Heading the news on the latest edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- Moonee Valley council responds to the release of IBAC’s Operation Leo report.
- Stories from the campaign trail in Victoria, including:
- Election material embarrassments.
- An election office break-in.
- An MP accused of low personal attacks on candidates.
- A newly elected councillor, previously banned from council buildings, makes for a dramatic start to a new council term.
- The media spotlight falls on cost shifting and council spending.
- A new Lord Mayor is stripped of powers in a move described as politically motivated.
- More mayoral election results from around NSW.
- Townsville Council announces its new CEO.
- A Hobart councillor is sanctioned again for a code of conduct breach.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Davidson recruitment and business advisory services.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 383:
Moonee Valley City Council has welcomed the release of the IBAC Operation Leo report last Wednesday, revealing the findings of its investigation into allegations of bribery and misconduct by some of its councillors.
The report generated headlines across the country, particularly in relation to claims that former mayor and councillor Cam Nation had received cocaine in exchange for attempted influence on council procedures and decision-making processes.
The council said its administration had been working two government appointed municipal monitors on important steps to drive improved governance, including better clarification and transparency in conflict of interest disclosure.
It said it would not be making any comment on behalf of current or former Councillors who have been named in the IBAC Report. Moonee Valley City Council
Two of the leading candidates in the City of Melbourne‘s lord mayoral race, Arron Wood and Anthony Koutoufides, have been forced to retract and correct election campaign materials featuring incorrect voting instructions.
The Herald Sun reported that the errors included Mr Wood suggesting on social media that voters should vote both above and below the line on the councillor ballot paper, and Mr Koutafides’ flyers incorrectly stated that only four boxes needed to be filled for councillor team votes.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has emphasised the importance of following official voting instructions to ensure valid votes, and encourages the reporting of any misleading and deceptive material to the Local Government Inspectorate. Herald Sun$
There’s been a break-in at the Ballarat City Council election office.
The VEC has advised that 1,350 unmarked ballot papers and petty cash were stolen, but Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said the theft poses no risk to the integrity of the election.
Mr Bluemmel said electoral theft is a serious offence, but the unmarked ballot papers could not be used to vote in this election.”
‘For security reasons and to protect the integrity of the election, only ballot papers returned to us inside completed ballot paper envelopes are able to be included in the count,’ Mr Bluemmel said.
Police are investigating and the public is urged to contact Crime Stoppers with any information about the theft. Victorian Electoral Commission
Local MP Joe McCracken has defended new flyers criticising Ballarat City Council for focusing on global issues instead of local concerns like roads and footpaths.
The flyers, released during the current council election period, depict former Deputy Mayor Belinda Coates as “out of touch” and argue that the council should not be involved in international matters.
Cr Coates told the Ballarat Courier that the personal attacks were “disappointingly low” on the part of a state MP, who is “punching down on local council instead of focusing on important statewide matters”.
Mr McCracken said the flyer was his initiative and that it was entirely appropriate for him to get involved.
Ballarat Council$; Power FM Ballarat
A forum for Horsham council candidates, hosted by local media outlets, gave 14 out of 15 candidates the opportunity to present their views and answer questions from the public on various issues affecting the community.
Key topics discussed included project expenditure, traffic matters, youth advocacy, and council meeting attendance, with candidates offering diverse perspectives on the issues.
The forum provided an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates, including two who will be elected unopposed, ahead of the upcoming council elections. The Weekly Advertiser
The slow pace of development on the Junction Place site in Wodonga has become a council election issue.
The Border Mail put questions to candidates on a number of local issues, revealing the frustration of candidates that the city council had little influence on the project, which is being managed by Development Victoria.
The paper is running a series of articles on candidate responses to the questions on topics including the planned new hospital and their vision for improving the city. Border Mail
A Dandenong woman is in critical condition after being mauled by three dogs, which were subsequently shot dead by officers, according to a report from Dandenong Star Journal.
Greater Dandenong City Council CEO Jacqui Weatherill said the incident was distressing and expressed concern for the resident who had been injured.
