On the latest edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- Unrest at Golden Plains – a councillor resignation and the mayor on a leave of absence
- A warning of broader implications for the sector after a Federal Court decision
- A community group vows alternative action after its council funding was terminated
- The NSW government responds to inquiry recommendations on local government funding
- A serial pest councillor suspended over abusive social media posts
- A South Australian council loses its third CEO in 18 months; and
- Controversy swirls around English councils under new leadership.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony3 – simple, connected customer experiences.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Here is all the news from episode 449:
Victorian Roundup:
Golden Plains Shire councillor Brett Cunningham has resigned with immediate effect.
Mr Cunningham served as a Councillor from the 2020 election and held the position of Mayor during 2023 and 2024.
He cited the need to prioritise his and his family’s health and wellbeing as the reason for his resignation.
The council says will consult the Victorian Electoral Commission about a process to fill the vacancy.
The resignation comes as the Council’s mayor Sarah Hayden is on a leave of absence in the wake of controversial media reports about alleged behaviour during a recent overseas trip with family.
Cr Hayden denies the allegation, and said she is taking formal legal action and is now on a period of leave.
The Council recently elected Cr Helena Kirby as Acting Mayor. There were two attempts to fill the position – in the first vote, Emma Robbins and Gavin Gamble could not be split.
The council returned the next day for another attempt, with both councillors Robbins and Kirby nominated, but Cr Robbins withdrew “as a professional courtesy.”
The interim CEO of Central Goldfields Shire Council has warned of the implications for other councils after the Federal Court upheld a Fair Work Commission decision which allows the council’s workers to jointly negotiate an enterprise agreement with Ararat Rural City Council staff.
Sally Jones told the Herald Sun that the council was disappointed with the Federal Court decision to deny its appeal, but respected it.
She said there was insufficient clarity about what the joint bargaining looks like, which may lead to delays in having an agreement agreed to and voted on.
While the Australian Services Union believes the decision is a victory for workers’ rights, Ms Jones is concerned that the union has presented a ‘false narrative’ about pay rises while it plans to advocate for rate increases.
She also clarified that the council has not misused ratepayer’s money on the appeal, as their barrister provided pro-bono representation.
The Mayor of Casey Stefan Koomen says his council will remain in the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) despite the withdrawal of Greater Dandenong and Frankston councils in the past year.
Cr Koomen is the new chair of the alliance, and told the Cranbourne News the council strongly believes in its purpose and benefits.
The alliance, which delivers projects like the Energy Saver Program and Flood Resilient Infrastructure Project, continues to operate with eight member councils in the South East region.
The City of Ballarat has confirmed that the termination of its funding partnership with local environmental group BREAZE will stand, following a review process.
The original decision to end the partnership was made in February, after concerns were raised about alleged antisemitic and discriminatory statements by a BREAZE board member.
In a statement, Mayor Tracey Hargreaves said while both parties engaged in multiple dispute resolution meetings, BREAZE has now accepted the termination decision and declined to proceed to mediation.
That might not be end of the matter however, according to the Ballarat Courier.
It has reported that the group has withdrawn from the dispute process and is seeking alternative action, which may include going to the Local Government Inspectorate and the Victorian Ombudsman.
VCAT has approved a controversial three-storey mixed-use development in Lara, overturning a decision of Greater Geelong Council which received over 125 objections from residents.
The Geelong Advertiser reported that the decision means a planning permit is granted with reduced parking requirements.
VCAT member Alison Glynn determined that the proposal’s community benefits through commercial office space outweighed potential parking and traffic concerns.
The development was originally proposed as a four-storey building, and was reduced to three after an initial round of objections.
Hume City Council wants to see Melbourne’s tram network extended to the Airport and Campbellfield.
The Star Weekly reports that the proposal is part of the council’s submission to Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30 year strategy.
It says the aim could be achieved with the extension of route 59 from Airport West, and route 1 from North Coburg.
The council’s broader submission also advocates for increased social housing, kindergarten infrastructure, libraries, aquatic centres, and improved bus services.
Campaspe Shire Council is enlisting the support of residents in its fight against the state government’s proposed emergency services fund.
It has made a template letter available for people to send to the Premier and other members of Parliament.
The letter outlines concerns about the extra financial impost of the proposal, particularly on farmers.
Later today, a new episode of VLGA Connect will drop on YouTube and podcast, and one of my guests will be the mayor of Manningham City Council, Diedre Diamente.
Cr Diamente is speaking on behalf of the more than 30 councils who want to see a rethink of the state government’s planned rollout of glass recycling bins by 2027 – and she says for Manningham, the costs just don’t stack up.
