Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• An assault charge dismissed against Yarra’s mayor
• A council’s open letter to the community about a controversial funding source
• Leeton consults on Special Rate Variation proposals
• A media exclusion order dropped after five months
• Data centre powers stripped from Queensland councils
• No charges over Hobart’s snack-gate scandal
• and a warning of an existential threat to local government in the UK

All of that and more just ahead on Australia’s number one local government podcast.

Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Symphony3 – simple, connected customer experiences; and Rath Engineering Development – smarter local government systems built from real on-the-ground experience.

In this episode:

Victoria

Yarra Mayor Cr Stephen Jolly has had an assault charge dismissed.

According to ABC News, Magistrate Jill Prior found Cr Jolly made contact with a protester’s face at a twenty twenty-four election afterparty, but ruled the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to assault her.

The complainant said she was disappointed with the outcome, while Cr Jolly said he was relieved it was over.

Moonee Valley City Council Mayor Dr Rose Iser has now officially stepped down from her leadership position, effective last Friday, though she will remain serving as a local councillor.

Deputy Mayor Phil Burn has stepped into the mayoral role until a mayoral election scheduled for October 29.

Former Wodonga councillor and upper house MP Tim Quilty has entered the race for the Victorian seat of Benambra as the Libertarian Party candidate.

According to the Border Mail, the former councillor says he has unfinished business in state politics and plans to focus his campaign on local roads, rail, and regional hospital infrastructure.

Mr Quilty’s wife Olga is in her second term on Wodonga City Council.

Hume City Council and the Australian Services Union have settled Federal Court proceedings over pay deduction disputes related to recent industrial action.

The Council has agreed to contribute $1,780.41 to the union’s hardship fund, with no admission of fault.

Hume and seven other Victorian councils are continuing multi-employer bargaining negotiations in good faith.

Northern Grampians Shire Council has taken the unusual step of publishing an open letter to its community, announcing a new mental health program for local farmers.

Farmgate Conversations is a twelve-month pilot, delivered independently by Grampians Community Health and funded by VicGrid.

The council says the idea grew out of its own advocacy. In early twenty twenty-five, it began talks with various bodies about mounting pressures on farming communities. That led to a Farmer Mental Health Stakeholder Group, which has since run workshops.

Later in twenty twenty-five, the council raised its concerns with the then Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio. It says the pilot funding was the State Government’s response.

Council acknowledges concerns about the funding source, but believes targeted support for farming families is paramount. It says it is not involved in running the service.

The Weekly Times reported that Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has fast-tracked the 190-kilometre Western Renewables Link transmission line project by stripping six local councils of their planning permit powers.

The controversial decision allows developer AusNet to push ahead with construction and worker accommodation, despite a recent government decision to pause land acquisitions and launch an independent review into the project’s $4 billion cost.

The affected councils are Ballarat, Hepburn, Melton, Moorabool, Northern Grampians, and Pyrenees.

The City of Greater Geelong has unveiled a prototype for the next generation of its famous waterfront bollards, utilising innovative materials to ensure the local icons survive decades of weather exposure.

Working alongside artist Jan Mitchell’s family, local manufacturers, and research partners, the Council is now inviting the community to view the prototype and share their feedback on the future of these beloved sculptures.

Pyrenees Shire Council is nearing completion on a landmark project in Beaufort, delivering 10 new homes to attract and support essential workers across healthcare, education, and emergency services.

Mayor Cr Damian Ferrari said, “Access to housing is one of the biggest challenges facing regional communities across Australia, and it is increasingly impacting our ability to attract and retain the workers we need to deliver essential services.”

Jointly funded by the Victorian Government and a $900,000 investment from the council,the new housing directly addresses regional workforce shortages by providing modern, affordable accommodation.

Mildura Rural City Council is calling on local residents to share early feedback to help shape its new Short Stay Budget Accommodation Strategy.

Mayor Ali Cupper says the initiative will support tourism and agriculture while relieving rental housing pressures by creating clearer guidelines for visiting worker and tourist accommodations that currently inject over $100 million into the regional economy.

The council plans further consultation as the strategy is developed.

Greater Shepparton City Council has revealed that its Safer City Camera Network now features over 60 camera channels across key precincts.

The council recently received an update on the upgrade and expansion of the network, first established in 2012.

