is now on public consultation… before detailed design begins.
A new elite hockey team is setting up shop in Melbourne’s growth corridor… with the Melbourne Cobras choosing Beveridge in Mitchell Shire as its base. The franchise could also fast‑track plans for a new multi‑purpose sporting facility.
The project sits within the Lockerbie Precinct Structure Plan… near the Hume Freeway… and council says more detail on the proposed facility will be released as planning progresses.
The VLGA is holding one of its Member Exclusive Lunch and Learn sessions on Friday 27 March from 12pm to 1pm. This free event will explore psychosocial hazards and the council’s role as the CEO’s employer.
Attendees will gain insight into the new legislation, understanding the impact of culture, workload, and role clarity, and ensuring appropriate systems of support and accountability are in place.
Join the VLGA’s Head of Local Government Programs & Policy, Dawn Bray and Managing Partner Justitia Lawyers Melissa Scadden as they break down the responsibilities of councillors under this emerging piece of legislation.
Register via the VLGA website.
NSW Report
Dubbo Regional Council has announced the appointment of Andrew Wilsmore as its new General Manager.
After just over two years in the role, the Alice Springs Town Council CEO has announced he will step down in coming months… taking an opportunity closer to home.
Mr Wilsmore has overseen major community projects during his time in the Alice… including the Adventure Park at the Aquatic and Leisure Centre… and the Newland Skate and Play Precinct… and early work on the town centre regeneration and a new library.
Mayor Asta Hill has thanked Mr Wilsmore for his leadership… saying the projects will leave a lasting impact for the community.
Recruitment for a new CEO will begin soon… Mr Wilsmore takes up his new role in late May.
As Blacktown City Council seeks permission for a rate rise… some councillors have questions about the increasing cost of its administration centre plans.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the projected cost of two new administration buildings has jumped from one-hundred-and-forty-four million dollars in 2023… to six-hundred-and-five million.
The council sold its CBD land, including the current offices, to Walker Corporation for forty-two million… and is now leasing the chambers back for up to a decade… at more than two million dollars a year.
Councillor Carol Israel says the blowout is hard to comprehend. A council spokesperson says the early estimate was a narrow concept… and the new figure reflects a broader scope and site costs.
With Western Sydney International Airport due to open within months… Penrith City Council says the next big question is how the region will move.
Mayor Todd Carney says the push for a full north-south rail line has now been placed on Infrastructure Australia’s 2026 Priority List… but it is one of dozens of projects still waiting for funding.
Council wants clear commitments from both the Australian and NSW governments… to deliver future connections from Tallawong to St Marys… and to extend the metro south from Bradfield towards Leppington and Macarthur… so Western Sydney can grow without relying on old east-west patterns into the CBD.
A legal fight over a council’s bill is now in the hands of the NSW Supreme Court, according to ABC News… with Broken Hill City Council and its former lawyers waiting for a decision.
The council is trying to claw back fees from Redenbach Legal and principal solicitor Keith Redenbach… after years of litigation linked to renovations at the Broken Hill Civic Centre.
Mayor Tom Kennedy has previously said the total topped ten million dollars.
In court… barristers argued over conflicting evidence… and the council accused Redenbach of billing more than 24 hours in a day… which he denies.
Justice Elisabeth Peden has reserved judgment.
The Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass will stay closed for at least three months… after a major geotechnical failure at Mitchell’s Causeway made the road unsafe.
In a statement published to Lithgow Council’s website, NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said there will be no shortcuts on safety… and the government wants people to have clear advice they can plan around.
Transport for NSW will run extra trains between Bathurst and Mount Victoria… add free turn-up-and-go coaches between Bathurst and Katoomba… and adjust school and route buses around Lithgow… while testing and imaging continues.
Bondi is trying to bottle something you can’t really put on a billboard… that feeling that draws people back to the beach… and keeps local businesses ticking over.
Waverley Council has launched “The Bondi Feeling”… a destination marketing push to lure Sydneysiders to rediscover the precinct… and spend locally.
