Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Ministerial confirmation that an administrator is coming for Hepburn Shire
• Stonnington weighs fixes to blunt $4.1m congestion levy hit
• Wyndham security patrol trial ends
• Broken Hill backs the lifting of the NSW uranium ban
• Cairns Council rejects “dysfunction” claims
• Hobart’s deputy lord mayor referred to police over “Snackgate” allegations
• and the shock death of a serving New Zealand Council CEO

and more of the latest local government news from across Australia and beyond.

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The Local Government News Roundup is supported this month by LG Innovate 2026: the national AI summit for local government, hosted by Davidson, in partnership with Amazon Web Services.

Local Government News Roundup listeners can purchase their tickets now at davidsonwp.com with the promo code “lgnews” for 15% off before the 21st of August.

Victoria

The Victorian Local Government Minister Paul Hamer has confirmed that he will appoint an administrator to lead Hepburn Shire Council, according to ABC News.

The decision comes after a local businessman launched private prosecutions against five of the shire’s seven councillors, forcing them to stand down and leaving the council unable to form a quorum.

Minister Hamer says the administrator will remain in place until the legal matters are resolved to ensure uninterrupted service delivery for local residents.

The suspended mayor, Cr Tony Clark, welcomed the news, but said he’d like to see the government put more emphasis on addressing a solution for the private prosecution issue.

Stonnington Council will tonight consider a package of changes to ease [the financial hit from the state government’s congestion levy.](file:///Users/chriseddy/Downloads/Council-Meeting-3-August-2026-Agenda.pdf)

The levy now costs council around four million, one hundred thousand dollars a year across ten car parks in the Chapel Street precinct, with the coming financial year the first full twelve months of impact.

Officers are proposing to close rooftop parking at the King Street and Elizabeth Street car parks, and reconfigure Elizabeth Street to qualify for a retail parking concession — expected to recover most, but not all, of the shortfall.

Wyndham City Council’s six-month Security Patrol Trial in Truganina has wrapped up, with findings now under review.

The trial began in November, with nightly patrols across public areas, business precincts and community facilities — aimed at providing a visible after-hours safety presence, deterring anti-social behaviour, and recording issues for referral to authorities.

Council says 973 incidents were logged, with most described as minor, and 10 cases where patrols were first responders to safety or crime-related incidents.

Survey research found residents’ concern about crime in local neighbourhoods fell by 37 per cent.

Melton City Council will scale back its role in delivering Commonwealth-funded aged care services, after reviewing its model in response to federal reforms.

Council says it will keep providing support under the Commonwealth Home Support Program until the current funding deal ends on June 30, 2027 — but from July 1, 2027, it won’t sign on as a provider under the new “Support at Home” program.

The Mayor, Cr Lara Carli, says the change will give residents access to a wider range of specialised care options, while Council continues local positive ageing programs and state-funded support for younger people not eligible for the NDIS.

Moonee Valley City Council has approved an eight storey apartment development on Mount Alexander Road in Essendon, replacing the existing two storey building on the site.

The proposal, from the Macedonian Community Welfare Association, will deliver thirty five apartments within the North Essendon Major Activity Centre.

Thirteen objections were lodged, raising concerns about neighbourhood character, site layout and building mass.

Councillors determined the development, subject to conditions, represented a net community benefit.

The City of Greater Geelong has launched its 2026 Priority Projects advocacy campaign, calling on political parties to commit to major rail infrastructure upgrades ahead of the state election.

Council is targeting four key regional priorities, including the delivery of an Armstrong Creek rail spur, establishment of passenger rail services to Bannockburn, and reinstatement of the Geelong-Werribee rail line.

Councillors say bipartisan support is critical to support the municipality’s rapid population growth and expanding local workforce.

In more news from Victorian councils:

Swan Hill Rural City Council mayor Stuart King has condemned the antics of a copycat graffiti vandal, after Pam the Bird images appeared on the town’s sound shell and a new $400,000 public toilet block.

He said the incidents are “very disappointing”, and a wasteful misuse of ratepayer funds. They have been reported to police, according to the Herald Sun.