In recent months, Victoria Police has accessed footage from the network to investigate incidents and prosecute offenders, while Council camera operators assisted with the response to a range of incidents including assaults, drug and alcohol-related behaviour, property damage and welfare concerns.

As part of ongoing community safety initiatives with Victoria Police, the Council is investigating the acquisition of a mobile CCTV unit to target emerging hotspots and major events.

Outgoing CEO Dr Tim Harrison has retired after leading Ararat Rural City Council through a period of major organisational and financial turnaround.

Mayor Bob Sanders has publicly thanked Dr Harrison for his years of service as the council welcomes its new chief executive, Phuong Au.

New South Wales

Leeton Shire Council has commenced public consultation on three proposed Special Rate Variation options to address the financial viability of its General Fund following an independent review.

The proposed options feature cumulative rate increases between 46 and 54 percent over two years from 2027/28 to cover operating deficits and fund key local infrastructure projects.

Residents have until late October to provide feedback on the rate options and draft Hardship Policy before Council makes a final decision in December

Leeton Shire Council has re-elected Cr George Weston as Mayor and Cr Michael Kidd as Deputy Mayor.

Cr Weston has served on council for thirty years, including fourteen as Deputy Mayor, while Cr Kidd has more than fifteen years’ council experience. Both will serve for two years.

Hawkesbury City Council has formally lifted its exclusion order against local media outlet the Hawkesbury Gazette.

The decision follows a five-month dispute regarding workplace health and safety concerns and potential psychosocial harm to council staff and elected officials.

The Council cited the publication’s new membership with the Local and Independent News Association, as well as a recent commitment to professional reporting standards, as key factors in restoring access.

Bathurst Regional Council has appointed a consultancy firm to conduct a comprehensive economic impact study of the Mount Panorama Racing Circuit precinct.

Mayor Ben Fry said the assessment aims to deliver concrete figures on the precinct’s financial value to strengthen future government funding applications for infrastructure and to identify new commercial opportunities that increase returns for local ratepayers.

A draft report is due to be presented to Council by Christmas.

Wagga Wagga Council has deployed heavy machinery to remove 110 cubic metres of hazardous waste, including thousands of discarded needles, from abandoned homeless encampments along local parklands.

The Wagga News reported that multi-agency cleanup effort follows the establishment of an emergency response taskforce earlier this year, which has successfully transitioned dozens of rough sleepers into alternative accommodation.

TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL has officially brought tourism services in-house, launching a new specialist team led by former Experience Gold Coast executive Clinton Farlow to manage marketing, events, and visitor experience.

The move transitions operations away from external contractors after eight years, with the council aiming to build directly on local partnerships and boost the region’s profile following its recognition in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list.

Lismore City Council has hit the halfway mark in its massive 2022 flood recovery program, successfully completing 175 restoration projects including major road repairs, landslip fixes, and facility upgrades across the region.

Jointly funded by state and federal disaster relief, the ongoing works by the council are continuing to rebuild critical infrastructure and improve flood resilience for local residents.

Queensland

The Queensland Government will take the planning and assessment of data centre applications away from local councils.

According to ABC News, the new framework will mirror state rules for renewable energy, requiring a social impact assessment and a community benefit agreement with the council before an application is lodged.

Western Downs Mayor Cr Andrew Smith says his council has been assured it will remain assessment manager for the proposed Western Downs Digital Park.

Townsville City Council has condemned a recent spate of park vandalism and metal theft that has left local ratepayers facing a repair bill exceeding $750,000.

Mayor Nick Dametto is urging the state government to quickly pass legislation to increase penalties for copper and metal thieves to deter offenders before the upcoming severe weather season.

City of Moreton Bay has been named Employer of the Year in the public sector category at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia’s Queensland and Northern Territory awards.

The result was announced at a gala dinner on Thursday. Council also won the Projects Two Million to Five Million Dollars category, for the Margate Cox Street Drainage Upgrade, and the Emerging Leader of the Year award, which went to project manager Sarah Peet.

Mayor Cr Peter Flannery said the Employer of the Year win reflects council’s commitment to people-first leadership.

The Council also had nominees in a further six categories.

Tasmania

Tasmania Police have confirmed no charges will be laid against Hobart Deputy Mayor Dr Zelinda Sherlock, following a referral regarding refreshments taken from the Town Hall.