Mayor Will Nemesh says it is about reminding people what makes Bondi unique… from the surf to the cafes… and making sure there is something for everyone.
The campaign comes with a packed events calendar… including Bondi Live in March… Firelight on the sand in April… outdoor movies in May… and a family day in June.
Transport for NSW and the Department of Local Government are moving to tighten the rules around shared e-bikes and e-scooters… after years of complaints about clutter and safety.
A new law requires operators to be approved by Transport… and meet minimum standards for things like helmets, parking, insurance and data sharing… with penalties for breaches.
Councils and other land managers will also get stronger powers… to set conditions such as mandatory parking bays… no-go zones and slow zones… and to fine operators when devices are left in the wrong place.
With the new legislation passed late last year by Parliament, the state is now consulting on the draft Regulations… Submissions are due by Monday 4 May.
The Shoalhaven’s new Materials Recovery Facility in West Nowra is about to bring recycling much closer to home… cutting the cost of sending yellow‑lid bin contents nearly two hundred kilometres to Sydney.
Shoalhaven City Council says the plant can sort paper, cardboard, steel, aluminium and plastics into high‑quality bales for re‑use… with glass processed on site for use in local construction.
Mayor Patricia White says it strengthens the region’s circular economy… and gives residents confidence their recycling is making a real difference.
The thirty‑eight‑million‑dollar project can process fifteen tonnes an hour… and could also take material from neighbouring councils when it is fully operational in April.
Woollahra Mayor Sarah Dixson has quietly welcomed a first child, according to the Daily Telegraph… with residents finding out through recent social media posts showing the newborn in a carrier while she keeps doing council duties.
In one post… Cr Dixson flags accessibility along the Rose Bay promenade… saying it matters more to her now. Followers quickly offered congratulations… surprised there had been no formal announcement of the pregnancy or the birth.
The article says Dixson’s account is usually focused on council and community issues… and she has kept this part of life private.
NSW Briefs:
Singleton Council says it is switching on a cleaner, cheaper energy future… with a two‑point‑seven‑four million dollar upgrade across three key sites.
The program is backed by one‑point‑three‑seven‑one million from the Australian Government… matched by council funding… and targets the Gym and Swim centre, Lake St Clair amenities, and the sewage treatment plant.
Coffs Harbour Council has adopted a 10-year Active Transport Plan… after almost 200 public submissions.
Mayor Nikki Williams says support was strong… but people raised safety concerns… including lighting along key routes.
The City says it is aiming to lift investment to between six-hundred-thousand and one-point-five million dollars a year.
Kiama Council is backing the New South Wales Plastics Plan 2.0… aimed at cutting litter and microplastics before they reach waterways.
A three‑year statewide study found microplastics in every coastal waterway sampled.
In Kiama… the Minnamurra River rated very high… with Crooked River and Werri Lagoon also showing elevated levels.
The state plan will phase out items like heavyweight plastic shopping bags and plastic confectionery sticks… require compostable fruit and vegetable stickers… and push coffee cups to be recyclable.
Queensland Report
Amazon has broken ground on a seven-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar fulfilment centre at Greater Flagstone, in the City of Logan, south of Brisbane.
The Queensland Government says the site will run around the clock… covering more than one-hundred-and-forty-thousand square metres… and creating about a thousand ongoing jobs, after a major construction build.
Logan Mayor, Jon Raven, said his city was the perfect place for Amazon to invest… as it’s the youngest and fastest growing city in Queensland. Which is why attracting high paying technology jobs to Logan is so important.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says the project was approved in a record thirty-five business days.
Cairns Regional Council has declared level 4 water restrictions after heavy overnight rainfall caused water treatment operations to be paused.
The council said high turbidity in the catchment forced treatment plants offline, leaving the region dependent on water stored in reservoirs.
Under Level 4 restrictions, water usage is limited to drinking, cooking and bathing only.
Noosa Council has bought a 121‑hectare property at Kin Kin… using money from the Environment Levy… and is locking it in for permanent conservation.