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Cr Diamente will also update us on the impacts of the NorthEast Link tunnel on her residents, and a renewed push for better data and future proofing to deal with air quality impacts.
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Check out this week’s edition of VLGA Connect for my interview Cr Diedre Diamente, mayor of Manningham. Also, Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers drops by to unpack what’s been a busy few weeks of monitor reports and legal decisions with impacts for the local government sector.
National Roundup:
NSW:
The NSW Government has announced it will support 15 out of 17 recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into local government funding.
It has proposed five key reforms to ensure councils are financially sustainable while maintaining local autonomy, including continued IPART oversight of council rates, requiring comprehensive spending reviews for rate increases, simplifying Special Variation processes, streamlining financial reporting, and establishing an Expert Advisory Panel to support reform implementation.
Local government fees and charges will also be audited to ensure they reflect inflation and changes in market costs.
LGNSW has given a cautious welcome to the State Government’s response to a financial sustainability crisis affecting local councils.
The peak body’s President, Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, acknowledged the helpful clarity on the government’s position while noting some concerns about potential increased administrative burdens.
The establishment of an Expert Advisory Panel and support for increased Commonwealth funding were welcomed, while LGNSW seeks more detail in key areas such as cost shifting and development contributions.
A Snowy Monaro Regional councillor has been suspended for three months following a series of abusive social media posts.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Andrew Thaler was found to have engaged in misconduct after making discriminatory and harassing comments about fellow councillors and staff.
An investigation by the Office of Local Government centred on four social media posts made in March, including one where Thaler made derogatory comments about a fellow councillor’s appearance and accused a council employee of being an unqualified diversity hire.
The suspension comes after a turbulent period which saw Thaler accumulate 19 misconduct complaints in just two months.
The suspension will take effect next week, and Thaler has been ordered to make a public apology.
Waverley Council and Lime have signed a landmark agreement that will cap the number of e-bikes in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and establish designated parking areas.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the deal is set to commence on June 30 for a two-year period.
The agreement includes provisions for “no-go zones” where bikes cannot be operated or parked, and requires Lime to relocate improperly parked bikes within three hours or face impoundment and fines.
Meanwhile, 9News reported that the council has started to impound shared e-bikes that pose safety risks or obstruct public spaces. Three providers other than Lime are yet to sign agreements with the council.
Central Coast Council is asking the NSW Premier Chris Minns to declare a State of Emergency for The Entrance North and Wamberal Beach areas due to severe coastal erosion that poses imminent risk to properties and lives.
Acting Mayor Doug Eaton said the situation has deteriorated to the point where several houses are at imminent risk of collapsing into the sea.
The Council has provided independent engineering reports and set a deadline of 3pm on May 9, 2025 for the Premier’s response.
It has also scheduled an additional Extraordinary Council Meeting for May 13 to determine next steps if no declaration is made.
National Briefs:
Muswellbrook Shire Council is providing support to residents affected by approximately 50,000 grey-headed flying foxes in the area, offering free access to cleaning equipment and protective covers to deal with droppings.
The protected species has formed a camp along Muscle Creek, and residents experiencing issues are encouraged to contact the Council while being reminded not to harm or handle the animals.
Retired Blue Mountains Councillor Kevin Schreiber has received a Local Government NSW Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his nearly 30-year career in public service including multiple terms as Sutherland Shire Mayor and service on Blue Mountains City Council.
His award was personally delivered by Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill.
Glen Innes Severn Council is upgrading its CCTV infrastructure with the installation of 29 new high-definition cameras across multiple locations including the Town Hall and ANZAC Park.
The initiative comes in response to community requests and aims to enhance public safety and security, and will commence between late May and early June 2025.
QLD:
Shane Gray has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for Boulia Shire Council in Queensland.
Mr Gray has held various senior executive positions in local government including roles at Barcaldine Regional Council, Gympie Regional Council, and Nanango Shire Council.
He takes over from Acting CEO Kaylene Sloman.
Previous CEO Lynn Moore announced her retirement last November, effective at the end of February this year, after more than 11 years in the position.
Whitsunday Regional Council is calling for substantial federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at Whitsunday Coast Airport after experiencing rapid growth that has pushed its facilities to capacity ahead of schedule.
Radio 4MK reported that the airport has seen passenger numbers double in a decade and recently surpassed 500,000 passengers.
It requires $30.85M for Stage 1 projects from its 2024 Master Plan to accommodate continued growth.
The Courier Mail reported that Noosa Council is set to vote on a bold proposal that would provide full infrastructure charge rebates for community housing built by registered providers, aiming to address the region’s severe rental crisis.