Whittlesea City Council is urging the Victorian Government to urgently invest in Melbourne’s north, funding transport, housing, community services and stronger local planning powers, to meet the needs of the municipality’s rapidly growing population ahead of the November state election.

Mitchell Shire Council has launched five priority projects it wants funded ahead of the 2026 Victorian State Election: Beveridge Train Station, Kilmore Secondary School, Greenhill Recreation Precinct, Kilmore Bypass and the Hilldene Employment Precinct. The Council says the projects are necessary to support its growing communities with better transport, services, safety and jobs.

Boroondara City Council has revealed early designs to refurbish the heritage Michael Tuck Stand at Glenferrie Oval into flexible, inclusive sport and community spaces. Construction is expected to start later this year after the contract is awarded.

New South Wales

Hornsby Shire Council has confirmed Glen Magus as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, following a competitive recruitment process.

Mr Magus has served as Acting General Manager since November last year, and brings more than twenty-eight years of experience with Council, including seven years as Director Corporate Support.

Mayor Warren Waddell said Mister Magus’s deep knowledge of local government and the community made him the standout candidate.

Dubbo Regional Council has sent a proposal to ask voters their view on having a popularly elected mayor for further work.

Cr Phillip Toynton’s notice of motion sought to put a referendum question at the 2028 council elections, which could shift Dubbo to a directly elected mayor from 2032.

Rather than adopt the wording outright, councillors resolved to hold a workshop on the proposal, with a report to come back to council examining the advantages, disadvantages, and cost of running a referendum.

Broken Hill City Council says the city should move quickly to secure benefits if uranium mining is legalised in New South Wales.

Mayor Tom Kennedy told council it will back lifting the ban, but only with strict environmental controls and royalties paid to Broken Hill.

Labor councillors opposed the move and called for community consultation.

A bill to repeal the ban has passed the Upper House and could reach the Lower House within weeks.

MidCoast councillors have refused a development application for a quarry at Shallow Bay, ruling it would have unacceptable impacts on the local community and environment.

The application for the site on Shallow Bay Road drew strong opposition, with a hundred and forty five submissions received — a hundred and forty three of them objections.

Councillors found the proposal would create unacceptable traffic and road safety risks, along with unresolved noise, air quality and ecological concerns, and determined it was not in the public interest.

Randwick City Council will review the operational capacity of professional lifeguard services at Coogee Beach, following a notice of motion from Cr Carolyn Martin.

The review will weigh rising visitation, growing early-morning ocean use, emergency response demands, and last month’s shark attack at the beach.

Council will investigate staffing a third lifeguard, trialling patrols from six o’clock each morning, and improving lifeguard sightlines.

A report is due to the October council meeting.

Kiama Council says its New Year’s Eve fireworks comeback is on track — but it still needs more sponsors to make the full show happen.

Council has already committed twenty thousand dollars in the new budget, and local businesses have pledged further support, taking the total so far to fifty-eight thousand.

That leaves forty-two thousand dollars still to be raised in the final weeks of the campaign toward a one-hundred-thousand-dollar target.

The Mayor says the community is over the halfway mark, and is urging any other businesses in the Kiama region to come on board.

Griffith City Council has approved a five-megawatt battery storage facility in Hanwood after Mayor Doug Curran used his casting vote to break a tied councillor vote.

While local landholders opposed placing the infrastructure on productive agricultural land, council officers advised that state planning policies override local controls and a refusal risked costly court action. More from Region Riverina.

The City of Ryde Council has tasked its Chief Executive Officer with a suite of new reviews and investigations aimed at improving public amenities and local amenity.

Among them, the CEO will audit cleaning and maintenance standards for toilets and other facilities in parks and reserves.

Council also wants a winter review of lighting hours at off-leash dog parks, and an investigation into designated shared e‑bike parking locations, including potential enforcement measures.

The CEO has also been asked to investigate the installation of a temporary human-sized “Granny Smith apple” sculpture as a temporary feature in the Eastwood Mall in October each year.

The outcome of those and other reviews will be reported to the Council through various reports over the coming months.

In more NSW Council news:

Wollongong City Council has announced that the Wollongong Tennis Club is scheduled to close on August 29, 2026, following the early lease termination by the Wisemans Park Wollongong City Bowling Club. The Council says it will assess the implications of the closure and explore options for the short and longer term future of the facility.

