In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- Councils react to new visitor fees for an international tourism icon
- CEO contract renewals in Victoria
- Hawkesbury Council speaking out after online activity involving two of its councillors
- Sutherland Shire considering on-street long term parking restrictions
- A new consultation agreement between councils and the Tasmanian government
- Local government reforms take effect in Queensland
- Gold Coast Council takes control of overseas travel approvals, and greenlights a new Olympic arena
- A legal win for a sacked Council worker in South Australia
- and dysfunction plays out publicly at South Perth council, in front of the monitor
- Also today – planning for leadership succession in Councils, with Fabian Dattner from the Dattner Group – The Leadership Bottleneck – Tuesday 24th March, 12 – 1.30pm Book tickets here
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 #561
Victorian Report
A new visitor fee is coming to the Twelve Apostles Experience Centre… due to open later this year.
Victoria’s Environment Minister says the money will fund upgrades and ongoing maintenance… through the Great Ocean Road Parks and Coastal Authority.
Corangamite Shire’s mayor Kate Makin says locals support the idea… if residents and the Shipwreck Coast see real benefits… and if “local” is defined broadly.
Council is also pressing for safety and congestion upgrades now… especially at Loch Ard Gorge and the Arch… before the centre opens.
Warrnambool City Council is urging the Government to keep access to the Twelve Apostles free for local residents and Traditional Owners.
Mayor Ben Blain says people in Warrnambool see the coastline as part of their backyard… and many make the hour-long trip regularly… or recommend it to visiting friends and family.
He says council can support a modest charge for visitors… if the money is reinvested into managing crowds, protecting the site, and improving facilities.
Whittlesea City Council is reportedly moving to keep its chief executive, Craig Lloyd, in the top job until 2031… after councillors backed a new four-and-a-half-year contract in a recent confidential meeting.
The Star Weekly is reporting that the extension would take Mr Lloyd’s tenure to almost 11 years.
It says the council’s CEO Employment Matters Advisory Committee, chaired by Mayor Lawrie Cox, will consult with councillors and negotiate the terms, with a final report due at the council’s April meeting.
The LGPro Board has reappointed **Jill Brown** as the peak body’s CEO for another five years.
President Sue Wilkinson said under Jill’s leadership, LGPro has made real, visible progress — advancing diversity and inclusion, strengthening member benefits, and growing meaningful opportunities like scholarships that genuinely invest in the future of the profession.
The organisation is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
The Age reports on how Melbourne councils are quietly rethinking a basic service… how often the red‑lid bin gets emptied.
With waste costs rising… and a four‑bin system rolling out across Victoria… more councils are weighing a switch to fortnightly general rubbish collection.
Supporters say fewer runs can cut landfill… lower bills… and push more food scraps and recycling into the right streams.
But residents in places like Merri‑bek warn it could mean overflowing bins… and more rubbish on streets… especially for larger households. Merri‑bek Council will decide on a potential switch in June… ahead of a possible start next year.
Footscray’s Nicholson Street precinct is getting a boost… with Maribyrnong Council landing a one‑hundred‑and‑sixty‑thousand‑dollar state grant… aimed at revitalising multicultural business precincts.
The money will help fund shopfront improvement grants… new wayfinding and gateway signs… public art celebrating the area’s diverse communities… and lighting upgrades designed to improve safety and the evening atmosphere.
Mayor Mohamed Semra says the investment backs local traders… while protecting the distinctive character of a strip known for African and multicultural businesses.
Geelong is stepping up its push to build business and cultural links with India… with a three-day Collaborative Futures Forum from 16 to 18 March.
The City of Greater Geelong says the event will bring together leaders from industry, government and the community… and spotlight sectors like advanced manufacturing, education, tourism and agribusiness.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM says council is delivering on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australia India Business Council… and expects lasting benefits for the region.
NSW Report
Hawkesbury City Council is drawing a clear line between the organisation and comments made online by Greens councillor Danielle Wheeler… after a public clash with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
Ms Hanson accused Cr Wheeler of an “abusive” Facebook rant… then shared the councillor’s council email and phone number with followers… inviting what she called “constructive feedback”.
Council says Cr Wheeler’s posts were made in a personal capacity… and do not reflect the council’s official position.
Hawkesbury City Council is pushing back against online speculation… about Deputy Mayor Sarah McMahon joining an overseas trade delegation.