The policy requires developments to be managed as long-term rental housing for at least 20 years and remain affordable.
The council says that the housing shortage has reached “crisis point” and is affecting both the local economy and social fabric.
SA:
ABC News has reported on leadership instability at Peterborough District Council in South Australia’s mid north, where three chief executives have resigned within an 18-month period, including the most recent CEO Leanne Babic who has quit after just two months.
The frequent turnover has raised concerns among local residents and MP Geoff Brock about stability and recruitment costs.
The council has not made any comment on the departures.
WA:
The City of Perth has been awarded the 2025 Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year for its innovative water conservation initiatives, including stormwater recycling and smart irrigation systems that saved 60 million litres of water in 2023-24.
A record 47 local governments are now endorsed under the Waterwise Council Programs, with several councils receiving special recognition for their water conservation efforts, including the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre being named Waterwise Aquatic Centre of the Year.
The City of Stirling has commenced a 12-month trial of a safer exchange site, providing a secure location with CCTV surveillance and other safety measures for people to complete online marketplace transactions.
The initiative follows Victoria’s successful implementation of 35 similar sites, and if the trial proves successful, the City plans to establish more safer exchange locations throughout the area.
NT:
The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) has launched a traineeship pilot program aiming to place up to 25 Territorians in council positions across the Top End, offering formal qualifications through supported, on-the-job learning.
The two-year program focuses primarily on administration qualifications and provides mentoring and networking opportunities to help build the local government workforce in remote and regional areas.
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Global Roundup:
UK:
Controversy has begun to swirl around those English councils that have come under the control of the Reform UK party.
On Monday, the party’s chairman announced that its councils would not be permitted to fly any flags other than the Union Jack and St. George’s Cross.
Labour and Conservative MPs criticised the exclusion of county and Ukrainian flags, and local gov dot co dot uk reported that the party later clarified that county flags would also be permitted to be flown.
It’s been reported that Pride flags are particularly being targeted by the ban which will apply to flagpoles, balconies, receptions and council chamber walls.
Meanwhile, the party’s new mayor at Lincolnshire County Council, Andrea Jenkyns, announced that she would be eliminating diversity officer positions in the council, only to discover the council doesn’t employ any such officers.
The Independent reported that Reform officials then claimed the roles existed under different titles, while unions have warned against potential unlawful dismissals in other councils where DEI positions do exist.
Another UK council has been targeted for government intervention over its unsustainable financial position.
Government commissioners have been appointed to oversee Spelthorne Borough Council in Surrey, in what has been described as a “Best Value Intervention.”
The council has accumulated debts of over £1 billion, with the intervention set to last until May 2030.
The council was found to have the second-highest debt level for a district or borough council in England, with inspectors noting a “culture of optimism bias” and lack of consistent leadership.
USA:
New York City‘s controversial congestion pricing program generated $159 million in the first quarter of 2025, according to amny.com, falling slightly short of its $160 million target but remaining on track for its annual goal of $500 million.
The program, which charges vehicles entering Manhattan’s Central Business District a base toll of $9 during peak hours, faces ongoing legal challenges from the federal government while receiving praise from transit advocates for reducing traffic and generating funds for public transportation improvements.
In North Carolina, Charlotte City Council has voted to pre-emptively settle a potential lawsuit from its Police Chief.
NPR station WFAE reported that the six figure settlement relates to a dispute over threatening text messages sent to Police Chief Johnny Jennings by a former council member.
The confrontation arose after then councillor Tariq Bokhari pushed for adoption of military-style vests following a deadly incident where officers were killed, but Jennings opposed them citing community policing concerns.
That led to threatening messages demanding the chief’s resignation, the disclosure of which Mr Jennings has claimed were damaging to his reputation, potentially costing him future opportunities.
NZ:
Christchurch City Council has unanimously decided to continue delivering water services in-house rather than creating a separate entity, after months of planning and consultation.
The in-house model was strongly favoured by the public, with 80% of submissions supporting the option, according to the Post.
The in-house model maintains the status quo with minor adjustments to ensure water revenue is used exclusively for water services, avoiding the $15 million setup costs that would have been required for alternative council-controlled organisation options.
CARIBBEAN:
The mayor of a small town on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe temporarily closed government agencies and halted municipal services this week, due to a political dispute with city council members who refused to support the creation of an executive delegation.
ABC News reported that the closure of Le Gosier, affecting its 26,000 residents, was expected to last until at least Wednesday.
The island’s prefect planned to file a court appeal to suspend the mayor’s shutdown order.