On the latest episode of the Local Government News Roundup:
- A mayoral deadlock in Wyndham
- Yarra’s mayor makes wild admissions while trying to get an assault charge dropped
- A leadership crisis at the City of Ryde, with three top executives sidelined
- A deputy mayor facing conduct questions over a local health dispute
- A long serving NSW General Manager is stepping down
- Mayors react to a backflip on a planned expansion for SBS in western Sydney
- Evacuations at a Queensland council after a threat to public buildings
- and a WA council calls for a monitor to help with culture and governance issues
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony 3, and Rath Engineering Development.
Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform, or by clicking here.
Transcript for Episode #565
Victorian Report
A political stalemate in Wyndham City Council remains unresolved, after a second attempt to elect a new mayor ended in a deadlocked chamber on Wednesday night.
The vacancy in the mayoralty follows the February suspension of former Mayor Josh Gilligan after a finding of misconduct by an arbiter.
Since then, Councillor Preet Singh has been serving as acting mayor, but a formal vote to fill the position for the remainder of the 2025-26 term has exposed deep divisions in the councillor group.
During Wednesday night’s session, the chamber split into two identical five-vote blocs. One group, led by Councillors Shannon McGuire and Mia Shaw, nominated Acting Mayor Preet Singh. The opposing faction, led by Robert Szatkowski and Jasmine Hill, put forward Councillor Peter Maynard.
After a ten-minute adjournment intended to break the impasse, a second vote yielded the exact same result: five to five.
The timing of the leadership vacuum is particularly sensitive as a state election approaches. Observers suggest that a fractured council may struggle to present a unified voice in its advocacy towards election candidates.
Councillors are scheduled to return for a third attempt to break the tie on Monday, March 23rd at 6:00 PM. Suspended councillor Josh Gilligan is not due back from his forced absence until 25th March.
Yarra City Council Mayor Stephen Jolly has asked prosecutors to drop an unlawful assault charge… linked to an election afterparty in Collingwood last November.
Defence lawyer Tony Hargreaves told Magistrate Samantha Seoud that Jolly did not assault anyone … and says six sworn witness statements support that position.
Cr Jolly appeared by video link and says he will plead not guilty.
After the hearing, Cr Jolly spoke to television journalists and made what 9News described as “wild admissions” about other accusations for which he has not been charged.
The Herald Sun reported the charge he is facing carries a maximum three months jail … and is not classified as a serious offence under local government law … meaning Jolly can remain as mayor while the case proceeds.
He returns to court on March twenty five.
From July first … Kingston Council’s AccessCare service will take on selected Commonwealth Home Support Program services for Frankston City clients … after Frankston Council decided to withdraw from some CHSP delivery as national reforms roll out.
Frankston Mayor Cr Sue Baker says the council will keep services like Meals on Wheels … group outings … and community transport.
Kingston Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley says AccessCare has supported local seniors for more than 30 years … and will focus on a stable, caring transition.
Frankston has set up a transition team … and staff can apply for roles at AccessCare.
Yarra Ranges Council has won a Magistrates’ Court case against an Upwey landowner … who destroyed nine protected eucalypts without a permit.
The resident admitted the offences … and was fined fifteen thousand dollars.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Councillor Richard Higgins says planning permits are a State Government requirement … and are there to protect biodiversity … tree canopy … and reduce risks like landslip.
He says a quick call to council could have avoided the penalty.
Maroondah Council says the penalty for nuisance barking dogs has become too small to change behaviour… after a statewide cut that dropped the fine from 102 dollars to 51.
The Leader reported that Councillors have voted to take a motion to the MAV State Council… calling for an urgent review of the Domestic Animals Act.
Councillor Julie Spears says barking dog complaints are among the toughest disputes to resolve… leaving neighbours stressed and sleep deprived… while residents spend weeks gathering evidence.
Council officers warn many owners may simply pay the fine and ignore the warning… pushing cases toward court.
Victoria is trying to cut truck traffic through Melbourne’s inner west … by changing what can be built on key industrial land.
But Maribyrnong City Council says the state’s rezoning plan may not deliver the outcome residents want.
Planning Amendment GC276 would shift parts of West Footscray, Tottenham and Yarraville–Cawley from Industrial 1 to Industrial 3 … aimed at moving the precinct away from heavy freight uses.
Mayor Councillor Mohamed Semra says the community wants fewer trucks and cleaner air … but council is not yet convinced rezoning alone will bring meaningful reductions.
