On the latest episode of the Local Government News Roundup, available now:
- Councils suffer court defeats
- A Melbourne council takes a strong stand against the Suburban Rail Loop
- Another municipal monitors report is released
- A major restructure for a Sydney council
- Continued disruptions to a NSW Council’s meetings prompts a major process review
- Workers locked out in Noosa as an industrial dispute escalates
- The Tasmanian council making news for all the wrong reasons
- and a seismic shift in England in the latest Council elections
Also in this episode, a new survey reveals the extent of the planner shortage in local government – Regional Cities Victoria Chair and Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali joins Chris to discuss.
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 447:
Victorian Roundup:
It’s not been a great week for councils in the courts.
Central Goldfields Shire Council has lost its appeal against a Fair Work Commission ruling that allows its staff to collectively bargain with Ararat Council staff on a proposed enterprise agreement.
The Federal Court ruled last week against the council’s arguments that the commission’s ruling was contrary to the public interest, and contrary to fundamental workplace principles.
In dismissing the council’s application, the court described the grounds of challenge as unrealistic, and irrelevant.
It also determined that there should no order as to costs, but that the first respondent, the ASU, was at liberty to make an application.
ASU Tash Wark told the Maryborough District Advertiser, that the decision sends a message to the industry and other employers seeking to block workers’ rights under new legislation.
Link to Federal Court decision.
Per 9News: The Liberal Party scored a court victory over Boroondara Council last week, after the council removed a number of A-frame signs from outside an early voting centre in Kew earlier in the week.
The council had argued the signs were a risk to pedestrians and road users, having earlier advised candidates of a limit of one sign each.
In challenging the council’s permit rule, Liberal Party state director Stuart Smith argued that it was a potential contradiction of implied constitutional freedom of political communication.
A Supreme Court justice ruled in favour of the party’s request for an injunction, noting that it had given an undertaking to supply its signage in accordance with the council’s safety instructions.
Over the weekend, the Council said it was pleased that the court recognised its right to maintain public safety.
It said its officers always intended to ensure residents did not have to walk on the road to avoid signs that were blocking the footpath, and provided before and after photographs to show the positive impact of its enforcement activities.
See also: ABC News; Sky News; The Sydney Morning Herald
A McCrae couple has won a court battle against Mornington Peninsula Council, which had tried to force them to pay $1.25 million for stabilising works after a landslide affected their property, according to a report from The Age.
The Building Appeals Board ruled that the council had no authority to compel the homeowners to pay for the works since they weren’t undertaking any building work when the first landslide occurred in November 2022.
However, the ruling doesn’t resolve who is ultimately responsible for fixing the damaged escarpment.
A commission of inquiry is looking into the causes of the landslides and is currently accepting submissions.
Kingston City Council has received legal advice that two of its decisions should be reconsidered after Cr Jane Agirtan was stood down following charges of breaching a personal safety intervention order.
The decisions about the approval of an electronic billboard at Westfield Southland and the referral of previous awarding of council grants to the Local Government Inspectorate, were both narrowly passed with Agirtan’s supporting vote.
Bayside News reported that while an internal review found no breach of the Local Government Act by council, the two decisions in question were due to be reconsidered at last week’s council meeting.
Cr Agirtan will remain stood down until her court appearance in June.
Bayside Council has controversially resolved to oppose the state government’s Suburban Rail Loop project in its entirety.
In a tight 4-3 vote, the council decided to write to the Premier and relevant ministers seeking an immediate stop to the program.
It will also undertake a Freedom of Information request to the Suburban Rail Loop Authority to understand how it is responding to an Infrastructure Australia recommendation that it develop exit strategies for the conclusion or transition out of the project in the event that it cannot be delivered.
Victoria’s Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos has received the final report from municipal monitors overseeing Moonee Valley City Council.
The monitors, Ms Prue Digby and Mr Phillip Carruthers, have reported substantial improvements in the council’s operations during their 13-month oversight period from January 2024 to February 2025.
Key achievements highlighted in the report include enhanced administration and governance functions, alongside a notable improvement in workplace culture.
The monitors said the council has demonstrated strong commitment to implementing recommended governance reforms, concluding that no further intervention will be necessary.
Moonee Valley Mayor Cr Ava Adams welcomed the release of the report, and confirmed that the monitors’ recommendations had been implemented and will continue to be monitored to ensure good governance is upheld at the council.
The comprehensive report, detailing findings and recommendations, has been made publicly available through the Local Government Victoria website.