In a statement, Ms Weatherill said the council had received numerous complaints and concerns about dogs at the property in the past, and had taken action in relation to those concerns, including commencing prosecution proceedings.
There has been a 250 per cent increase in infringement notices to animal owners in the last two years, a reflection of how seriously the council takes such matters, said Ms Weatherill. *Dandenong Star Journal; Herald Sun$*
ABC News has a story on the issue of cost shifting to local government, including the perspectives of various former and current councillors, and MAV President David Clark.
Road maintenance, school crossings and kindergartens are among the services said to be impacted by cost shifting, with some councils pulling out delivering some of those services locally.
The article includes a response from the Victorian Government in which it said there was no excuse for councils not delivering services, noting record levels of cash and a combined operating surplus of $2.5B.
The debate comes as a Victorian inquiry into local government sustainability is due to finish next month. ABC News
ABC News has also looked into the reasons behind 47 uncontested elections across the state, including the entire cohort of Yarriambiack Shire Councillors gaining a seat without a vote needing to be cast.
A lack of power at the local level, the introduction of single member wards, and the time required to carry out the role are among the factors being blamed for a lack of interest in some parts of the state. ABC News
A report from 9News has called into question the priorities of the City of Melbourne.
It comes after the council removed bluestone blocks from Turnbull Alley and had them smoothed off-site before putting them back in place, at a cost of around $15,000.
The council said the uneven terrain made excess noise, and the solution has been welcomed by nearby business owners.
However 9News managed to find some pedestrians who thought it was a waste of money, which could have been better spent on the homeless. 9News
Victorian Briefs:
The Victorian Local Governance Association has announced the appointment of a new head of stakeholder engagement.
Anya Murray has worked across local government communications and engagement teams for 15 years, including at Greater Dandenong and Yarra.
She joins the VLGA team on Monday, 14th October. Victorian Local Governance Association
The Victorian and South Australian governments have announced a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their Cross Border Commissioners to support border communities.
The partnership aims to strengthen health services, improve access to essential services, create more jobs, and deliver better outcomes for families in border regions. Victorian Government
National Roundup:
NSW:
Newcastle Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge has been stripped of certain powers previously afforded to his predecessor, a move he claims is a “deliberate ambush” to undermine his ability to perform his duties.
The Newcastle Herald reported that the decision, supported by all 10 Greens, Liberal and Labor councillors, removes Cr Kerridge’s control over the chief executive’s pay, staff numbers in the lord mayor’s office, and ability to determine voting rights at local government conferences.
While Labor councillor Declan Clausen argued that the changes modernise the role in line with state government legislation, Lord Mayor Kerridge feels the rushed move goes against precedent and is politically motivated to curtail his effectiveness. Newcastle Herald$
It’s been a dramatic start to the new term at Snowy Monaro Regional Council
One of the new councillors, Andrew Thaler, was formerly banned from council buildings due to allegations about his behaviour and workplace safety concerns; and the Council’s CEO David Hogan tendered a surprise resignation on Tuesday after holding the role for less than a year.
Mr Thaler celebrated the news of Mr Hogan’s resignation on social media, saying he didn’t deserve to be there.
Andrew Thaler has attracted media attention for claiming to be a spokesperson for the family of a 95 year old woman who died after being tasered at an aged care home in Cooma.
ABC News reported that assault changes against him were dropped in the Cooma Local Court recently after it was alleged he had choked a woman outside a cafe in May.
It was thought that Mr Thaler would have to participate in Council meetings online due to the reported ban, however he was allowed to attend the first meeting of the new Council and the council has not commented on the change of position.
But it led to a dramatic first meeting which took more than 2 hours. Cr Thaler opposed almost every motion put forward, including the election of mayor and deputy mayor and the need to appoint a new CEO.
There were multiple outbursts, objections, points of order, and yelling from the public gallery, until ultimately Christopher Hanna was elected mayor.
Tricia Hopkins is the new deputy mayor, and she told the media after the meeting of her hopes that all councillors would work together, saying it would be upsetting if the focus of the council moving forward was all about Cr Thaler.