He says council is urging a broader package … including low emissions zones … infrastructure upgrades … and other planning tools.
Pyrenees Shire Council is preparing a submission to Victoria’s Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Bushfires … after the Streatham Yalla-Y-Poora fire on January ninth.
Mayor Councillor Damian Ferrari says the inquiry is a chance to set out what worked … what did not … and what communities need for recovery.
Council says it will describe damage to infrastructure … disruption to the environment and local economy … and the limits a small shire faces in major emergencies.
The submission is due by April nineteenth.
Bass Coast Shire Council will take a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council in May … calling for stronger transparency and community consultation … and tighter accountability when the State Government fast tracks major proposals.
Mayor Councillor Rochelle Halstead says recent permit changes linked to the Vietnam Veterans Museum at Cape Woolamai were made with little or no local input … and without a right of review.
She says councils and communities should have a real say … before decisions become concrete.
Victorian Briefs
Corangamite Shire Council has secured thirty thousand dollars from the TAC’s Local Government Grants Program … to buy a portable LED roadside sign.
The five-colour variable message sign will also have radar … helping council track speeds and plan future safety work.
Bass Coast Shire has joined a coalition of Victorian councils urging the State Government to rethink the mandated kerbside glass recycling bin … the so-called purple bin … due by July 2027.
The council says the service could cost around three million dollars to roll out … and add roughly thirty six to forty two dollars a year to household waste charges.
Greater Bendigo is about to see top-level hockey up close … with the Melbourne Cobras committing to play a home game in the region in both 2026 and 2027.
Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Thomas Prince says it is a chance to bring world-class sport to local families … and to inspire the next generation of regional athletes.
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 and Alpine Shire Council.
The dashboard helps keep the community safe and prepared before during and after emergencies… pulling together live data including weather, traffic, 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
NSW Report
The City of Ryde has been plunged into a state of administrative uncertainty following a marathon, four-hour closed-door council meeting that resulted in the immediate standing down of three of its most senior officials.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Chief Executive Wayne Rylands, Deputy CEO Michael Galderisi, and Governance Boss Graham Humphreys have all been placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation.
While sources confirm an investigation is underway, no specific allegations of wrongdoing have been made public. Mr. Rylands, who has led the organisation since 2022, has been temporarily replaced by John Angilley, the council’s current director of business services and a former executive at the City of Parramatta.
According to the report, the decision unfolded during a high-tension Monday night meeting characterised by secrecy and procedural confusion.
Following the meeting, automated “out of office” replies confirmed the executives’ absence. Mr. Galderisi’s email indicated a return date of April 6, while Mr. Rylands directed all inquiries to his assistant.
Official minutes for the session note that information was presented in a Mayoral Minute, along with an associated verbal briefing. The minutes confirm the appointment of Mr Angilley as acting CEO, and that other details of the matter remain confidential.
In Albury … the deputy mayor is facing scrutiny over comments tied to a local health dispute.
The Border Mail reports that Cr Jessica Kellahan is believed to be under investigation for a possible breach of the NSW Model Code of Conduct … after remarks about the termination of Border surgeon Dr John Stuchbery’s contract with Albury Wodonga Health last November.
According to documents seen by The Daily Telegraph … Ms Kellahan said she could not confirm the exact wording … but that it reflected the strength of community concern at the time… and was aimed at the lack of transparency … not confidential employment matters.
Albury Council and Cr Kellahan are yet to comment publicly on the matter.
Albury Council is weighing whether to seek approval for rate rises above the state cap… as it warns inflation and a big asset base are putting the budget under strain.
The Border Mail reported that Councillors will be asked to begin the process for a special rates variation… which would need sign-off from the pricing regulator IPART.
Mayor Kevin Mack says the 2026-27 cap of 3.6 per cent is below inflation… and staff say without action, borrowing for major projects like a new water treatment plant could become much harder.
After two decades at Mid-Western Regional Council … including more than twelve years as general manager … Brad Cam is stepping down.
Mayor Councillor Des Kennedy says Cam led a major program of infrastructure and community builds … while keeping council financially sustainable.
Cr Kennedy points to transport upgrades like Ulan Road and Cope Road … and projects including the Mudgee Town Hall renovation and the Mudgee Arts Precinct as examples of Mr Cam’s legacy.
Brad will remain in the role until July tenth … with recruitment for a new general manager to begin soon.
For Western Sydney … it was meant to be a vote of confidence in Australia’s multicultural heart.
