In today’s episode:

• Council leaders sleeping out to highlight homelessness
• A former CEO admits forging a signature on her employment contract
• Demergers press ahead in NSW
• A cyber attack against a Sydney council under investigation
• An inquiry into Queensland’s councillor complaints system
• Sunshine Coast’s tough new budget
• Hobart headed for a wide open Lord Mayoral election race
• and a row in Adelaide over the site for a relocated MotoGP

and much more local government news from across Australia and beyond.

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 now:

Transcript for Episode #591:

Victorian Report

Frankston City Council leaders will sleep out this month to highlight a four-year high in local rough sleeping, with May figures showing fifty-nine people without shelter each night.

Mayor Sue Baker and CEO Tennille Bradley are using the initiative to call for two point five million dollars in state funding over four years to expand local outreach teams.

The proposed funding would enable additional outreach works to strengthen the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Zero Project.

The Frankston leaders join Northern Grampians Shire CEO Brent McAlister in signing up for the sleep out, which is taking place later this month.

The City of Melbourne is investing 2.3 million dollars into homelessness initiatives as part of its 2026–27 budget.

The funding will double the number of specialist frontline workers on the streets through the new Melbourne Outreach Team, run in partnership with Launch Housing and Ngwala Willumbong. A new Safe Space Program led by VincentCare will also be established.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the investment represents the city’s largest-ever boost to on-street outreach.

Loddon Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Lincoln Fitzgerald has been reappointed to the role.

Councillors have secured Mr Fitzgerald under a new five-year contract, which will take effect from the first of November.

Mayor Dan Straub praised his leadership through major challenges, including the 2022 and 2023 floods, and said the extension positions the rural municipality well for its upcoming Council Plan.

The City of Port Phillip has secured unanimous backing for its policy agenda at the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council.

All seven motions submitted by the council were adopted by a strong majority, targeting key regional priorities including housing supply, coastal infrastructure, and active transport funding.

Notably, Port Phillip’s motion to boost council-led social cohesion and counter religious intolerance was designated a Key Resolution by the association.

Mount Alexander Shire Council has received a significant number of community submissions regarding a proposed 1.9-million-dollar dog breeding facility in Elphinstone, according to the *Bendigo Advertiser.*

The application for the 150-dog centre remains on public advertising until June 16.

Council officers will then determine if the application meets the thresholds required to be tabled before councillors for a formal decision under the shire’s planning permit delegation policy.

Moorabool Shire Council has confirmed its long-awaited indoor aquatic centre is moving ahead following the signing of a Federal funding agreement.

The milestone ensures the delivery of a year-round facility, eliminating the need for local schools to bus students outside the municipality for swimming and water safety programs.

The council says the centre will reduce travel times and family costs while serving as a major community health and recreation hub.

Monash Council has adopted a refreshed public health approach to reducing gambling harm across its municipality, including targeted support for higher-risk groups such as young people, older women, and those experiencing financial hardship.

The policy also sets clearer guidelines for local sporting clubs and community organisations to shift away from gambling-based fundraising.

Electronic gambling machine losses in the area reached 126 million dollars over the 2024 to 2025 financial period, placing Monash among Victoria’s top ten local government areas for pokies losses.

NSW Report

A former council chief executive has admitted to forging a witness signature on her half-million-dollar employment contract to prevent councillors from blocking her appointment.

ABC News reported that Gail Connolly, the former CEO of the City of Parramatta Council, told the state’s corruption watchdog yesterday that she traced a colleague’s signature onto her contract — using light from a window — to get it signed before a rescission motion could be voted on by council.

Ms Connolly initially told the Independent Commission Against Corruption she had simply written over the electronic signature of friend and associate Roxanne Thornton, who had witnessed the signing via FaceTime. But counsel assisting the inquiry pointed to clear differences between the two signatures, prompting Ms Connolly to revise her account.

Ms Connolly is also facing allegations she misused public funds, leaked confidential documents, and helped place associates into senior council positions.

She is the last witness to take the stand as the four-week public hearing draws to a close, and will continue giving evidence today.

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is pushing ahead with its historic demerger, racing toward a July 2027 deadline to split back into two independent entities.

According to a report from the Daily Telegraph, transition teams have abandoned a simple population-based funding split in favour of a forensic transaction review.

This comes amid warnings that dividing externally restricted reserves could force one of the future councils into immediate debt to repay its partner.

Meanwhile, recruitment for two new General Managers is scheduled to begin, with the successful candidates to be in place by April next year.

Expressions of interest are now open for the Snowy Valleys Council De-amalgamation Steering Committee.

The council is seeking six community representatives—split evenly between the northern and southern regions—to work alongside elected officials and executive staff.

Chief Transition Officer Nicole Jenkins noted the committee will provide vital oversight to ensure the future councils reflect local priorities.

Applications close on the 18th of June.