The land sits in a key wildlife corridor on the Cootharaba Range… linking the Woondum Plateau with the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.
Mayor Frank Wilkie says protecting the site will safeguard habitat for threatened species… including koalas, greater gliders and powerful owls… and create options for targeted restoration.
The block also adjoins the Noosa Trail Network… which could allow future trail upgrades and low‑impact recreation.
The City of Moreton Bay is urging state and federal governments to move faster on housing… saying the pressure is already being felt across the community.
Mayor Peter Flannery says more than six thousand people are now on the city’s social housing wait list... and council wants a fairer share of funding to tackle homelessness and housing insecurity.
Cr Flannery says the council has pitched a “supportive housing” model… combining stable homes with on-site services for people with complex needs.
There’s renewed focus on the future Queensland’s koalas … with Redland City Council preparing a submission on the state’s new draft conservation strategy.
Council officers say the last plan did not give local government enough mapping, funding, or clear standards… and they want the state to take a stronger lead on monitoring and habitat data.
Redland Bayside News reported that the council is urging a tougher goal too… aiming for a net gain in habitat… not just no net loss… as South East Queensland grows.
The submission also questions proposed changes that could allow more clearing on larger lots… and calls for better compliance.
Redland’s own report notes koala numbers in the Koala Coast fell about 80 percent between 1996 and 2014.
Tasmania
Hobart City Council is winding back a traffic change from its Collins Street bike lane trial… after Christmas congestion backed up cars leaving the Centrepoint car park.
Pulse Tasmania reported that Victoria Street will return to two exit lanes onto Collins Street… reversing a single-lane set-up from the first stage.
Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock says the single lane improved pedestrian safety for most of the trial… but created delays in the pre-Christmas peak… and council wants to see how two lanes affect the block’s overall function.
Stage two works start this week.
South Australia
Port Adelaide Enfield Council has voted to pursue a smoke-free zone along the Semaphore foreshore central plaza… after strong community backing.
The council will apply to Preventive Health SA… with the Health Minister to make the final call.
But councillors were split, according to Adelaide Now... with some arguing the ban should also cover parts of Semaphore Road… while others worried about the cost and the burden of enforcement.
Council staff say education and signage would come first… with fines only as a last resort. The change would not start until the foreshore redevelopment is finished.
Western Australia
After fourteen years around the council table… Coolgardie Shire councillor Tracey Rathbone has resigned… effective last week.
Ms Rathbone says she made the decision after a period of reflection about her commitments… and in her letter she backed the current council and staff to keep delivering the outcomes set by the Minister… and to rebuild trust in the organisation.
Shire President Paul Wilcox thanked Ms Rathbone for her service… calling her experience and community work invaluable.
The shire will keep operating with six elected members… and if it’s advised that a replacement is required… an extraordinary election will be held.
Albany is getting more time to adapt to the end of reticulated gas in town… after the City Council negotiated with ATCO Gas to make the CBD the final area to be decommissioned.
The council says the city centre is the engine room for local retail and hospitality… and many small businesses rely on gas to operate.
Mayor Greg Stocks says rushing the change risks closures and job losses… and a hit to Albany’s vibrancy and tourism economy.
The City will use the extra breathing room to push for financial help… and work with the State Government and energy providers on practical alternatives.
In Kalgoorlie-Boulder… councillors are being asked to consider waiving airport fees… to help bring back direct flights to Melbourne.
The Kalgoorlie Miner reported that a confidential business case from the local chamber is pushing for a full one-year waiver… arguing it is the fastest way to restart the route.
But city staff are recommending a fifty per cent subsidy instead… saying industry and local businesses should share the cost.
The report warns the lost revenue would hit the city budget… and higher passenger numbers could add security and operating costs.
The Swan Valley Visitor Centre has taken out another national win… claiming gold in the Visitor Information Services category at the Qantas National Tourism Awards… held in Fremantle.
It is the centre’s second straight year on top… in a field of around five-hundred tourism centres nationwide.
City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson says the award reflects the work of visitor centre staff… and the local tourism operators who help make the Swan Valley a standout destination.