A regional collaboration between the Australian and NSW Governments and five Central West councils has produced a drought resilience plan and practical tools to improve preparedness and support communities and businesses when drought conditions return. The five participating councils are Cabonne, Orange, Blayney, Weddin and Cowra.

Coffs Harbour City Council says it has cut its core operational (Scope 1 and 2) emissions since 2020. It is now publicly exhibiting an updated Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan and greenhouse gas inventory that outlines actions and investment to reach net zero by 2040.

A tender has been officially released to market for specialist consultants to develop the business case and reference design for Canberra’s new National Convention and Entertainment Centre.

Jointly backed by the ACT and Federal Governments under a $31 million design commitment, the precinct aims to drive long-term civic transformation and expand regional event capacity.

Federal Minister Catherine King said the initiative represents a significant step toward delivering vital city-shaping infrastructure for the nation’s capital.

Queensland

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that negotiations have begun between the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast over transferring ownership of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre to local council.

Mayor Tom Tate has pledged council funding for a long-awaited expansion of the at-capacity facility to support the region’s business tourism economy.

Premier David Crisafulli told a Future Gold Coast event on Friday that he supports the asset transfer as an effective economic enabler for the city.

Cairns Regional Council has strongly rejected claims of internal dysfunction following state political criticism over a second misconduct finding against Mayor Amy Eden.

Councillor Brett Moller has defended the chamber, arguing that enforcing reimbursement for legal fees demonstrates strict governance and adherence to statutory compliance rather than institutional breakdown, according to Cairns Local News.

Councillors maintained that transparency around tribunal rulings reflects local accountability, dismissing external commentary as disingenuous state politics.

Cloncurry Shire Council says its application for crucial airport upgrade funding remains unanswered by the federal government nearly two years after submission, according to a report by the North Queensland Register.

Mayor Greg Campbell confirmed that while two million dollars in emergency joint government funding recently repaired wet season runway damage, the broader upgrade under the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program remains in limbo.

The council warned that without the major structural works completed, the key aviation hub for local mining and emergency services remains vulnerable to future severe weather events.

In other Queensland Council news:

Bundaberg Regional Council has rolled out three new waste collection trucks, built locally by Superior Pak, featuring AI-powered pedestrian detection and blind-spot protection.

The trucks also include autonomous emergency braking and a network of 13 cameras to boost visibility and safety in residential streets.

Works have commenced on Stage 1 of the Svensson Road upgrade, a joint project between the Queensland Government, Townsville City Council, and private developers to improve road connectivity and unlock thousands of new residential lots in Townsville’s Northern Beaches.

Logan landowner Daniella Rothkugel has partnered with Logan City Council under a Voluntary Conservation Agreement to protect and restore 18.6 hectares of vital wildlife habitat on her property.

Hinchinbrook Shire Council has launched Herbie, an AI-powered virtual assistant on its website designed to help residents easily answer routine inquiries and lodge service requests 24/7.

Tasmania

Hobart City Council has voted in a closed meeting to refer Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock to Tasmania Police over the unauthorised removal of alcohol and refreshments from the elected members’ lounge.

As reported by Pulse Tasmania, the decision reopens scrutiny into late 2023 stock losses despite a previous police review finding insufficient evidence for charges.

Councillor Sherlock has offered an unreserved apology for her conduct while characterising the renewed scrutiny as politically motivated.

The Council has published a letter from CEO Michael Stretton to the Office of Local Government and Tasmania Police on its website.

Residents in northwest Tasmania are being warned their green waste bins could go uncollected for up to six weeks if they keep putting the wrong items in.

Waste contractor Dalverton Waste Management told Yahoo! News it will stop issuing warnings from this week, after audits found ongoing contamination in FOGO bins — including plastic bags, food scraps in the wrong stream, and even reports of dangerous items like used needles.

Repeat offenders will have bins left on the kerb until the contamination is removed.

Devonport Mayor Alison Jarman says tougher action is needed to protect recycling and cut rising landfill costs.

Huon Valley Council is calling on state and federal governments to claw back tourism recovery funding from the cancelled “Transformer” project and keep it in the Valley for community-led planning.