An investigation is underway in Sydney’s north after a cyber attack on a third-party software provider exposed the data of Mosman Council residents.

The council confirmed the breach involves an external digital platform used to manage community services, with personal information linked to the Mosman Square Seniors Centre believed to be affected.

Mosman Council has engaged an external cybersecurity firm to determine the extent of the leak and states its core internal systems remain secure.

According to reporting by the Daily Telegraph, affected individuals are currently being contacted by the council with recommended remediation steps.

Hawkesbury City Council has struck a deal with Sydney Water to hand over the Windsor Sewer Scheme, serving around eighty-five hundred homes and businesses in the region.

From the first of July, customers will receive their wastewater bills directly from Sydney Water, with Mayor Les Sheather promising lower bills as a result.

Council will retain ownership of the McGraths Hill treatment facility under contract.

Wollongong City Council has welcomed a Land and Environment Court judgement regarding development plans for the historic Illawarra Hotel.

The decision provides a pathway forward for the 88-year-old building’s renovation while addressing council’s heritage concerns.

Under the amended application, the hotel will retain key original fabric on its first two levels and adhere to a detailed schedule of conservation works.

The Illawarra Mercury has reported the outcome as a win for the hotel in its fight against council planning bureaucracy.

Kiama Councillor Matt Brown has been awarded the prestigious National Medal for his 35 years of diligent service with the Kiama Surf Life Saving Club.

Presented by local MP Katelin McInerney, the medal honours Brown’s long-standing dedication to protecting the community during coastal emergencies.

Queensland Report

The Queensland government has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the system for handling complaints against local councillors — a process that receives around a thousand complaints every year.

Leader of the House Doctor Christian Rowan announced the probe, which will examine the effectiveness of the Office of the Independent Assessor and the Councillor Conduct Tribunal.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the inquiry follows mounting criticism of the complaints framework, particularly from Redlands City Council south-east of Brisbane — the council with the highest number of complaints in the state.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy says the government will change legislation if required to ensure the system is, quote, “fit for purpose.” The committee is due to report back to parliament by November the sixth.

Sunshine Coast Council has handed down a budget featuring a 10 per cent rates increase and 130 job cuts as it moves to address a five-year run of deficits and a remaining $7 million shortfall.

Dog registration fees will more than double, rising to $63, according to ABC News.

The staffing reductions will save $15 million annually, while councillor Taylor Bunnag has additionally floated selling or leasing the council’s new $98 million city hall and introducing a tourist “bed tax.”

The tough budget comes as councillors are set to receive a 3.25 per cent increase in pay. According to the Courier Mail, Mayor Rosanna Natoli’s salary will climb to $266k, while Sunshine Coast councillors will get $162k after 1 July.

Isaac Regional Council is proposing a new “Isaac Future Fund” to help secure long-term services as coal mining declines.

The plan would divert millions each year by cutting early-payment rate discounts for mining leases, workforce accommodation and renewables projects—while keeping discounts for other ratepayers unchanged.

Council says the fund could grow to around fifty million dollars before being invested, with a long-term goal of building it to five hundred million, to cushion future generations from sharp rate rises.

Southern Downs Regional Council has proactively tightened water restrictions for Stanthorpe in response to declining levels at Storm King Dam.

Under the newly locked-in framework, low-level restrictions will completely ban sprinklers and water play toys, while medium and high-level triggers will enforce stricter alternate-day watering schedules and vehicle washing limits.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton said the measures aim to prudently manage supplies ahead of a dry winter, following strong community feedback advocating for early action.

More from Warwick Today & Stanthorpe Today.

Rockhampton Regional Council has delivered over 130 kilometres of road repairs, grading, and re-sheeting across 80 roads in the first quarter of the year.

Part of the ongoing Better, Safer Roads Program, the works target critical rural and urban connections, including Westwood and Gracemere.

Infrastructure Councillor Marika Taylor says the maintenance is essential to extending asset life and delivering long-term value for ratepayers across the region’s 1,900-kilometre network.

Tasmania

Hobart is heading for a wide-open lord mayoral contest after Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds confirmed she won’t seek re-election at October’s council vote and will step down in August to take up a role with the Global Solar Council.

ABC News reported that three sitting councillors — Ryan Posselt, Bill Harvey and Louise Bloomfield — have already declared their intentions, while John Kelly and Marti Zucco say they’re still considering a run.

The campaign will unfold as Hobart City Council prepares to shrink from 12 members to nine, with candidates promising to lift standards and address what some have described as a toxic chamber culture.

Bloomfield, an alderman and accountant, has formally launched her bid, telling Pulse Tasmania she wants to prioritise affordable rates, support for business, safer streets and better maintenance and accessibility of roads, footpaths and public spaces.

Kingborough Council has won Tasmania’s Excellence in Sports Turf Management award, recognising high-quality maintenance at the Kingborough Sports Precinct.

