In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- An ex suburban Melbourne mayor facing sexual assault charges – but his identity cannot be revealed
- The election of a new deputy mayor at Greater Geelong delivers a brotherly leadership team
- Liverpool’s mayor at odds with the NSW Premier over the use of a council venue
- Waverley Council investigating after trees were vandalised by men claiming to be council workers
- Calls for Redland Council’s CEO recruitment process to be independently investigated
- Rate capping shapes up as an election battleground in South Australia
- A councillor resigns, new Council CEO appointments, and yet another monitor appointed in Western Australia
Also today: Stephen Yarwood joins me on Roundup Extra for a conversation about his journey from urban planner to city innovator, with a stint as Adelaide’s Lord Mayor on the way.
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 #558
Victorian Report
The Herald Sun has revealed that a former suburban Melbourne mayor and councillor is facing two charges… accused of drugging a 17‑year‑old boy… and then taking part in an act of sexual penetration in late 2019.
The man’s name… and any details that could identify him… are currently suppressed by a Victorian court… after a magistrate accepted psychiatric material and granted an interim order on mental health and safety grounds.
Prosecutors opposed the move… but the order was later confirmed. The case returns this month for a committal hearing… where a magistrate will decide if there is enough evidence for a County Court trial.
Greater Geelong is now the city of brotherly leadership… the city’s top two council jobs are now held by brothers… after Eddy Kontelj was elected deputy mayor at last night’s meeting.
He will serve until at least November… filling the vacancy left by Ron Nelson, who stepped down from the deputy role but remains a councillor.
Cr Kontelj has been on council since 2010… and says he now has more capacity to serve… and is well placed to support Mayor Stretch Kontelj in public… and behind the scenes.
The Geelong Times reported that an alternative bid by Cr Elise Wilkinson… arguing for more diversity in leadership… was defeated by a show of hands.
Victoria’s rural councils are pushing back… after Premier Jacinta Allan urged them to focus on “roads, rates and rubbish”.
Rural Councils Victoria Chair Cr Rob Amos says the remark ignores the day‑to‑day work local government does… especially outside Melbourne. He says councils run planning and environmental programs… manage parks and sport facilities… deliver youth services… and handle food safety, immunisations and animal registration.
The group argues communities often turn to councils when other layers of government fall short… and that council bashing weakens a vital voice in state debates. The message… value councils as partners… not punching bags.
Councils in the north and west of the state say they need help getting “resource ready”… as major energy, transmission and mining projects loom.
The Northwest-9 alliance of nine councils in the Wimmera and Mallee have commissioned a new impact and readiness strategy… declaring the boom could bring thousands of jobs and investment in the tens of billions… but also deepen housing pressure and strain on infrastructure and services.
They are urging state and federal governments to fund 44 actions… including a regional worker housing plan… training that is underwritten regardless of class sizes… and a targeted assessment of impacts on farming.
Boroondara City Council is pushing for tougher rules on election signs following a legal showdown with the Liberal Party.
After a crowded 2025 federal campaign in Kew led to a Supreme Court battle over footpath safety, the Council is proposing new “Electoral Signage Safety Guidelines” to ensure voters can safely access polling booths without navigating a wall of political posters.
They are also calling on the Federal Government to give the AEC more power to regulate signage, similar to the stricter rules seen in state elections. Public consultation on the new local law amendments is expected to begin soon.
The City of Port Phillip is asking for public feedback on a proposed change to its Local Law… that would let authorised officers remove encampment equipment… but only as a last resort.
Council says the power would be used only after other options are tried first… including offers of support and referrals to appropriate services.
The proposal comes as councils grapple with how to balance public safety and access to parks and streets… with the needs of people sleeping rough.
The city is directing residents to an online “have your say” survey.
Hepburn Shire Council is the latest to ask the state government to hit pause on a big change to household rubbish collection.
The state’s Circular Economy Act requires every council to move to a four-stream system by July 2027… separating general waste, recycling, glass, and food and garden organics.
The Council says it’s already rolled out organics to township households… but the rules and service standards for the full rollout still have not been finalised.
And Mayor Tony Clark says a separate glass bin could bring major costs and logistical headaches for the rural shire… without clear guidance from the state.
The City of Casey has brought in a refreshed local law… after a year-long community consultation.