Council voted in February to endorse the trip to Kerala, India… now deferred to a later date. It says the delegation, organised by the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, is fully funded by Kerala’s Tourism Department and Malaysia Airlines… and that council support is limited to reimbursing airport taxes, about three to four hundred dollars.
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather says the visit is a chance to promote the region to a major inbound tourism market… and McMahon will report back on any opportunities.
Sutherland Shire Council is weighing whether to restrict long-term parking of boats, trailers, and caravans on busy local streets… after residents complained about blocked sightlines, congestion, and safety risks.
A council spokesperson told 9News that options include better enforcement under existing rules… and a targeted trial with signs in suburbs like Cronulla, Woolooware, and Lilli Pilli.
Under current NSW rules, boats and trailers can sit in one spot for up to 28 days… and some locals say owners can simply shuffle them a few metres to avoid penalties.
Council has not decided on changes yet… with a report due in April.
What started as an affordable housing choice has turned into a test case for NSW planning law, according to About Regional.
A Bega Valley couple, Josh Heins and Manu Bohn, say their tiny home on wheels should be treated as a caravan, not a building that needs development consent.
Bega Valley Shire Council disagrees, issuing compliance orders last year that could carry penalties of up to one million dollars, and directing them to stop living on the property.
Court-directed conciliation has failed, and the dispute will now be heard in the NSW Land and Environment Court in Sydney on 19 June.
Glen Innes Severn Council says it is getting ready for a wave of big renewable energy projects… by setting rules for how any “community benefit” money would be handled.
The council has endorsed a draft Community Benefit Fund framework and a template voluntary planning agreement… both now on public exhibition.
Mayor Margot Davis says the move is about clarity and transparency… not a green light for any project.
She says decisions on state significant renewable developments sit with the New South Wales Government… but if projects are approved, the council wants a consistent way to receive and allocate contributions… with local communities first.
Upper Lachlan Shire’s mayor has revealed that AGL has paused work on its proposed gas power station at Dalton… after an internal review and community feedback.
Mayor Paul Culhane says AGL will now explore alternative sites elsewhere in New South Wales… and will come back to council with next steps for the project and AGL-owned land in Dalton.
AGL told council gas generation remains part of its broader plan… to provide electricity during peak demand when renewables are not enough.
NSW Briefs:
Bellingen Memorial Hall has a new 48 kilowatt-hour battery… designed to store surplus solar power for the many evening events at the venue.
Bellingen Shire Council says the hall was made “solar and battery ready” during renovations… with a 19 kilowatt solar system added in 2024.
Coffs Harbour Council is proposing a change that could let NSW Police see some of the city’s CCTV vision in real time… rather than asking later and waiting for footage to be pulled.
A draft policy is being put on public exhibition… with public submissions open until 29 March.
Blue Mountains City Council is preparing a new visitor bus management plan.. and the pitch is simple: make tour buses help pay for the infrastructure they rely on.
Mayor Mark Greenhill says right now… ratepayers carry the cost… and a user‑pays system would restore balance.
The Blue Mountains Gazette reported that the draft plan would add more parking… and clearer drop‑off and pick‑up zones… backed by cameras and easier payment tools, like apps and account‑based billing.
Support for the Roundup comes from Symphony3 – allowing Councils to Connect their systems securely, to automate their dataflows, and to monitor performance in real time.
Councils are lining up for the new Emergency Dashboard that Symphony3 has created for the City of Greater Bendigo.
The dashboard helps keep the community safe and prepared before during and after emergencies.
It pulls together live data including weather data, traffic data, emergency incidents, unplanned and planned disruptions, news and social media feeds.
Visit www.symphony3.com to learn how you can get an Emergency Dashboard for your community
Queensland Report
Gold Coast councillors have voted to take overseas travel approvals out of the hands of the council chief executive… after questions over more than one-hundred-thousand dollars in international travel expenses in a year.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that under the new policy… any international travel by City officers, including CEO Tim Baker, will need a full council vote… with costs reported more regularly.
Mr Baker says he supports the changes… and welcomes more transparency and accountability in how public money is spent.
The Brisbane Times reports that Southport is a step closer to a major new indoor arena… with Gold Coast City Council backing a shortlist of developers for a twelve‑thousand seat venue at Carey Park.