Council says the money was originally promised after the 2018–19 bushfires and should now fund an independent, transparent master plan to guide future tourism investment.

Latrobe Council is appealing for community vigilance following a sharp increase in vandalism across public assets and infrastructure.

Recent incidents, including damage to cemetery headstones, sporting fields, and toilet amenities, have cost an estimated $80,000 and diverted substantial staff time away from core municipal services.

Mayor Peter Freshney said the financial and operational strain undermines planned community projects, encouraging residents to report suspicious activity to police.

South Australia

Adelaide Hills Council has paused plans to demolish popular community-built dirt bike jumps at Brockhoff Park following significant resident pushback.

The council had initially scheduled the removal of the Balhannah facility due to safety concerns, ongoing erosion, and tree protection issues.

Mayor Nathan Daniell confirmed the council will await a formal position from the site’s head leaseholder, the Johnston Memorial Park Committee, before deciding on any further action.

The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters has unveiled a new visual identity for the redeveloped Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre and appointed BlueFit to manage operations ahead of its official grand opening on Saturday, 10 October 2026.

Western Australia

The Shire of Gingin has welcomed the appointment of Dr Shayne Silcox as a Local Government Monitor.

Dr Silcox has been appointed to observe and provide advice on governance arrangements and council decision-making, including compliance obligations and working relationships across the organisation.

Shire President Councillor Linda Balcombe says the appointment is an opportunity to reinforce good governance and maintain community confidence.

Dr Silcox’s appointment begins this week, and runs until February 3 next year.

New Australian Bureau of Statistics data, reported by PerthNow, shows the City of Stirling led Western Australian local councils in medium and high-density dwelling approvals over the past year, ahead of Cockburn, Belmont, Melville, and Vincent.

Council leaders have defended the infill growth, citing strategic zoning around activity centres and transport corridors to support increasing population demands.

The Town of Mosman Park in Western Australia is considering a draft policy that would cap commercial fitness and recreation groups on public land at 30 participants.

According to a report by The Age, the council wants to balance public space amenity with commercial access, requiring larger groups to apply for specific event permits.

It says the policy brings together all forms of public place trading under one clear set of rules, making the process simpler, fairer and more consistent for businesses. It would also apply to coffee carts, pop-up food vendors and alfresco dining.

Public consultation on the draft policy closes on August 6.

A Beechboro resident has been fined $1,500 after a joint operation led to 110 unregistered cats being removed from a residential property.

The City of Swan pursued 31 charges under Western Australia’s Cat Act 2011 following community complaints regarding roaming animals and breaches of local keeping limits.

The Midland Magistrates Court also awarded $1,162 in costs to the council, underscoring local government enforcement powers regarding pet management and animal welfare.

Councillor Clare Campbell was elected Deputy Shire President of the Shire of Denmark at the July Ordinary Council Meeting, replacing Nathan Devenport who stepped down for personal reasons.

Brendan Whitely has been elected councillor for the Shire of Wandering, achieving almost double the quota of votes required over the only other candidate, Shenae Tilbee.

Nominations are open for an extraordinary postal election in the Shire of Northampton.

Nominations close 11th August, with the election to be held on 24 September to fill one Councillor vacancy.

The Shire of Dowerin will hold an extraordinary postal election on 24 September 2026 to fill one council vacancy (term ending 16 October 2027), with nominations also open 4–11 August 2026.

International

NZ:

Tragic news over the weekend: Hastings District Council Chief Executive To’osavili Nigel Bickle has passed away unexpectedly at his home at the age of 58.

Council leadership has paid tribute to his visionary guidance through major challenges, highlighting his dedication to local government and strong ties with Pacific communities.

Mayor Wendy Schollum said his warmth, humour, generosity and extraordinary energy will be deeply missed

Acting Chief Executive Bruce Allan has stepped into the role while council leadership supports staff and whānau.

Tararua District Council has unanimously voted against submitting an amalgamation proposal under central government’s fast-track “Head Start” pathway.

Following extensive community consultation, council determined there is insufficient evidence and certainty to justify merging local authorities ahead of the nine August deadline.