Council says more than a thousand residents weighed in through surveys and workshops… and the new rules are meant to be clearer and more practical for everyday life.
The local law covers the basics… from pet ownership and property maintenance… to waste, fire safety, and some business activity.
Among the changes… temporary accommodation like a caravan or tent can be used on private land for up to two consecutive months without a permit… and some permit requirements have been removed for things like casual recreational vehicles and shipping containers… as long as they do not create amenity issues.
The Council has also released a plain-English guide.
The Borough of Queenscliffe says locals are worried about what new ownership could mean… for a heritage landmark on the Bellarine Peninsula… with the federal government signalling it wants to divest Fort Queenscliff… and partially divest Swan Island.
Councillors have endorsed a discussion paper setting out protections they want locked in… and will now roll out a community engagement process… before forming an advocacy position to take to Canberra.
The council says it is not seeking to buy the sites… but will press for safeguards… so any deal preserves heritage… keeps the places open to the public… and protects the environment.
Victorian Briefs
The Borough of Queenscliffe Council has opted not to adopt a draft policy about councillors standing for state or federal elections. After a period of consultation on the policy, the council decided to treat it as a guideline instead.
A new key worker housing project is taking shape in Eildon… with the first modular homes now delivered to a council site in Murrindindi Shire. The Council says the accommodation is designed to help essential workers live closer to their jobs… with the staged build due to roll out through 2026.
Moorabool Shire Council has presented its final submission to a major hearing into the proposed Western Renewables Link… a new high-voltage transmission line.
The Environmental Effects Statement hearing has run for about 14 weeks. The Council says its closing statement covered everything from bushfire risk and biodiversity… to heritage, farming, landscape impacts, and tourism.
And Greater Dandenong City Council is asking residents to help name a major new aquatics and wellbeing centre… set to replace the ageing Dandenong Oasis in 2027. Mayor Sophie Tan says months of community work produced a shortlist… and strong support for keeping “Oasis” has narrowed it to two options. The final say is now with the community.
NSW Report
Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun is defending a council venue that hosted a Shi’ite memorial event for Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, called the tributes “atrocious”… and flagged the need for investigations.
Mayor Mannoun says the council did not approve the event in advance… but argues that if fees were paid and no laws were broken… people should be free to mourn.
He says the Premier’s comments risk damaging social cohesion… while community views remain sharply divided over Khamenei’s legacy, according to The Australian.
In Sydney’s east… a neighbourhood dispute has spilled into an alleged act of environmental vandalism. Residents in Bondi say a group of men in high‑vis gear arrived with chainsaws… claiming they were working for Waverley Council… then cut down a paperbark tree limb by limb.
The council says the workers were not authorised… and it is investigating… with illegal tree clearing carrying penalties of up to one million dollars.
Locals are split… some telling ABC News that falling leaves have blocked stormwater drains and caused flooding… while others say the trees bring shade and birdlife… and worry the brazen daylight attack is part of a pattern… after three nearby trees were allegedly poisoned late last year.
Narrabri Shire Council is in need of a new representative following the resignation of Councillor Amanda Brown.
Cr Brown formally stepped down last Friday, citing health reasons following a cancer diagnosis. In a statement, she said she needed to focus entirely on her recovery and her family.
Mayor Darrell Tiemens has thanked Cr Brown for her dedication and care during her time in office.
The vacancy will be filled via a countback of the 2024 election votes by the New South Wales Electoral Commission, meaning a by-election will not be required.
It’s the third councillor vacancy in the region, following the resignation of Marilyn Dixon at Gwydir Council, and the death of Lone Peterson at Uralla Shire Council.
In Sydney’s south… Bayside Council says it is taking a closer look at the hidden history of Mascot Town Hall… to see whether the building’s original facade can be restored or revealed.
The council says early photos and anecdotal records suggest the town hall once had heritage features that were altered or covered over… including during work in the 1970s.
A specialist consultant has now been engaged to run an invasive heritage assessment… including removing small sections of walls and ceilings… to see what remains behind later additions.
The findings will be written up in a report… with recommendations for council’s next steps.
A western Sydney council is weighing up a simple change with a big impact… extending the working hours of its parking rangers, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Cumberland Council says the idea is to curb illegal parking… and respond to complaints about food trucks operating outside permitted hours… noisy shops… and the growing use of e-bikes in busy areas.