The Federal Government has told SBS it will not proceed with a planned expansion into the western suburbs … citing the fiscal environment.
Liverpool City Council Mayor Ned Mannoun says dumping the move after more than a decade of advocacy is a “massive betrayal of trust” … and he is urging residents to pressure their local MPs.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter is also speaking out. He says the reversal is an insult to the region … and raises questions about equity and opportunity.
And Blacktown Council has released a statement, in which a spokesperson said the council hopes it is a temporary setback, and that it was “pleased to read reports that a bid by Walker Corporation for SBS to be located in Blacktown city centre was regarded favourably.”
A Central Coast councillor has pushed back at claims debate is being shut down at the council.
Councillor Trent McWaide says every councillor is working under the same code of meeting practice … and that procedural rules are there so decisions can be made … and outcomes delivered.
In response to a Coast Community News article, he argued that a small minority is chasing media narratives … instead of practical solutions … and warns against what he calls “weaponising” procedure.
Cr McWaide says the focus should stay on jobs … infrastructure … and protecting the Coast’s natural environment.
A Tamworth Local Court has heard police allegations that Tamworth Regional Council general manager Paul Bennett … received more than 300 threatening messages over 17 years.
Bennett told the court the emails portrayed him as corrupt … and included claims about his family … leaving him distraught.
The Northern Daily Leader reported that the court heard the council diverted the messages away from his inbox … for his mental health.
68 year old Andre Fritze… has pleaded not guilty to intimidating Bennett. The matter has been adjourned to August.
Lithgow City Council says a new landfill gas capture partnership has cut emissions by more than seven thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in just two months … by pulling methane from the Solid Waste Facility and burning it in an enclosed flare.
Mayor Cassandra Coleman says it is a win for air quality … less odour … and a new revenue stream for ratepayers through Australian Carbon Credit Units.
LGI chief executive Jarryd Doran says phase one included drilling thirty gas wells and laying more than a kilometre of pipe … with long term results expected.
NSW Briefs:
The NSW Government is injecting $120,000 into the Riverina to tackle a growing feral rabbit problem.
The funding will support baiting and warren ripping across the Coolamon, Junee, and Temora shires, focusing on public lands like road reserves and cemeteries.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says the move protects both farm productivity and native plants, with expert masterclasses slated for Wagga Wagga this May.
A new state taskforce has been fast-tracked to support Blue Mountains communities reeling from the closure of the Great Western Highway at Mitchells Causeway.
Following the discovery of structural fractures, Mayor Mark Greenhill warns that local roads in Mount Victoria and Blackheath are struggling under the diverted traffic.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says the priority is now providing a coordinated liferaft for small businesses and schools caught in the gridlock.
Beach safety is getting a high-tech upgrade at Maroubra and Coogee with the arrival of dedicated shark bite kits.
Designed for bystanders to use before paramedics arrive, each kit contains a tourniquet, thermal blanket, and simple instructions for emergency trauma.
Randwick City Council says while attacks remain rare, having these tools directly on the sand ensures help is seconds away if the worst happens.
Queensland Report
For a few hours in Dalby yesterday … council staff and courthouse workers had to leave their desks … after police received reports of a threat to public buildings on the Western Downs.
Queensland Police say the report came in around eight fifty in the morning … prompting evacuations and building checks.
Western Downs Regional Council confirmed staff were moved out of customer service centres … and that everyone was safe. Staff were cleared to return by late morning.
Police later said the threat was unsubstantiated … and inquiries are continuing into what happened.
A Google Maps shortcut is sending Bruce Highway drivers onto Giddy Road near Ayr… a narrow rural bypass built for local traffic but now carrying heavy vehicles at 100 kilometres an hour.
Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort says the detour took off after the highway speed limit was cut to 80… making the back road look quicker on the app.
The Townsville Bulletin reported that the council is working with the state transport department to review Giddy Road’s limit… hoping to remove the time-saving incentive… and reduce the risk of a serious crash at its intersection with the Bruce.
In the Whitsundays … after a forty four day consultation … Whitsunday Regional Council has voted to keep its six-division model for the 2028 local government elections … rather than moving to an undivided system.
The process drew more than fourteen hundred engagements … through surveys, stalls and interviews.
Mayor Ry Collins says people wanted a councillor who knows the needs of their local area … especially in communities like Bowen, Collinsville and Proserpine.
The council says some residents still saw benefits in an undivided model … but the majority backed divisions.