Victorian Briefs:
Ballarat City Council has successfully trialled an innovative nanotechnology stabilising agent in road reconstruction that strengthens clay-based soil at a molecular level, resulting in a more durable road surface while significantly reducing construction costs.
The trial, conducted on a 1.6-kilometre stretch of road, demonstrated that the technology delivers bearing capacity 5-10 times stronger than conventional roads, while being more resistant to cracking and flooding.
The City of Greater Geelong is celebrating the centenary of Ford Australia in Geelong, which began at the Dalgety Wool Store in 1925.
Two free events will be held at the National Wool Museum later this month, featuring archival screenings and panel discussions.
Cardinia Shire Council is seeking $25 million in government funding to develop a business case for four grade separated interchanges along the Princes Highway between Nar Nar Goon and Bunyip.
The intersections handle around 30,000 vehicles each day, and there’ve been over 115 road collisions and four fatalities in the area since 2017.
Australia’s severe shortage of urban and regional planners has been highlighted in the results of a new survey from the Planning Institute of Australia.
The survey shows that nearly two-thirds of organisations are struggling to fill planning roles, which is directly impacting housing supply and affordability.
The Planning Institute of Australia’s calls for urgent government action echoes those of peak bodies and advocacy groups like Regional Cities Victoria.
Interview: Shane Sali, Mayor of Greater Shepparton, and Chair of Regional Cities Victoria
Sponsor message:
Are you a young councillor wanting to connect with other like-minded people in the sector?
Register now to save your place at the launch of the VLGA’s Young Councillors Network – open to all Victorian councillors aged 40 years and under.
The YCN is the support group for younger councillors across Victoria, sharing conversations, key learnings, observations, and ideas.
We are excited to officially launch the network online on Thursday 8 May at 7:30pm, meeting your fellow YCN members and to discuss how the group can best support you throughout the term.
To register for the Young Councillors Network please visit the VLGA website to find out more.
Registration is free for councillors aged 40 and under from VLGA member councils.
National Roundup:
NSW:
Liverpool City Council has announced a major organisational shake-up aimed at streamlining operations and improving service delivery.
Under the proposed restructure, led by newly appointed CEO Jason Breton, the Council will reduce its directorates from six to four. The move comes with a promise to boost frontline resources while trimming the executive layer.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun says residents and stakeholders will have their say during a 28-day consultation period which is underway.
The Council is particularly focused on improving basic services like grass cutting, rubbish collection, and road repairs.
If approved, the new structure will take effect from June 11th.
Continued disruptions of Clarence Valley Council meetings have led to Mayor Ray Smith reportedly considering implementing a ticketed entry system.
The Clarence Valley Independent reported on the most recent council meeting, which had to be adjourned multiple times due to disturbances, eventually forcing the council to continue its meeting without the public in attendance.
Despite the presence of security guards, the meeting was repeatedly interrupted, leading to a 6-3 vote to exclude the public.
The Mayor has confirmed he will be consulting with the Office of Local Government about introducing a ticketing process to limit attendance at future meetings.
Camden Council has welcomed a NSW Government announcement to establish a new renal dialysis unit at Camden Hospital, following the Council’s advocacy campaign for improved infrastructure investment.
While Mayor Ashleigh Cagney said it was a significant step forward for the local community, she wants to see more investment to meet the growing population’s healthcare demands.
The Council’s broader advocacy campaign, The Time Is Now, calls for urgent investment from State and Federal Governments in various infrastructure projects including hospitals, schools, roads, and public transport.
Shellharbour City Council has unanimously approved a motion to address safety concerns regarding e-scooters, bikes, and electric-powered transport devices in public spaces.
The motion from Councillor Rob Petreski calls for a comprehensive report examining safety risks, enforcement options, infrastructure improvements, and educational programs, with particular focus on high-traffic areas like the Shell Cove Marina.
The council has also adopted a new Respect at Work policy, updating a previous version to include management of psychosocial risks.
The Illawarra Mercury reported that the new policy represents a more proactive approach to dealing with bullying, both in the office and at social functions.
Blacktown City’s Mount Druitt Swimming Centre is set to receive a major $40.6 million upgrade funded by the NSW Government, which includes adding an indoor learn-to-swim pool and refurbishing the existing 50m outdoor pool.
The redevelopment is expected to begin in 2026 and take 18 months.
Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting said the project will modernise the 50-year-old facility to meet future demand while maintaining its cherished parkland atmosphere.
QLD:
Noosa Council management has locked out union members participating in industrial action.
Council CEO Larry Sengstock has ordered staff involved in protected strike action to stay away from work from late last week until Monday.