David Rawlings has stepped in as acting CEO until the council can undertake a recruitment process. *ABC News; Brisbane Times; About Regional 1; About Regional 2*
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that former Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski is being honored with a ratepayer-funded retirement party at the Grand Roxy ballroom, despite quitting amid an ongoing legal matter referred to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The event is estimated to be costing tens of thousands of dollars, and it’s claimed it was not formally approved by the council and not all councillors have been invited. Sydney Morning Herald
At Mid-Western Council, Labor Party councillor Sharelle Fellows has stepped down due to health complications, within a day of being elected.
The council has opted for a by-election over a countback option, at an expected cost of between $225,000 and $250,000.
While the decision has attracted some criticism, Mayor Des Kennedy told ABC News it was the fairest thing for the community given there was effectively a full term to be served. ABC News
Now, here are more of the latest mayoral election results from across NSW:
Cr Sam Coupland has been re-elected mayor of Armidale Regional Council, while Cr Todd Redwood will continue in the role of deputy mayor after this week’s vote of the council. Armidale Regional Council
Balranald Shire Council has returned from administration to elected representation, and conducted its election of mayor and deputy mayor. The new mayor is Cr Louie Zaffina after a two-way contest, and the deputy mayor is Cr Dwaine Scott. Balranald Shire Council
Bathurst Regional Council conducted an election for mayor between two candidates, Crs Sophie Wright and Robert Taylor. Cr Taylor was elected mayor in a 5 to 4 vote.
Cr Ben Fry was declared elected as deputy mayor as the only nomination for the position Bathurst Regional Council
At Blue Mountains City Council, there was one nomination for the position of mayor, and therefore Cr Mark Greenhill was declared elected unopposed. Cr Greenhill continues a run as the city’s mayor that commenced in 2013. Cr Romola Hollywood was elected unopposed as deputy mayor. Blue Mountains City Council
The new Bogan Shire Council has met and elected Glen Neill for his second term as Mayor, and Karl Bright will be deputy Mayor. Both candidates were unopposed. Bogan Shire Council
There’s a new mayor of Brewarrina Shire Council, with long-serving councillor Tommy Stanton elected to the position this week. Former two term mayor Vivian Slack-Smith was chosen to be deputy mayor. Brewarrina Shire Council
Cabonne Council has elected Kevin Beatty as mayor for a third term.
Jamie Jones as also re-elected for a third term as deputy mayor. Cabonne Council
Cobar Shire Council has re-elected its leadership team, meaning another term for Jarrod Marsden as mayor, and Michael Prince as deputy mayor. Cobar Shire Council
Daniel Keady has been elected the new mayor of Coonamble Shire Council. Cr Steven Butler was chosen by his colleagues to be deputy mayor for the next 12 months. Coonamble Shire Council
There’s another all female team heading a NSW Council after the election of Mayor Margot Davis as Glen Innes Severn Council. Supporting her as deputy mayor will be Cr Carol Sparks.
Former mayor Rob Banham then quit the council, after losing a secret ballot for the mayoralty to Cr Davis by four votes to three.
The Northern Daily Leader reported that the former mayor felt a secret ballot was not transparent and failed to reflect the wishes of voters.
The resignation will trigger a countback process to fill his seat, with details yet to be announced. Glen Innes Severn Council
Clr Merri Southwood was elected as Mayor and Clr Bridget Kennedy was elected as Deputy Mayor of Lane Cove Council this week.