In Hinchinbrook Shire… a new round of trunk sewer works is being rolled out to unlock future housing in growth areas around Ingham and Toobanna.
The Queensland Government is funding the project… aimed at building the large pipes and pump capacity that new estates will eventually connect into.
Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo says it is unglamorous work… but it is the backbone that makes new homes possible.
Council is stressing the project will not run sewer lines onto private land… and it will not force existing homes to connect.
In other Queensland news:
Townsville is celebrating a historic 130-year bond with Japan… marking the anniversary of Australia’s first Japanese diplomatic office.
Mayor Nick Dametto met with Consul-General Ishikawa Katsutoshi… to honour the legacy of the original North Ward consulate.
While the history is deep, the Mayor says the future is practical… focusing on sister-city ties and growing partnerships in renewable energy and hydrogen.
In the southwest, Telstra CEO Vicki Brady has visited Goondiwindi to witness the region’s mobile “dead zones” firsthand.
Following the 3G shutdown, Mayor Lawrence Springborg warned that patchy service is threatening local businesses and emergency communications during floods and fires.
Council remains skeptical of Telstra’s official coverage maps… vowing to hold the telco accountable until service improves.
And Livingstone Shire Council is looking ahead… kickstarting plans for a future civic precinct in Yeppoon.
Mayor Adam Belot says the project aims to consolidate a new library, community centre, and council chambers… into one central hub to meet rapid population growth.
While no final decision to build has been made… the council is now moving into community engagement… to define the region’s needs for the decades to come.
South Australia
As petrol prices spike across the country, some councils are asking what should be promoted in public spaces.
InDaily SA reports that the City of Onkaparinga has voted to stop new fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship on council-owned land … targeting companies whose main business is coal, oil or gas.
Councillor Marion Themeliotis moved the motion … as groups like the Conservation Council of South Australia push councils to line up spending with climate targets.
CEO Kirsty Bevan says it is a step toward a planned transition away from fossil fuels … rather than talking about emissions while still marketing the biggest contributors.
Mitcham Council in Adelaide’s inner south is considering a new rates approach aimed at vacant land and short-stay rentals… in what it says is a push for fairness, according to Adelaide Now.
Under the draft plan… about 58 homes used mainly for Airbnb-style stays could see average annual rates rise from around $2,400 to $5,800… if the property is available for more than 182 nights a year.
The proposal would also lift charges on vacant blocks held for more than five years… with higher tiers for longer ownership… to discourage land banking and encourage development.
Mitcham Mayor and LGA SA President Heather Holmes-Ross says consultation starts next month… with a decision expected in June.
Mount Gambier is marking a milestone … with a year of community-led events to celebrate 150 years since the town was proclaimed.
Council has endorsed the program and set aside funding … including a one-off grants pool of up to five thousand dollars for local groups to run their own anniversary projects.
Mayor Lynette Martin says it is a chance to reflect on the city’s journey … and create new memories.
Western Australia
In Western Australia, the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale has made a proactive call for help with its culture and governance.
In an urgent business motion at its meeting this week, the Council resolved to formally request that the Local Government Inspector, Tony Brown, appoint a Monitor to the Shire.
This follows a 2025 report into psychosocial risks and workplace management, which Cr Kim Glisenti told the meeting raised concerns about “harmful behaviours, including bullying and a lack of understanding of proper behaviour.”
In a statement, the Shire said it is already rolling out new training and reporting processes for staff and councillors.
Speaking to the meeting, Shire President Rob Coales described the last six months as the worst of his life, and challenged all councillors to look at their social media behaviour… describing “lies, mistruths and nasty” comments on Facebook.
There were two confidential matters listed for this week’s agenda, relating to alleged behavioural breaches under its code of conduct. The urgent business item followed the confidential session.
The request for a monitor comes after the Inspector’s powers were expanded in January, and the subsequent appointment of monitors at Perth, South Perth, Port Hedland and Nedlands Councils.
The Shire says it welcomes the opportunity to work with Mr. Brown as he reviews the request.
An alleged misuse of public money is playing out far from the council chamber in WA. Police say a former deputy chief executive at the Shire of Coorow … has been charged over claims he used council expense accounts to buy electronic items for personal benefit … then sold some and kept the money.
WA Today reported that it’s alleged that Sam Curulli, 27, returned the day after his employment ended … and stole about three thousand dollars worth of products.
A search warrant in North Fremantle allegedly uncovered stolen property and MDMA.