The lockout comes after unions rejected Council’s revised pay offer of a 14 percent increase over three years. Around one-fifth of Council staff are expected to be affected by the measure.
Workers locked out have been barred from Council premises and required to return Council vehicles. Normal operations are set to resume on Tuesday.
Michael Anderson from the Australian Workers’ Union told Noosa Today that the lockout was an “extreme tactic” designed to intimidate workers into accepting an offer they don’t want.
He described it as “mean” and “nasty,” and said they “will not accept such heavy handed tactics,” warning that it has escalated the industrial dispute to a concerning level for Noosa residents.
Mr Sengstock said the lockout was an unfortunate but necessary step:
Audio grab
The dispute heads to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission next Wednesday for conciliation talks.
Cairns Regional Council has unanimously endorsed a report outlining plans to develop the Southern Growth Corridor, a 3,300-hectare undeveloped area between Edmonton and Gordonvale that could deliver 18,500 new homes to address the city’s housing crisis.
The Council is seeking $150 million each from State and Federal Governments to fund the $450 million infrastructure requirements for the first stage, while also pursuing a Priority Development Area designation to accelerate planning and delivery.
National Briefs:
Bland Shire Council has been named a finalist in two categories at the 2025 Local Government Excellence Awards – one for their Youth Centre External Art Project engaging local youth in creating a vibrant mural, and another for the innovative Audit Alliance project which achieved 75% cost savings through collaboration with neighbouring councils.
The winners will be announced at the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards Dinner in Sydney this June.
WA’s Town of Port Hedland has had to call off its latest Council meeting.
Two late apologies from elected members meant it would not be able to achieve a quorum.
A new date for the meeting is yet to be advise.
Alice Springs Town Council has voted not to fill a vacancy left by former Yipirinya School principal Gavin Morris, who resigned last month while facing assault charges in court.
NT News reported that the council will leave the position vacant until the local government elections in August.
Bega Valley Shire Council has launched a 6-episode podcast series called “Unhoused – Voices from the Threshold” to highlight the housing crisis and homelessness issues in the region.
The podcast aims to raise awareness about homelessness in the shire while challenging perceptions and generating potential solutions.
TAS:
Burnie Council continues to make news in Tasmania for all the wrong reasons.
The Advocate reported last week (1st May 2025) that more than 100 complaints have been lodged against one councillor in just over four months.
Many of the complaints against Cr Trent Aitken related to his social media attacks on transgender women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
General Manager Shane Crawford confirmed that he had received the extraordinary number of complaints since his appointment last December, but that not all were specifically about Cr Aitken’s attacks on transgender women.
A petition is circulating in the community, calling on Cr Aitken to resign, and requesting the council and LGAT lobby the government to give the Local Government Minister the power to dismiss a councillor for breaching the Anti-Discrimination Act.
The minister Kerry Vincent said a draft bill would be released soon including proposed new provisions to deal with serious councillor misconduct.
The Advocate also reported last week that Burnie Council has received three reports relating to alleged code of conduct breaches by the mayor Teeny Brumby, brought by former GM Simon Overland and another senior council officer.
The mayor was found by a panel to have committed two breaches – having caused offence and embarrassment to a Council director, and overstepping her role in relation to a controversial public art project.
Questions were raised as to how the former general manager had gained access to the mayor’s emails, allegedly breaking a commitment made previously that such an action would not be taken.
SA:
Adelaide City Council has proposed a 5.6 percent rate rise for the coming financial year, which would see the average residential property rates increase by approximately $118.
InDaily reported that the Council has also introduced a new minimum rate of $600, affecting about 1,100 small businesses and other properties across the city.
The decision was controversial, prompting three councillors to walk out of the Council meeting in protest, citing concerns over cost-of-living pressures.
The Council’s draft budget projects borrowings of up to $49 million, with an operating surplus of $8.5 million.
Residents can have their say on the proposed changes through the Council’s website until May 27.
The City of Onkaparinga is exploring the possibility of increasing rates on vacant private land.
A report is due to Council in September 2025 examining various rating mechanisms, legal considerations, and community impacts.
Additionally, the Council is developing an Affordable Housing Strategy acknowledging the urgency of the housing crisis.
The strategy will be considered by Council within weeks.
WA:
Wanneroo City Council has approved a unique request allowing a councillor to care for orphaned baby kangaroos on council premises.
Councillor Jacqueline Huntley, a licensed wildlife carer, has won her appeal to bring neonatal joeys into the council’s reading room, despite initial opposition from council staff.
