On the Local Government News Roundup today:

• Victoria’s library funding “broken” as fringe councils boom
• Bin-top basket recycling spreads across Victoria
• Kiama councillor quits; by-election clock starts ticking
• Strathfield bins Homebush rename plan
• A Sunshine Coast developer takes the council to court over a $15M charge
• South Australian mayor ghosted by Woolies over dumped trolleys
• Shire of Harvey appoints interim CEO
• NZ mayor rejects Waikato “super council” push

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony 3, and Rath Engineering Development.

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Stories in this episode:

Victorian Report

From ABC News, calls are growing for a major reform to Victoria’s public library funding model, with advocates warning that fast-growing fringe councils are being chronically underfunded.

Public Libraries Victoria says state funding has failed to keep pace with rapid population growth in outer-metropolitan corridors like Melton and Wyndham.

While the state government defends its ten-year, 567-million-dollar investment in libraries, councils warn they may be forced to wind back vital community literacy services without urgent indexation.

From the Border Mail: Wodonga Council has adopted is budget, unchanged from the draft that went to public exhibition.

The budget includes a cut in funding for the HotHouse Theatres, which has led to claims the council is neglecting the arts.

Michelle Cowan was the only councillor to vote against the budget.

Stonnington City Council has issued a provisional tree removal permit, breaking a months-long planning deadlock at the historic Windsor Castle Hotel.

The Stonnington Leader reports that the development follows a dispute with the venue’s owners over a Bhutan Cypress tree, which council initially refused to cut down due to its health and prominence.

Stonnington Chief Executive Dale Dickson rejected claims of council negligence. He said the delays were caused by the applicant’s failure to provide sufficient evidence in a timely manner.

Bass Coast Shire Council says it ****is progressing the Stage One design for the Phillip Island Sporting Precinct, targeting a July completion date.

The master-planned development features two senior-sized ovals, four netball courts, and a fenced off-leash dog park.

Council is actively advocating to state and federal governments to secure external funding for the tier-one priority project.

A growing number of Victorian councils are attaching wire baskets to public bins to make it easier for people to participate in Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme — and the trend is picking up pace.

Port Phillip, Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula Shire were among the first off the mark, each installing 100 diversion baskets on public litter bins when the trials began in mid-2025.

The concept is simple: people leaving a park or foreshore area can drop eligible drink containers — those with the 10-cent refund symbol — in the baskets, where anyone else can collect them and cash in at a nearby return point.

The results have been encouraging. At Yarra Ranges, the initial trial was described as a resounding success, and the program is now being expanded to additional locations.

Boroondara joined the movement from May 2026, trialling 200 baskets across parks and shopping villages. And most recently, Murrindindi Shire Council announced it is installing 100 purpose-built recycling baskets in high-use public locations, including near food outlets, parks and activity centres.

The operational case is as compelling as the environmental one. Yarra Ranges noted the baskets are far cheaper than installing new recycling bins or running extra collection services, and deliver a clean recycling stream with minimal contamination.

For councils still weighing up the idea, you can find out more and express interest in the through the CDS Vic website.

NSW Report

Kiama Municipal Council has announced the immediate resignation of independent Councillor Mike Cains, who says he has made the decision for personal reasons.

Elected in 2024, Cr Cains was noted for his advocacy of local agriculture and the rejuvenation of Kiama Harbour.

Mayor Cameron McDonald confirmed the resignation will be ratified on Tuesday night, with a local by-election to occur within the next three months.

At Sydney’s ICAC inquiry today, former City of Parramatta Chief Executive Gail Connolly has faced a sixth day of intense grilling over nepotism and job-rigging allegations.

The commission heard evidence that Connolly text-messaged her niece about an open council role, offering to edit her CV.

Connolly also rejected claims that she ‘fundamentally undermined’ council recruitment after admitting she shared interview questions with a close friend ahead of time. The hearing continues, and the Sydney Morning Herald is live blogging the proceedings.

Strathfield Council has unanimously dumped a proposal to rename parts of Homebush and Homebush West.

ABC News reported that the vote followed a conflict of interest declaration by Deputy Mayor John-Paul Baladi, whose sister owns property in the affected area.

Critics had argued the plan, which aimed to boost real estate values by absorbing the land into Strathfield, risked erasing the area’s distinct local history.