The plan is for a public‑private partnership to design, build and run the site… pitched as part of the city’s Olympic legacy ahead of Brisbane 2032.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the council’s support followed a rigorous assessment… to ensure “enduring public value” for a significant investment.
The council says more detail will be released in the coming weeks… including what events the arena could host.
Queensland has passed a package of local government reforms… changing how conflicts of interest are handled for councillors.
Government News says the new rules are meant to let elected members take part in early decision and advice stages… even when they have a personal or commercial interest… while still protecting integrity.
The bill also removes the requirement for candidates to publish their home address… after reports of harassment and threats during campaigns.
The government says the package will cut red tape… and gives mayors a bigger role in appointing senior council staff.
Gympie Regional Council has fined a long‑running local transport company nearly seventeen thousand dollars… after it opened its private fuel pumps to the public when a nearby service station ran dry.
The company, Corbet’s Group, says it was trying to help the community during growing anxiety about supply… as global tensions push prices up and reserves down.
But according to the Cairns Post, Council CEO Robert Jennings says the business’s development approval does not allow retail fuel sales… and the planning rules still apply, even in a shortage.
Ipswich City Council has knocked back a bid by Wood Mulching Industries to extend its deadline by three years… to move from an open composting site at Swanbank to an enclosed, in-vessel plant.
Mayor Teresa Harding says the company blamed external challenges… but councillors were not persuaded.
The vote was five to three… overruling officers who had recommended approval with a staged timeline.
Cr Harding says residents have lived with odour impacts for too long… and points to a Queensland Public Health Inquiry finding composting facilities were key sources of odour in the area.
Redland City Council has reportedly extended Mayor Jos Mitchell’s medical leave, with Deputy Mayor Cr. Julie Talty continuing as Acting Mayor to 17th March.
Redland Bayside News reported that the extension follows the Mayor’s hospitalisation last month, when she was transported from work to hospital by ambulance.
Cr Mitchell was granted a leave of absence at the 18th February Council meeting.
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council has appointed Mark Kelleher as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mayor Roy Chevathen says Mr Kelleher’s experience in local government and working with Indigenous communities will support strong, culturally respectful governance and improved outcomes for residents.
Tasmania
Tasmania’s state government says it wants a reset with councils… signing a new consultation agreement with the Local Government Association of Tasmania.
Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent says the deal is meant to make engagement clearer and more consistent.
It also creates a Minister’s Local Government Forum… bringing together sector leaders at least twice a year to talk through policy and reform priorities.
LGAT President Mick Tucker says the agreement recognises councils’ role in shaping state laws… and the group is now looking toward a Local Government Charter.
South Australia
As winter approaches in Adelaide… one city councillor wants to turn council-owned buildings into emergency shelters for people sleeping rough.
The Advertiser reported that Councillor Phillip Martin was last night expected to move for a report on a trial that could run from June through August… during “code blue” extreme cold alerts.
The idea is to use community or business properties as short-term refuges… for people who miss out on existing beds.
The report would look at how many properties could be used… what it would cost… and where funding might come from… including the state government and homelessness sector.
A former Gawler Council team leader… sacked after colleagues described a “toxic” workplace… has won a legal fight to see the investigation file that helped end the job.
Adelaide Now reported that the South Australian Employment Tribunal has ordered the council to hand over documents… including interview notes from staff complaints.
The council argued disclosure could put employees at risk… and pointed to the worker’s past conviction for violent offences.
But the judge said there’s no evidence of violence during council employment… and that the material is needed so the former employee can properly present the case.
Names of staff will be redacted… and the matter is due back in court.
In South Australia’s mid-north… families in the towns of Quorn and Wilmington are turning up at cemeteries… and finding brass nameplates ripped away from graves.
Councils say suspected thieves have taken about a hundred plaques… likely for scrap metal value… leaving memorials damaged and relatives devastated.
Police are investigating, according to ABC News… and local mayors say the damage could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
The state government says it will work with councils… to help fund replacements.
Western Australia
A simple question… about who should write a monthly report on the South Perth mayor’s activities… has blown up into a public argument.
The West Australian reported that Councillors spent more than an hour debating the so-called “mayor’s diary”… in front of newly appointed state monitor Gail McGowan.