The proposal is expected to go through council’s usual review process… including costs, staffing, and community feedback… before any change is locked in.
In the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook Shire Council has approved the construction tender for a $10 million redevelopment of Olympic Park… a project aimed at turning the venue into a regional hub capable of hosting major carnivals and even NRL trial matches.
The Council says design will now be finalised… demolition is expected to start mid-year.
Glen Innes Severn Council is pressing the state for clearer answers on the future of the Great Northern Railway corridor north of Armidale.
The council has lodged a submission to Transport for NSW… arguing transport shapes access to health, education, jobs, and liveability… and should be treated as an enabler of growth.
Port Macquarie is keeping one of New South Wales’ biggest touch football events on the calendar… with NSW Touch Football confirming the Senior State Cup will stay in the Hastings region for the next two years.
Port Macquarie- Hastings Council says the tournament draws thousands of players, officials and supporters… and delivers a multi-million dollar boost for local tourism, accommodation and hospitality.
A long‑talked‑about rail trail in southern New South Wales is edging closer… after Snowy Monaro Regional Council backed plans for its first section near Bombala.
But the decision has reopened a familiar fight, according to About Regional… whether the path should be built on the old rail formation… or alongside it… to preserve the option of future heritage rail.
Far west councils are meeting in Cobar this week… for the Western Division of Councils annual general meeting… with a bigger question hanging over the agenda… what happens to the group itself.
The Backcountry Bulletin reports that the meeting, on the fifth and sixth of March… comes as New South Wales reviews how councils collaborate for regional advocacy.
Carrathool Shire says it will push for full membership… if the Western Division continues… and Central Darling has also signalled it wants to stay.
NSW Briefs:
Parkes Shire Council is launching an online “People’s Panel” so more locals can help shape future planning and investment. The panel will feed into upcoming work including a service satisfaction survey starting this March and a liveability survey linked to the national Liveability Census.
Upper Hunter Shire Council has secured more than a million dollars in federal funding, that it says will help cut bills and emissions. The council will match the funding with a fifty percent co-contribution... rolling out solar panels and batteries at multiple council sites… plus LED street and sports lighting… and upgrades to water and sewer stations.
Maitland City Council has secured almost a million dollars for two road safety upgrades… funded through the federal Black Spot Program.
And in Lismore… the council is calling for expressions of interest on what should happen next with the former greyhound track. The council wants flood‑aware proposals that deliver community benefit… jobs… or long‑term value.
Queensland Report
In Redland City… the mayor is calling for an independent investigation into how the council hired its chief executive… after documents raised questions about conflicts of interest and political influence.
Jos Mitchell says she supported the appointment publicly… but refused to sign CEO Louise Rusan’s contract… and wants the full recruitment process reviewed.
The Brisbane Times reports two recruitment rounds were marked by controversy… including concerns about staff sitting on the selection panel… and claims the acting CEO was added to final interviews in a meeting that veered from the agreed process.
The council says the decision was above board… and the reporting from the Brisbane Times does not allege any wrongdoing by Ms Rusan.
A new bridge south of Cairns is sparking a debate about dual naming… after two councillors voted against adding a Traditional Owner name alongside the existing “Fisheries Bridge”, according to the Cairns Post.
The crossing over the Mulgrave River at Goldsborough is being rebuilt after flood damage in late 2023.
A council report recommended “Fisheries Bridge Balngga-L”… with Balngga-L, meaning a log crossing, proposed by Traditional Owners through the Dulabed Malanbarra Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation.
Deputy Mayor Brett Olds and councillor Matthew Tickner argued two names felt unnecessary and could be seen as tokenistic… but the council still backed the dual name… eight votes to two.
Lockyer Valley Regional Council has moved to lock in stability at the top… appointing Scott Greensill as Chief Executive Officer on a four‑year contract… effective immediately.
Councillors confirmed the decision at a special meeting… after a recruitment process that drew seventy‑one applicants.
Mayor Tanya Milligan says Greensill was the clear standout… with more than forty years in local government… and formal business qualifications, including an MBA. Greensill has been acting in the role since December… following the early retirement of former CEO Ian Church.
Council says Greensill has been living in the region temporarily… and will now relocate permanently to the Lockyer Valley.