Acting Mayor Christian Street says the honour places Kingborough among the nation’s top performers, with all state winners now in the running for the national title to be announced 22 June in Melbourne.

South Australia

A row has erupted between the South Australian Government and Adelaide City Council over a proposed major MotoGP event in the city’s Park Lands.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has heavily criticised the council, labelling them a “cabal” driven by minority interests that is trying to derail a major state economic booster.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith defended the council’s position, stating they have every right to seek information regarding the impact on the historic Park Lands, suggesting the event’s “pain” might not be worth the “gain” for the city.

More details from The Advertiser.

South Australian councils are under pressure as proposed rate increases outpace inflation.

According to The Advertiser, Holdfast Bay and Mitcham are leading metropolitan Adelaide with proposed residential rate rises of up to 6.6 per cent, driven by infrastructure costs.

Regionally, increases are higher, with Berri Barmera proposing an 8.7 per cent hike amid ongoing financial sustainability challenges.

A smelly situation in Adelaide’s south is causing a rift among neighbours, with local authorities admitting their hands are tied, according to The Advertiser.

A frustrated Marion Council resident has kicked up a stink after catching someone dumping bagged dog poo into their private green organic bin right after it had been emptied.

While it’s a headache for homeowners left with a foul-smelling bin for the next fortnight, Marion Council has confirmed there are currently no government laws or local bylaws that prohibit someone from placing waste into another resident’s household bin.

They say it is strictly a “civil matter” and are urging neighbours to politely ask offenders to stop.

Western Australia

A renewed push to allow unattached trailers, caravans and boats to be parked on residential verges in Perth’s north has been knocked back.

PerthNow reported that the City of Joondalup council has unanimously rejected a petition signed by more than 550 residents.

Under current local laws, trailers must be hitched to a vehicle, with breaches carrying a $100 fine.

Council officers cited safety, amenity and enforcement concerns.

The City of Fremantle has formally adopted a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing.

Reflecting the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the commitment applies across all council services, facilities, and community spaces.

The initiative marks a key milestone in the City’s broader Child Safe Organisation Project, embedding compliance and cultural safety into local governance.

Global Report

NZ:

Wellington’s deputy mayor is fuming over a six-hundred-thousand-dollar bill for a website — to promote the capital’s newly reopened central library.

The NZ Herald reported that Ben McNulty believes the price tag is “atrocious,” pointing out a similar site could have been built for a fortieth of the cost.

The revelation hit especially hard, he says, coming the day after the council was forced to knock back three million dollars’ worth of community funding applications.

Wellington City Council says a project like this would be unlikely to be approved today.

USA:

In Los Angeles, NBC News reports that incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has advanced to the November runoff election, following Tuesday’s primary.

Bass faces a tight race against reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, whose Pacific Palisades home was destroyed in last year’s wildfires, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

With no candidate clinching a majority, the top two finishers will face off in the general election on November 3rd.

EGYPT:

Egypt has officially launched Africa’s first driverless monorail network, taking a massive leap toward sustainable transit.

The all-electric Cairo Monorail opened its doors to passengers on the East Nile route, connecting the bustling metropolis to the rapidly developing New Administrative Capital.

Once fully completed, the network will stretch over 60 miles, dethroning China for the longest monorail system in the world, according to a CNN report.

Built by French manufacturer Alstom, the eco-friendly fleet is expected to shuttle half a million passengers daily, drastically cutting down Cairo’s legendary traffic congestion.

CANADA:

St. John’s City Councillor Tom Davis has been suspended for one month with pay, after an independent investigation found comments he made created what’s described as a “poisoned” work environment.

CBC News reports that Davis will also undergo workplace professionalism and sensitivity training, and receive a formal reprimand.

He has apologised, saying he takes full responsibility for the impact of his words, and that he plans to continue serving on council once the suspension ends.

Meanwhile, Vancouver City Council has voted not to sanction Mayor Ken Sim, despite an integrity investigation finding he misused the influence of his office and harassed Councillor Sean Orr.

All six ABC councillors voted against action. Four others backed sanctions, while Sim declared a conflict and did not vote.

The Canadian city of Prince Albert is moving forward with a plan to join Health Canada’s National Wastewater Drug Surveillance Program.

As reported by CTV News, the local council has voted to sign a memorandum of understanding to monitor local sewage for over 550 unique substances and metabolites.

Municipal leaders say the data will not measure volume, but rather identify the presence of specific illicit substances to help local health and law enforcement agencies make more informed operational and strategic decisions.

Canada’s Yellowknife City Council is considering a bylaw amendment to expand its one-dollar land sales to all non-profit affordable housing providers.

Currently restricted to Habitat for Humanity, the initiative aims to fast-track development to address a critical shortfall of over one thousand homes.

Critics on council have raised concerns regarding governance and ensuring strict vetting for participating non-profits.

According to a report from the CBC, city staff will present formal recommendations on the policy this August.