Several elected members said the dispute itself shows why the council is under scrutiny… and why outside oversight has been brought in.
Mayor Greg Milner also questioned what residents must make of the spectacle… and argued council time should be spent on more practical work for the community.
A small shire in Western Australia’s south‑west says the price of “traffic management” is starting to shut things down… not just festivals… but routine road maintenance.
Manjimup Shire says it wants to restore its timber archway… a project it estimates at thirty‑five thousand dollars… but was told traffic control for a three‑week job could cost two‑hundred‑and‑twenty‑eight thousand.
Organisers of the Donnybrook‑Collie cycling classic told ABC News that traffic costs now swallow a big share of sponsorship… and the hundredth race may be the last.
Main Roads says some exemptions and subsidised training may help… but councils want the rules reviewed.
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River is mourning the death of former Shire President and councillor Mike Smart… a long-serving local leader who spent more than a decade on council. Smart represented the community from 2007 to 2019… including as Shire President from 2013 to 2015.
The Shire says Smart helped drive projects like the Leeuwin Biddi trail… and was especially committed to revitalising Augusta.
As floodwaters recede in Central Australia… councils say the real bill is still coming into view. Barkly Regional Council Mayor Sid Vashist told the NT News that about eighty-five percent of the council’s road network has been hit… leaving remote communities like Alpurrurulam and Ampilatwatja cut off.
He says crews are now gathering the assessments needed to unlock disaster recovery funding… but it is too early to put a dollar figure on the damage.
Alice Springs Town Council chief executive Andrew Wilsmore says the city will also seek assistance… with teams clearing mud, restoring access and looking for ways to “build back better”.
An extraordinary election has been scheduled to fill a vacancy on the Shire of Brookton Council, following the resignation of Tamara de Lange after six and a half years.
The election will be held on 25th June, at an estimated cost of $14,000.
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.
Global Report
In The Philippines, Koronadal City is mourning the death of its Mayor Eliordo Ogena… a lawyer and long-time public servant who spent more than three decades in elected office.
Ogena was 72… and had rarely appeared in public in recent months due to health reasons, according to Minda News.
Local officials say Ogena helped shape major policy in South Cotabato… including the provincial environment code that included a ban on open-pit mining.
Vice Mayor Erlinda Araquil is expected to assume the role under succession rules.
UK:
A UK council that effectively went bankrupt is facing a fresh test, according to BBC News… after a government minister said its recovery is moving too slowly.
Alison McGovern told Parliament Slough Borough Council still lacks resilience and strategic focus… and that tentative improvements since late 2024 have not held.
Slough has been under intervention since 2021… when it reported a £56 million deficit… and it has relied on special government borrowing support for years.
Council leader Dexter Smith says the new external review… led by former Royal Greenwich chief executive Dame Mary Ney… will bring a fresh perspective.
USA:
In Laurel, Montana… a recall effort is underway against Mayor Dave Waggoner… driven by anger over how officials handled information about a proposed state forensic mental health facility.
Petitioners told KTVQ News that residents were kept in the dark… and they point to what they call poor leadership and missed city council meetings.
The county attorney has seven days to review the petition. If it is approved… organisers have 90 days to gather 840 signatures.
Mayor Waggoner, who has stage four prostate cancer, says he did nothing wrong… and expects the petition to fall short.
In Clifton, New Jersey… the City Council has voted to reprimand and suspend City Manager Gary DeMarzo for five days… after vulgar text messages with a resident surfaced.
The vote was 4 to 1, according to North Jersey dot com… with one councillor saying the punishment did not go far enough.
DeMarzo called it “a lapse of judgment”… and said he accepts the penalty.
Council members also voted to restart a national search for a permanent city manager… and DeMarzo can apply.
NZ:
In Auckland… Mayor Wayne Brown is in a standoff with the Government over how much new housing the city should allow.
Ministers have dialled back national intensification settings… and now want the council to outline a revised plan, according to Stuff.
Brown says producing new zoning maps would be expensive… and he is refusing, arguing Auckland should make its own calls… not Cabinet ministers in Wellington.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop says he is not asking for every detail… just broad contours around rail stations, busways, and suburbs… so the Government can legislate and move on.
Roundup Extra: Fabian Dattner, The Dattner Group
The Leadership Bottleneck – Tuesday 24th March, 12 – 1.30pm Book tickets here