Mr Curulli has been charged with acting corruptly … stealing … attempting to gain benefit by fraud … perjury and drug possession.
The Shire of Coorow released a statement… saying some of the alleged matters were referred by the Shire to WA Police.. and that it will make no further comment, in the interests of justice.
The case returns to court on April twenty three.
In Subiaco… more than a thousand pieces of community feedback have come in on concept designs for a new civic building and gardens.
A consultation report compiled by external consultants will go to council on Tuesday March 24.
The biggest concerns were the possible loss of green space… the project cost… and whether a new build is needed at all.
Supporters spoke about protecting and improving the existing gardens… and a sense of pride in the city’s heritage and character. Survey sentiment was mixed however… with more negative responses than positive.
Free parking at Cottesloe Beach could be on the way out… with the Town of Cottesloe reviewing whether to charge beachgoers, according to WA Today.
Mayor Melissa Harkins says paid bays could ease the squeeze as housing density rises… and help manage demand at peak times.
An external report commissioned by the council has recommended the change… but locals have pushed back… arguing the beach should stay accessible to everyone.
Global Report
NETHERLANDS:
Days before municipal elections in the Netherlands… six city council candidates have died… but as the NL Times reported, their names will still appear on the ballot papers because candidate lists are now locked in.
The latest was André Lemmens… a candidate in Beekdaelen… remembered as friendly, enthusiastic and deeply committed.
Voters in places including Gouda, Enschede and Waterland will also see the names of Marian Eisden and four other candidates who died in recent days.
It is a reminder that elections run on strict deadlines… even when real life intervenes.
UK:
A court ruling in Birmingham is putting fresh pressure on a long-running bin strike … with the union Unite fined two hundred and sixty five thousand pounds for breaching an injunction.
The High Court found Unite obstructed waste vehicles at depots … despite an order banning that behaviour, according to LocalGov news site.
Birmingham City Council says the decision draws a clear line on what is acceptable on picket lines.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport Councillor Majid Mahmood says the ruling should send a message about conduct during the dispute.
Unite calls the fine an attempt to intimidate workers … and says members will not “pay the price” as the pay and role change dispute continues.
A new survey says the repair backlog for roads in England and Wales has climbed to a record eighteen point six billion pounds … work it estimates would take about twelve years to clear.
Budgets are up … but the Asphalt Industry Alliance says improvements are still only marginal … after years of underinvestment and rough weather.
The AA says it recorded 137 thousand pothole-related callouts in just two months.
Local Government Association councillor Tom Hunt says extra money helps … but councils still need sustained funding and long-term certainty.
IRELAND:
In Limerick… the region’s biggest business group is warning the new directly elected mayor model could lose credibility… unless the Irish government brings forward a promised review of the legislation.
That’s according to a report from the Limerick Leader.
Chamber chief executive Donnacha Hurley says the office held by Mayor John Moran was meant to be a bold new kind of local leadership… but the laws have left the mayor without the executive levers needed to deliver… on housing… budgets and staffing.
The Chamber has written to government ministers… urging an immediate review… and substantive changes… before problems become entrenched.
CANADA:
A tiny Nova Scotia town is weighing a big new symbol … a life-size wooden mermaid planned for a rock just offshore at Lockeport.
Deputy Mayor Craig Hillen says the statue could help draw visitors to Crescent Beach and the town centre … and would be funded by donations, not taxpayers.
But former mayor Cory Nickerson calls the idea arbitrary … saying tourism should not come at the expense of Lockeport’s real heritage … especially as residents worry about identity amid wider change.
Supporters say the mermaid would be whimsical and family friendly. CBC News reports that the debate now is what story the town wants to tell.
USA:
In Independence, Missouri … a fight over a proposed AI data centre is moving from council chambers to the courts, according to KCUR News.
Residents are suing after the city blocked a referendum petition that could have forced a public vote on more than six billion dollars in tax breaks approved for a company called Nebius.
Opponents say the city charter protects the right to put even fast‑acting ordinances to a vote … if enough signatures are gathered in time.
The city says the incentives took effect immediately because they authorise contracts … and cannot be challenged by referendum. Crews have already begun work on the site.
NZ:
Dunedin City Council is starting the search for its next chief executive … opening the recruitment process for the role that runs the organisation day to day.
The council says the next leader will inherit big decisions … from infrastructure to community services … and will be expected to keep the organisation steady while meeting the public’s expectations for transparency and performance.