In south‑east Queensland… Ipswich City Council says its decision to appoint a City Architect has earned national recognition… with the Australian Institute of Architects awarding the President’s Medal.
Council says Mark Tendys was appointed in late 2024… to help manage rapid growth while protecting Ipswich’s built heritage and local character.
Leaders say the city is planning for around 100,000 new homes over the next two decades… and want design expertise at the decision‑making table… alongside planners and engineers.
Water management for councils is getting more complex… and Townsville is taking its expertise on the road.
Townsville City Council says its Drinking Water Quality Officer, Trish Knavel, has been sharing lessons with Cambodian utilities and Western Australia’s Busselton Water… including practical strategies for managing blue‑green algae in drinking water sources.
Trish is also working on a Monash University partnership… trialling new ways to treat algal blooms at Ross River Dam.
Council says the exchanges are about building climate resilience and improving governance… so utilities can learn faster from what works… and what fails.
Tasmania
The City of Launceston wants the public’s view on a simple question… should the riverside precinct many locals already call “Seaport” become an official place name?
The council says formal recognition would make it easier to use the name in maps and signage… and could help with tourism promotion and events.
But it says it would not change property addresses or create new administrative boundaries.
The proposed “Seaport” locality would run from the Charles Street Bridge… along the boardwalk… to the western end of the marina. Community feedback is open until Friday the 27th of March.
In Tasmania’s north‑west… Burnie City Council says it has completed a major upgrade of its CCTV network… replacing the system with modern technology and higher‑resolution cameras.
Council says 83 older cameras have been replaced with 63 new units… with smarter positioning delivering around twenty percent better coverage… including across stairwells and multiple levels.
Police now have 24‑hour access to the network… helping with incident response and investigations. The council says the work is part of a wider collaboration across Tasmania… aimed at improving visibility and safety in public spaces.
South Australia
South Australian councils are warning Canberra their local road network is at risk… unless federal “Supplementary Local Road Funding” is locked in and indexed.
They say the program has effectively been frozen for years… while costs have surged… with asphalt up nearly forty percent and rubble close to fifty.
The Local Government Association says councils maintain around three quarters of South Australia’s roads… but get the lowest federal road funding per person and per kilometre of any state or territory.
The District Council of Tumby Bay has appointed Bridget Mather as Interim Chief Executive Officer, commencing late last week.
Bridget brings many years of experience in Local Government, having held senior leadership positions and most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer at Coorong District Council.
A proposal to cap council rates is shaping up as an election battleground… and councils on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula say the fine print matters, according to Radio 5CC.
The Liberal Party says rate capping would give households more certainty… and help with cost of living… pointing to rate rises in some areas above inflation.
But the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association warns similar caps have failed elsewhere… and could squeeze councils already under pressure… forcing cuts to services and delaying essential infrastructure upgrades.
Western Australia
Yet another monitor has been appointed to a Western Australian council… the fourth this year.
The Town of Port Hedland is currently led by a panel of commissioners after the removal of the dysfunctional council last year… with elections for a new council happening later this month.
Andrew Hammond, formerly a Chief Commissioner of the City of Perth… and a local government CEO of three decades… has been installed for six months initially to work with the commissioners and the Acting CEO until the new council is sworn in.
Port Hedland joins Perth, Nedlands, and South Perth in having governance oversight from a state appointed monitor currently.
Western Australia is bracing for a sharp population rise… and one Perth council says the housing squeeze is already here.
The City of Rockingham has won state planning approval for a new structure plan… designed to add more homes in the existing city centre, instead of pushing further into greenfield suburbs.
WA Today reported that the plan maps eight sub-precincts… with mid-rise apartments in some areas… and up to 12 storeys near the foreshore, with higher buildings only under strict criteria.
Council leaders say the point is density with good transport… and a proposed rapid-transit link between the train station and the beach.
The Town of Victoria Park has released a public investigation report into tree removals linked to upgrade works at Elizabeth Baillie Park.
The town says an internal review last year found a contractor removed more trees than planned… and the council accepted responsibility… commissioning a formal investigation and public report.
The findings say there was no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing… but point to major weaknesses in project governance, documentation, and contract management… contributing to the unplanned removal of 46 trees.
Global Report
UK:
A council by-election in Wales is going ahead without one candidate… after Nicola Harteveld pulled out, after her 14-year-old son was verbally abused in the street.