Both Clr Merri Southwood and Clr Bridget Kennedy have served as Councillors since January 2022. Lane Cove Council
There’s a new mayor in office at Muswellbrook Shire Council. Cr Jeff Drayton has been elected to the role, along with Cr De-Anne Douglas as deputy mayor. Muswellbrook Shire Council
Julia Ham has been elected mayor of Snowy Valleys Council. The newly elected deputy mayor is Cr Hugh Packard. Snowy Valleys Council
Sutherland Shire Council has a new leadership team. Jack Boyd as elected mayor this week, and Laura Cowell has been chosen for the deputy mayor position. Sutherland Shire Council
Tenterfield Shire Council has elected its mayor for the next two years. Cr Bronwyn Petrie was elected unopposed to the position. Cr Greg Sauer was unopposed in standing for the position of deputy mayor. Tenterfield Shire Council
It’s steady as she goes at Tweed Shire, with the council re-electing Chris Cherry and Meredith Dennis OAM as mayor and deputy mayor respectively. Both were elected unopposed, after Cr James Owen and Cr Reece Byrnes declined nominations to the contest the positions. Tweed Shire Council
Eric Noakes has been re-elected unopposed as the mayor of Walcha Shire. His deputy mayor is Cr Glen O’Brien. Walcha Shire Council
At Walgett Shire Council, Jasen Ramien has been re-elected to the mayoralty, and there’s a new deputy mayor in Cr Greg Rummery. Walgett Shire Council
William Nemesh has been elected the new mayor of Waverley Council, after a 6-6 tied vote for the position that saw his name selected from a draw.
He is joined by deputy mayor Keri Spooner. A draw was required for that position also after a tied vote. Waverley Council
Weddin Shire Council has elected Paul Best as its mayor, uncontested, and Colleen Gorman is the deputy mayor for that new council. Weddin Shire Council
Cr Daniel Linklater has been elected unopposed as the mayor of Wentworth Shire Council. There was only one nomination for the position of deputy mayor, that being Cr Peter Crisp. Wentworth Shire Council
And at Yass Valley Council, the new mayor is Jasmin Jones, while the newly elected deputy mayor is Kristin Butler. Sadly, the mayoral election was unable to be livestreamed due to a technical issue. Yass Valley Council
A string of councils will hold mayoral elections in the next few days. Keep watch on the Local Government News Roundup for those results as they come to hand.
A by-election date has been set for four councils in NSW where there were insufficient nominations to fill the available positions. By-elections will be held on the 23rd November for Berrigan Shire, Cowra Shire, Junee Shire and for the E Ward in Lachlan Shire. NSW Electoral Commission
QLD:
Townsville City Council’s interim CEO Joe McCabe has been appointed to the position on an ongoing basis after a decision of the Council this week.
The announcement of the appointment was made by Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob, after Mayor Troy Thompson excused himself from the final decision due to what was reported to be a perceived conflict of interest.
Mr McCabe has been acting in the role since May this year. He was previously the acting CEO of Alice Springs Town Council and spent 30 years at the City of Gold Coast, including nine years as Chief Operating Officer.
He will officially assume the position on 21st October. Townsville City Council
The City of Moreton Bay has criticised the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for not issuing timely storm warnings, leading to damage and power outages in the area this week.
The BOM claims it issued warnings for parts of Moreton Bay, but acknowledges that some significant storm activity occurred beyond the warning zones.
The incident has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of weather alerts and the need for more accurate and localised warnings to protect communities from severe weather events. Cairns Post$
ABC News reports on how Queensland councils are facing significant financial burdens due to mandated dam safety upgrades, with costs expected to reach $3 billion across the state.
Local governments, including Toowoomba and South Burnett, are struggling to fund these upgrades, which are required to protect against extremely rare weather events but do not increase water storage capacity.
Both major political parties have been non-committal about providing financial assistance, leaving councils to grapple with budget cuts and rate increases to meet the 2025 and 2035 upgrade deadlines. ABC News
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland have jointly called for urgent funding to address a $2.2 billion trunk infrastructure shortfall, which they identify as the primary obstacle to meeting Queensland’s housing targets.
Both organisations say that trunk infrastructure, including local roads, parks, water supply, and sewer infrastructure, is essential for building new homes and creating liveable communities.
The LGAQ and UDIA Queensland are urging the State Government to allocate funds from land tax or stamp duty revenue to fill the infrastructure funding gap, warning that without intervention, the financial burden may fall on ratepayers. Local Government Association of Queensland
National Briefs:
Derwent Valley Council in Tasmania is collaborating with youth service providers to address concerns of young people in the region, focusing on safety, education, and wellbeing.