The centre won the accolade at an awards night at Fremantle Prison… as the industry marked achievements across Australia’s tourism sector.
Global Civility Summit, April 2026
Joining Chris with an update on preparations for the second Global Civility Summit is Kalen Academy founder, author and summit host, Diane Kalen-Sukra
Global Report
NZ:
While on the topic of incivility, and the toll it takes on people in public life…. Masterton District Council chief executive Kym Fell has spoken out about his recent experience.
He says while leadership in local government comes with scrutiny… a line is crossed when debate turns personal.
Kym said a Ratepayers Association post singled out where he lives… implying it disqualifies him from the job. Kym says the commute is about twenty-five minutes… and that the work is about delivering services and infrastructure with integrity… not chasing popularity.
The bigger worry, Kym says, is that targeted attacks are becoming normal… and that could push capable people away from public leadership.
He is urging people to argue policy and performance… and leave the personal shots out of it.
The green light has been given to what’s being described as New Zealand’s first “AI factory” data centre… a massive campus planned for near Invercargill.
The project includes its own substation… and could eventually draw about 280 megawatts of power… making it one of New Zealand’s biggest electricity users.
Datagrid New Zealand says it chose Southland for renewable power and a cooler climate… and expects more than 1,200 skilled jobs during construction.
Telco News reported that Southland District Council, Environment Southland and Invercargill City Council have approved the campus, along with associated electricity infrastructure.
The company has also secured approvals for a new undersea cable landing at Oreti Beach… which it says would be the first international subsea connection to New Zealand’s South Island.
A new transfer agreement between Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council is clearing the way for the new water services entity, IAWAI.
Waikato District Mayor Aksel Bech says the deal is about long-term investment in water infrastructure… while also protecting the health of the Waikato River.
A draft strategy suggests combining services could soften future water charge rises… with forecast household increases now under half earlier projections.
IAWAI is set to begin operating on July 1, 2026.
UK:
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is distancing himself from the party’s role at Worcestershire County Council… saying he “wishes we hadn’t bothered” taking minority control of what he calls a virtually bankrupt authority.
BBC News reported that the council has approved a council tax rise of almost nine per cent… far above the usual five per cent cap… to close a budget shortfall and avoid effective bankruptcy.
Reform says it inherited a mess… and claims it is acting out of civic duty… while cutting spending and freezing vacant jobs. The government has also agreed to up to fifty‑nine‑point‑nine million pounds in emergency support.
CANADA:
Edmonton’s mayor says a senior police trip to Israel has damaged trust with marginalised communities… and it is forcing a new look at who approves travel.
According to CTV News, Mayor Andrew Knack has asked the Edmonton Police Commission to review its policies… after the police chief joined a February delegation described as an educational visit.
Councillor Erin Rutherford says some residents feel their efforts to build bridges with police have been undone… and wants the commission and police to listen to people who say the trip caused harm.
USA:
In Baltimore… an Inspector General report is raising fresh questions about how taxpayer money is used inside the Mayor’s Office… and what City Council will do next.
The review covers spending from mid-2022 to late-2025… and cites more than eight-hundred-thousand dollars on food and catering… including more than fifty-two-thousand in stadium suites.
It also flags spending on flowers and staff events… and about one-hundred-sixty-seven thousand dollars in purchases that lacked required prior approval.
Inspector General Isabel Cumming says the same rules should apply to everyone. So far… FOX45 Baltimore says it has sought comment from the 15 council members, but none have yet responded.
It is easy to think stormwater is something cities should rush to get rid of… but planners at nearly three dozen municipalities in the Kansas City region are trying a different idea: soak it up where it falls.
A new regional manual urges cities to use “sponge” approaches… like rain gardens, permeable paving, green roofs and healthier soils… to capture and filter runoff before it hits creeks and rivers.
Supporters say it can cut flooding, curb pollution and make neighbourhoods greener… but each council will still need to adopt its own rules. The goal is to design development that treats water as an asset… not just a problem.