Harteveld is the founder of an anti-bullying and mental health charity, set up after her daughter Megan died by suicide in 2017.
She says she expected tough politics… but not attacks that spill onto family.
Police say enquiries are ongoing… and Welsh Labour has condemned the incident as intimidation, according to BBC News. The vote for Milford Haven’s Hakin ward is on the 17th of March.
In North Yorkshire… council health officials want to spend up to four-hundred-and-seventy-seven-thousand pounds on vapes… as a stop‑smoking tool, according to BBC News.
The plan would fund reusable, rechargeable e‑cigarettes and supplies… issued through online vouchers… for residents eligible for the council’s Living Well Smokefree service.
Since the scheme began in mid‑2023… nearly five‑hundred people have tried vaping to quit… and the council says about a third were still smoke‑free a year later.
A deputy leader on Durham County Council in England has acknowledged using an AI-generated photo in a blog post about housing… after the BBC asked about an image showing a group of South Asian men beside a coach on a housing estate.
Reform UK councillor Darren Grimes had written that councils in southern England were “shipping” problem tenants, refugees, and homeless families north… and argued local people were being pushed back on social housing waiting lists.
Grimes said the image was only “illustrative”… and accused the BBC of focusing on the picture rather than the policy debate.
CANADA:
City of Ottawa staff are recommending the city allow residents to vote by mail in the October 26, 2026 municipal election, using a special mail-in ballot that would let voters participate without going to a polling place.
The same mail-in option would also apply to any by-elections during the 2026 to 2030 council term, according to CTV News.
City staff are not recommending internet or phone voting, citing security concerns, the lack of a paper trail for recounts, and barriers for voters without reliable access to technology.
A Vancouver City Council committee motion opposing any deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the city during the FIFA World Cup did not proceed to a vote last week after the chair ruled it out of order.
The ruling was based on correspondence indicating ICE would not be present for games in Vancouver, according to CTV News.
Supporters argued the motion was meant to be pre-emptive, while the mayor stated ICE was not invited and would not be welcome to conduct enforcement activities in Vancouver without federal authorisation.
A Windsor City councillor has introduced a motion urging the federal government to take whatever legal or diplomatic steps are necessary to ensure the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens on schedule this year.
The move follows comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the opening could be blocked unless compensation issues are addressed.
The councillor argues the bridge should open as soon as it is safe, and emphasises its long-term importance for Canada–U.S. trade, tourism, and the regional economy.
USA:
With the FIFA World Cup just months away… state and local officials in the U.S. are warning security plans are being squeezed by money… and by gaps in information sharing.
At a House hearing… leaders from host regions said they are preparing for both physical attacks and cyber threats… but key federal grant programs have been cut back or paused… leaving cities to cover staffing, training, and coordination costs.
According to Route Fifty dot com, some are warning that major fan events could be scaled back without the funding… and time is running short to get partners aligned before kickoff.
NZ:
Christchurch ratepayers could be facing an eye-watering bill for rail safety upgrades… as the city council negotiates with KiwiRail to cut the cost.
The Otago Daily Times reported that the flashpoint is the Scruttons Road level crossing… after KiwiRail previously warned it could close part of the Heathcote Expressway unless major works went ahead.
Council says it has money set aside in later years… but wants a “minimum safe viable” solution… and a priority list that tackles the highest-risk crossings first.
The total budget for level crossing projects sits around fifty million dollars… though final costings for Scruttons Road are expected to come in lower.
A decade-long payroll problem has landed Hamilton City Council with a hefty clean-up bill… after a review found staff may have been underpaid under New Zealand’s Holidays Act.
According to the Waikato Times, the council says it has already paid out more than one-point-three million dollars to current and former employees… including about seven-hundred-and-forty-seven thousand dollars in the latest remediation phase.
It says 1,229 people have been identified as potentially underpaid… and contacted. The issue was picked up through ongoing reviews… after a national audit by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Roundup Extra: “From Urban Planner to City Innovator: Stephen Yarwood’s Journey”
Former Adelaide Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood shares his journey from urban planner to city innovator, exploring the transformative power of technology and AI in urban development.
Discover insights on smart cities, community engagement, and the future of local government in this engaging interview.
Listen at the 28 minute mark of today’s episode.