According to correspondence seen by The Mercury, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions reviewed extensive council documentation and CCTV footage before advising that no further action be taken.

Dr Sherlock previously apologised for a misunderstanding of the refreshments policy.

Retiring Waratah-Wynyard Mayor Dr Mary Duniam has spoken out against widespread toxicity and social media abuse targeting women in local government, warning that hostile chamber environments are actively discouraging female candidates from standing for election.

Speaking alongside Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby, Cr Duniam has called for urgent cultural change across Tasmanian local government to protect democratic representation, as council members prepare for this month’s upcoming municipal elections. More on that story from The Mercury.

Former Mayor Don Wing AM, who led the City of Launceston across two terms in the 1980s and served as a dedicated legislative councillor, has passed away.

The City has paid tribute to his decades of public service, highlighting his vital leadership in municipal street beautification and major flood mitigation projects.

South Australia

The Environment, Resources and Development Court has convicted an individual for undertaking unauthorised development and failing to comply with an enforcement notice regarding the former pulp mill site near Millicent.

Wattle Range Council initiated the prosecution following a vehicle fire inside the unapproved motor repair workshop, highlighting ongoing concerns over building fire safety compliance.

The defendant was fined $10,800, ordered to pay legal costs, and directed by the Court to remove all remaining vehicles from the site by the end of the year.

Western Australia

The City of Perth is urging the State Government to rethink proposed late-night noise limits for Northbridge.

According to PerthNow, city officers recommended a submission to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation opposing a cut in the permitted music noise level in the precinct’s core, from ninety to seventy-nine decibels, between two and five A-M on weekends.

Officers support the overall direction of the reforms, but want alternative approaches explored.

The Shire of Victoria Plains is calling on federal and state leaders to block proposed changes to Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa program.

It’s warning that replacing guaranteed regional work pathways with a ballot system could cost Western Australia thousands of backpacker workers.

CEO Sean Fletcher says the shift could severely hit local farms and tourism businesses, threatening an industry that contributes roughly $360 million annually to the state’s economy.

International

UK:

A new essay from the English think tank Localis warns that devolution without a real shift in decision-making powers risks marginalising local government to the point of an existential threat.

The authors Professor Colin Copus and Professor Steve Leach argue that linking devolution to the paused reorganisation process will probably still force mergers into large unitary councils, without compelling evidence of better outcomes or savings.

Professor Copus says that if reorganisation proceeds, England could eventually lose eighty-five per cent of its councils and around ninety per cent of its councillors.

The essay also notes councils have no constitutional protection, unlike in Germany. It’s a debate with clear echoes for Australian local government.

A Reform UK-run Derbyshire County Council has sparked controversy after announcing it will ignore all inquiries from a local democracy reporter who scrutinised its pothole repair statistics.

Defending the decision, deputy leader Stephen Reed denied imposing an outright ban on the journalist.

The Guardian reported that media bodies have warned the move sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom and public accountability.

Wiltshire Council, in England, is turning to artificial intelligence to manage a sharp rise in complaints, many now drafted by residents using A-I tools.

According to LocalGov, the council received seven hundred and eighty-three formal complaints in twenty twenty-five to twenty twenty-six, up twenty-seven per cent on the previous year.

Officers say A-I-drafted complaints are often longer and can contain factual errors or incorrect legal references. The council plans to use A-I for administrative support, with human judgement remaining central.

Amber Valley Borough Council has taken a pre-action step toward a judicial review following government proposals to split the area between two new unitary authorities, according to a BBC News report.

Although ministers paused the local government reorganisation pending review, council leaders remain concerned over the potential split and are fighting the plan, which could impact local funding decisions worth millions of pounds.

USA:

In the US state of Maryland, a former Morningside city mayor Bennard Cann has been indicted on embezzlement and theft charges after being accused of misappropriating funds while serving as treasurer for two municipal organisations.

Authorities allege the financial irregularities spanned nearly eight years, involving unauthorised ATM transactions discovered during an internal audit, according to a report from The Banner.

San Diego City Council has approved a resolution urging the State of California to hand local authorities control over the deployment of autonomous vehicles.

According to GovTech, the move comes as Waymo and Amazon roll out driverless passenger services across the city. The resolution is said to be motivated by safety concerns and a desire to protect taxi and rideshare driver jobs.

The council is also calling on the independent regional airport authority to block autonomous vehicles at the airport.