Elected members will instead explore alternative reform options, including shared services and regional collaboration, to protect local representation while strengthening efficiency.

Wellington City Council is proposing wide-ranging job cuts, with RNZ News reporting around 50 roles could be affected across several teams.

Staff have been called into group and individual meetings this week as consultation begins.

The Public Service Association says further job losses would be “the last thing Wellington needed” with the job market tight, and is urging council to reconsider.

The council says the proposals are part of budget reductions, aiming to find 31.7 million dollars in savings, and that staff will be supported through the process.

UK:

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a major UK devolution initiative, granting English mayors a retained share of local income tax and business rates revenue.

The new framework aims to reduce dependence on central grants by placing planning, transport, and employment skills decisions directly into regional hands.

While mayoral authorities have welcomed the increased financial autonomy, LocalGov reported that sector bodies caution that clear safeguards are required to ensure equitable funding for areas without mayoral structures.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has cautiously welcomed the proposal but says the final plan must adequately support the capital.

Labour has won the Greater Manchester mayoral race, with Bev Craig elected after second-preference votes were counted.

Craig took 66 percent in the final round, defeating Reform candidate Sian Astley on 34 percent.

The contest went to a second count under the supplementary voting system after Craig fell short of 50 percent on the first round.

Turnout was just 25 percent — a record low for the election, according to the Local Government Chronicle.

The BBC reports on concerns from independent councillor Patrick Lambert about Northumberland County Council‘s debt rising to nearly £900 million, roughly £5,500 per household. Council leadership maintains the borrowing is manageable and necessary for public services.

South Tyneside Council has voted 35 to 11 to rescind its 2019 climate emergency declaration -the Reform UK-led authority choosing to prioritise core services and cost-of-living concerns over non-statutory climate targets despite strong opposition from rival councillors and environmental campaigners.

USA:

Minneapolis City Council Vice President Jamal Osman has pushed back against comments by a local sheriff singling out the Somali community over youth crime, urging leaders to focus on citywide solutions.

Speaking to CBS News Minnesota, Osman said that tackling youth violence requires targeted early employment programmes, adult mentorship, and stronger collaboration between the council and the mayor’s office.

He also called for increased police deployments in high-risk zones while addressing chronic municipal staffing shortages.

Meanwhile in St Paul, the mayor Kaohly Her maintains she will not resign despite allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards city staff, according to reports from the MinnPost.

Under the city charter, any mayoral vacancy would require the St Paul City Council to appoint an interim mayor within 30 days.

Mayor Her is only seven months into her mayoral term

In New York state, the Johnstown Common Council has unanimously accepted the resignation of Councilmember-at-Large Scott Jeffers following his guilty plea in a criminal matter, reports NEWS10 ABC.

Mr Jeffers reportedly accepted a plea deal, admitting to having inappropriate communication with a child during his time as a teacher and coach in the Greater Johnstown School District.

Mayor Amy Praught announced the municipality is accepting applications until August 7 to fill the interim vacancy through to the end of the year.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty is resisting introducing major operational changes to council chamber protocols, following repeated public meeting disruptions that have forced proceedings into recess.

According to CBS News Sacramento, the local leadership is continuing to weigh free speech protections against maintaining order during civic debates over controversial data-sharing agreements.

Mayor McCarty says he expects the disruptions to subside, and is not calling for any major changes in the meantime.

CANADA:

The Mayor of Wetaskiwin in Alberta has launched judicial review proceedings after the municipal council restricted his access to city hall following an internal harassment investigation.

CBC News reported Joe Branco’s legal application claims council breached procedural fairness and unlawfully transferred mayoral authority to the city manager.

The court challenge examining the legality of administrative sanctions against elected officials is scheduled to be heard on 18 August.

Meanwhile in Ontario, the mayor of Windsor has raised the alarm about a lack of candidates for the upcoming municipal election, and is calling for skilled, qualified people to put themselves forward.

CTV News reported only 17 candidates have registered across ten council seats, with one ward without any nominees at all.

And only two people have filed nomination papers for the office of mayor.

Mayor Drew Dilkens says there is need for diverse expertise around the council table to effectively oversee the city’s complex $1.3 billion budget and 3,000-strong workforce.