ABC News reported that the initiative aims to improve support for regional youth by establishing new services, promoting community participation, and involving young people in decision-making processes. ABC News
Southern Downs Regional Council in Queensland has called for applications for the CEO position, after the recent departure of Dave Burges from the council. McArthur is handling the recruitment process, and applications are due by 4th November. McArthur
Other CEO positions currently open for application include Redland City Council, closing 25th October; Southern Mallee District Council in South Australia; and Balonne Shire Council in Queensland, closing 28th October; *Redland CEO – Leading Roles;* Southern Mallee CEO – McArthur; Balonne CEO – LGSG
WA’s City of Melville has been recognised with an outstanding achievement award at the Minister for Local Government’s Place Innovation Awards.
The award recognises the city’s Canning Bridge Place Grants program, which sees paid parking dollars invested back into the community. City of Melville
And the City of Canterbury Bankstown is celebrating winning an Australian Good Design Award for architectural excellence, recognising the design excellence, sense of place and positive impact from its Hurlstone Memorial Reserve Community Centre project. City of Canterbury Bankstown
TAS:
Hobart City councillor Louise Elliot has been sanctioned action for breaching the code of conduct through social media posts, specifically regarding comments perceived to be about Aboriginal people and the Crowther statue controversy.
The Code of Conduct panel found that Elliot’s posts could cause offence and that she did not show respect when expressing personal views publicly, resulting in a caution.
Cr Elliot criticised the Code of Conduct as being overly restrictive on speech, according to a report from The Mercury.
The complainant, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaigner Nala Mansell said she was disappointed that the sanction was not more severe. The Mercury$
The Tasmanian Government is proposing new legislation to remove political influence from planning decisions by allowing independent expert panels to assess certain developments.
The move aims to address issues where critical housing or job-creating projects are blocked by ideologically motivated councillors, with the goal of delivering 10,000 social and affordable homes by 2032.
The proposed bill, open for public consultation until November 11, is part of the government’s strategy to streamline the development process and address housing needs in the state. Pulse Tasmania
SA:
Port Adelaide Enfield Council has responded to media reports that it was fining residents $312 for leaving their emptied bins on the street for too long.
The Adelaide Advertiser, 9News, the Courier Mail and 7News were among those reporting the story, with clickbait headlines like, “residents threatened with $312 fine for common bin act.”
The council said the story came as a surprise, pointing out that it empties nearly 5 million. bins every year and has only issued four fines in five years – and they were after multiple warnings had been issued.
It said it received over 200 complaints annually about bins left on streets, causing access and safety issues for pedestrians and motorists . In those cases, it contacts the residents to advise of its by-law requirements, and follows up if necessary, and only issues fines as a final resort.
The council’s by-law allows residents to place bins out after 4pm on the day before collection, and requires them to be brought in by midnight on the day of collection. *Port Adelaide Enfield Council; 7News; Courier Mail*
A South Australian council has unanimously voted to retain the name “Chinamans Lane” in Penola, despite concerns about its offensive nature.
The decision of Wattle Range Council was supported by some local Chinese descendants who view it as an important part of the area’s history, connected to Chinese migrants during the 1850s gold rush.
However, historians argue that such naming conventions erase individual identities and are part of a broader conversation about recognising and addressing historical slurs against Chinese communities globally. More on that story from ABC News.
WA:
The City of Belmont is moving forward with plans to install underground power, despite a potential seven-year wait and significant costs, according to PerthNow.
The project, estimated to cost between $83 million and $136 million, aims to improve streetscapes, increase canopy coverage, and enhance walkability in the area.
While the initiative faces challenges, including funding and community support, city officials view it as a crucial long-term investment in Belmont’s infrastructure and liveability. PerthNow
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett has been awarded Life Membership of the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) for his outstanding service to the local government sector and community over 24 years.