Cr Baladi had been a vocal supporter of the proposal, and has attracted some criticism over his “late discovery of a potential conflict.”

Waverley Council will receive two million dollars from the State Government to install a permanent memorial following the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Six months on from the tragedy, the funding forms part of a larger eight-point-three million dollar package aimed at building long-term community resilience, healing, and safety across the Bondi region.

The City of Coffs Harbour has endorsed a new hybrid Local Preference model to boost regional business.

Under the updated procurement policy, local bidders will receive a ten per cent weighting in assessments for quotes and tenders valued up to two million dollars.

A tie-breaker rule will also favour local suppliers with equal scoring.

Mayor Nikki Williams stated the changes ensure transparency while keeping ratepayer value-for-money at the forefront.

Queensland Report

Queensland’s Comiskey Group has launched a court appeal against Sunshine Coast Council over a 15-million-dollar infrastructure charge notice.

According to the Courier Mail, the developer argues the levy for its proposed Coochin Creek festival site is unreasonable, claiming the state-approved venue will not place an undue burden on local infrastructure networks.

The development was called-in and approved by the state government earlier this year, effectively overriding the council.

Douglas Shire Council is today expected to adopt its 2026/27 budget, headlined by an average rates and charges increase of 8.4 per cent—double the national inflation rate.

According to the Newsport Daily, the increase follows a structural overhaul of the council’s differential general rates model and recent state property revaluations.

The changes will lift minimum residential rates to 1,400 dollars as part of a strategy to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

South Australia

An Adelaide mayor has been snubbed by Woolworths after requesting an urgent meeting over shopping trolleys clogging up local waterways.

Documents tabled ahead of last night’s City of Salisbury urban services committee meeting reveal the retail giant failed to respond to correspondence from Mayor Gillian Aldridge regarding environmental harm at Dry Creek.

The Messenger reported that the issue comes ahead of strict new state laws taking effect next year, which will allow councils to hit retailers with fines of up to $5,000 for abandoned trolleys.

Western Australia

The Shire of Harvey has appointed veteran local government executive Tony Nottle as temporary Chief Executive Officer, starting 6 July.

He’ll work alongside outgoing CEO Annie Riordan during the transition while council runs an independent recruitment process for a permanent replacement.

Mr Nottle has previously led the City of Busselton and the Shires of Dandaragan and Coolgardie.

From ABC News, the City of Melville council will vote tonight on two contrasting tree management policies slated for public consultation.

Councillors are weighing a local planning policy to protect significant trees on private land against an alternative motion that would entirely exempt tree removals from development approval.

The decision highlights ongoing tensions between municipal canopy targets and state-mandated housing density.

Global Report

UK:

Dr Martin Reeves, the Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to local government.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Dr Reeves previously transformed Coventry into the UK’s first “Marmot City” to tackle health inequalities before taking up his current post in 2023.

Council leadership has praised his commitment to public service innovation and community transformation.

The Conservative Party has secured an overall majority on East Cambridgeshire District Council, following the defection of a Liberal Democrat councillor.

BBC News reports that Councillor Lee Denney crossed the floor after stating he could not deliver meaningful change under his former party.

The shift gives the Tories fifteen seats on the authority, strengthening their leadership ahead of a planned government transition to a single-tier unitary system.

USA:

Washington, D.C. election officials are rolling out a new ranked-choice voting system ahead of today’s highly competitive mayoral primary.

The race highlights a widening split between the Democratic Party’s establishment and its progressive wing, with Ward 4 Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George challenging former At-Large Councilman Kenyan McDuffie.

The structural changes come amidst ongoing federal interventions from the White House, with the outcome set to redefine the district’s local governance and self-organisation.

According to the Associated Press, the final round-by-round results are expected to be finalised on or after June 26.

NZ:

Matamata-Piako District Mayor Ash Tanner is hitting back at potential local government amalgamation in the Waikato, warning that a “super council” model could erode local voice and decision-making.

Speaking to RNZ, Tanner rejected claims that large-scale mergers deliver efficiencies, instead backing a smaller “Eastern Waikato” unitary authority.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts maintains that no single model is being prescribed, reminding councils they have until August 9 to submit their restructuring proposals.