The decision comes after heated debate, with Mayor Linda Aitken expressing concerns about workplace professionalism and potential distractions.
Councillor Huntley has argued the move is crucial for providing round-the-clock care to orphaned native wildlife.
PerthNow reported that the decision could set a precedent for wildlife carers in public offices across Western Australia.
Radio 6PR has reported on leaked emails between councillors and the mayor at the City of Nedlands.
The emails are said to show a “complete breakdown” in the function and cohesion of councillors.
The email chain reportedly includes a war of words between some councillors and the mayor over a councillor’s paid leave from council duties of five months, and call from some for the installation of administrators.
Global Roundup:
UK:
The results are in from local elections in England, and there’s been a seismic shift towards the Reform party.
The Nigel Farage led party gained control of 10 Councils and won two mayoral contests.
BBC News reported that the Labour party lost more than 180 councillors and narrowly held on in three mayoral races.
And it was a disaster for the Conservatives, who lost more than 670 council positions, and won just one mayoral race.
Mr Farage said his party has now replaced the Tories as the main opposition party, and issued a warning to council staff to look for other jobs.
In Durham, one of the councils now under Reform control, he said staff working on climate change, diversity initiatives or even just working from home should be seeking alternative careers.
That has prompted the head of the UK’s biggest union, Unison, to urge staff to sign up so they can be protected, telling the Guardian that unions are there to ensure that no one can play fast and loose with the law.
Martin Dowey, the Conservative leader of South Ayrshire Council, has temporarily stepped down following the release of a secret recording where he allegedly discussed helping award contracts to “pals” and made disparaging remarks about council officers.
The former police officer maintains he has “acted properly at all times” and has requested a full investigation.
BBC News reported that Police Scotland is assessing correspondence regarding the matter.
In Essex, weekly bin collections are making a comeback in Basildon Council after residents voiced their frustration with a controversial fortnightly collection scheme.
BBC News reported that the Labour-controlled council has scrapped the previous Conservative administration’s waste system, which required residents to sort their recycling into six different sections.
The reversal follows a public consultation where over 73% of respondents demanded a return to weekly collections.
USA:
Los Angeles City Council is taking steps to boost its declining local film industry, unanimously approving a proposal to cut red tape for productions in the city.
KNX News reported that the measure aims to reduce fees and streamline the permitting process for filming on city property.
Councilman Adrin Nazarian, who introduced the motion, says it’s about protecting middle-class workers and preserving LA’s status as a film production hub.
The move comes as FilmLA reports a concerning 22% decline in on-location filming during the first quarter of this year.
City departments now have 30 days to come back with specific recommendations on adjusting fees, permits, parking, and security requirements.
The initiative has received strong support from industry professionals, with about 50 representatives from various film organisations backing the proposal.
Eight US mayors have formed an alliance to leverage AI and emerging technologies in city governance.
The Mayor of Brooklyn Park in Minnesota, Hollies Winston, is a founding member of the Community Innovation Partnership, which is highlighting the potential of AI for improving efficiency while being mindful of systemic biases.
He tells the Sun Post that it’s not about replacing people, but is more about replacing whole streams of work to free up staff to give a better customer service experience.
The Partnership, which also includes mayors from Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee, is particularly highlighting the importance of responsible AI use in diverse communities and the need for proper checks and balances in its deployment.
NZ:
A New Zealand government minister’s request for mayors across the country to help improve school attendance has been met with resistance.
1News reported that local government leaders, including Ashburton mayor Neil Brown, say it’s not their core responsibility and that the mixed messages about their role are confusing.
Local Government NZ president Sam Broughton highlighted the contradiction between the government’s directive for councils to focus on basics like roads and water, while simultaneously asking them to take on educational responsibilities that traditionally fall under central government’s purview.
Rotorua Lakes Council has voted to maintain its LGNZ membership despite some councillors’ concerns about value for money.
The New Zealand Herald reported that annual subscription of $93K will be reviewed by the new council after October’s election.
Wellington City Council has given its support to a proposal to lower the local voting age to 16, according to The Post.
It has taken the position that teenagers already have various adult responsibilities including working, paying taxes, and holding firearms licenses, and the right to vote should be included.
JAPAN:
Osaka Prefecture is implementing a groundbreaking ban on people aged 65 and older from using ATMs while speaking on mobile phones.
The ban is part of efforts to combat rising “special fraud” cases targeting the elderly, including other measures including transaction limits and mandatory fraud checks at convenience stores
The Japan Times reports that there were record-high fraud losses of ¥6.4 billion in last year, with over 70% of victims being 65 or older.