Mayor Howlett, who has been elected mayor four times since 2009 and served as a WALGA State Councillor since 2013, accepted the honour at the 2024 Local Government Awards, recognising his dedication to Cockburn and his involvement in numerous council committees and community groups. City of Cockburn
The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley has appointed Tamara Clarkson as Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective 11 October 2024, following the departure of former CEO Amanda Dexter.
The council said the interim appointment ensures operational continuity while it conducts a recruitment process for a permanent CEO. Shire of Derby/West Kimberley
Global Roundup:
Access the Civility Summit masterclass here
UK:
A London council is seeking government support to balance its budget due to £100M in temporary housing costs.
The Local Government Chronicle reported that Newham council has flagged that temporary accommodation costs may account for a third of its budget in the coming years.
It is asking the government for exceptional financial support, projecting a £175M budget gap over three years. Local Government Chronicle
The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has launched the first-ever Mayoral Council in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to discuss devolution and shift power away from Westminster.
The Council will meet quarterly, and aims to strengthen relationships between central government and regional mayors, shaping the upcoming English Devolution White Paper and focusing on investment and growth across the UK. UK Government
A former UK councillor has been jailed for over six years for voyeurism offenses involving hidden cameras to film 28 women over a 15-year period.
Robert Holden, formerly of Calderdale Council, initially fled to Cape Verde before being extradited, according to a report from local gov dot co dot uk.
He pleaded guilty to 31 counts of voyeurism and seven of computer misuse, with the judge describing his actions as ‘voyeurism on a vast scale’. LocalGov
Reading Borough Council mistakenly issued over 6,000 incorrect parking fines between 2013 and 2024 due to errors in traffic regulation orders.
The council has apologised and suspended parking enforcement in affected areas, offering refunds with interest to those who paid the incorrect fines.
The mistakes could cost the council approximately £357,000 in reimbursements, according to BBC News.
They were discovered after a staff member reported a defect, affecting five different areas across various time periods. BBC News
USA:
US President Joe Biden has set a 10-year deadline for US cities to replace lead pipes nationwide, aiming to ensure safe drinking water for all Americans.
The new EPA rule, stricter than previous standards, requires water systems to maintain lead concentrations below 10 parts per billion and take immediate action if high levels are detected.
The Associated Press reported that the initiative faces challenges such as cost and pipe identification, but represents a significant step towards addressing long-standing public health concerns related to lead exposure in drinking water. Associated Press
CANADA:
In Alberta, Canada, Councillor Kjeryn Dakin of Sylvan Lake has filed a lawsuit against the Town, its CAO, and its Mayor following sanctions imposed on her under the Town’s Code of Conduct Bylaw.
Cr Dakin argues that the Code of Conduct process was mishandled, causing personal and professional hardship, and is calling for reforms to prevent it from being used as a political weapon.
The Ponoka News reported that Town, Mayor, and CAO have filed a Statement of Defence, denying all allegations and asserting that they followed due process in accordance with municipal regulations. Ponoka News
Darryl Harding, a councillor in Portugal Cove-St. Philips in Newfoundland, has been suspended without pay for three months and faces potential removal from his seat due to alleged disrespectful behaviour towards town employees and council members.
It’s the second time Cr Harding has been suspended, following previous controversies involving harassment allegations and a breach of conduct for soliciting donations through crowdfunding.
Harding recently ran as an Independent in a provincial byelection, receiving just 70 votes – 1.2% of the votes cast, according to CBC News. CBC News
NZ:
Wellington City Council has voted to initiate a process to amend its 2024-34 Long-term Plan, potentially halting the sale of its 34% shareholding in Wellington International Airport Limited.
The decision suspends all current work on the airport share sale and the establishment of a perpetual investment fund, with further advice on the amendment process expected in November.
The amendment process will involve community engagement, oral hearings, and Council deliberations, with a final decision on the sale to be made by June 2025 after the amended Long-term Plan is audited. Wellington City Council
Wellington’s Mayor Tory Whanau has again defended her leadership and rejected calls for government intervention at the council.
She told a NZ Herald politics podcast that relentless negative talk about the city had to stop. NZ Herald