Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Criminal charges against Hepburn Shire Council dropped
• Yet another change in local government minister in Victoria
• An investigation into alleged electoral fraud wraps up
• Australia’s first council to adopt a four day working week
• The mysterious departure of a NSW Council GM
• Lockyer Valley Council announces its preferred candidate for CEO
• and the NZ councillor asked to leave two public events in one week

Also today, a preview of LG Innovate 2026 – the AI conference for local government, with Vanessa Huxley from Davidson.

Listen now:

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.

Episode Transcript:

Victoria

Private criminal charges brought against five Hepburn Shire councillors and outgoing CEO Bradley Thomas by local businessman David Penman have been withdrawn in court in Ballarat.

The Director of Public Prosecutions intervened in court, and successfully applied for the charges to be thrown out.

All five councillors were expected to be reinstated to their roles by yesterday afternoon.

ABC News reported that Mayor Tony Clark spoke on behalf of all councillors outside the court, describing the outcome as extremely pleasing – with more to be said later.

The council issued the following formal statement:

This morning, a representative of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) attended the hearing of private criminal matters against five Councillors and Council’s CEO. The DPP took over all matters, and the charges have been dismissed. The DPP having reviewed all the evidence determined that there were insufficient grounds available to proceed with the prosecutions.

Once the charges are formally withdrawn by His Honour Magistrate, Councillors will be reinstated under section 228(5)(a) of the Local Government Act 2020.

This is a great outcome for democracy and our community.

Rural Councils Victoria welcomed what it called “the dropping of baseless criminal charges” but said it does nothing to close the loophole that allowed the situation to develop.

Chair Cr Rob Amos urged the new Premier Ben Carroll and new Local Government Minister Tim Richardson to fix the “flawed law” as a matter of urgency.

It’s understood that the Council, individual councillors and witnesses, and Mr Thomas would be seeking costs from Mr Penman, described in court as significant. They will return to court on that matter later this month.

Meanwhile, the council’s newly appointed acting CEO Janet Dore has started work this week. She had announced that reinstating decision-making ability was an urgent priority, before yesterday morning’s developments in court.

Victoria’s Cabinet lineup includes a new role for Tim Richardson MP, who has been officially appointed as the Minister for Local Government, Consumer Affairs and Renters.

He replaces Paul Hamer, who has held the portfolio since April this year. Mr Hamer now becomes the Minister for Roads and Road Safety.

Minister Richardson becomes the 8th MP to hold the Local Government portfolio in ten years – and the fifth in four years since Shaun Leane relinquished the position in 2022.

The announcement forms part of a broader ministerial refresh focused on cost-of-living relief, housing, healthcare, and state services.

For the first time, Victoria has a Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy. Anthony Carbines holds that portfolio, along with Major Events, Medical Research and Economic Development.

Sonya Kilkenny remains Attorney-General and Minister for Planning, as well as Minister for Prevention of Family Violence.

Victoria’s Local Government Inspectorate has closed its investigation into alleged election misconduct during the 2026 Whittlesea City Council by-election in the Thomastown Ward.

The inquiry examined reports of voters being approached in their homes by an individual who completed and removed their postal ballot packs.

Investigators cited significant challenges in securing admissible evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, but continue to encourage anyone with relevant information to lodge a formal complaint.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has a new Mayor.

Cr Cassy Borthwick was elected at an unscheduled meeting on Tuesday, replacing Cr Kate Kendall, who resigned the mayoralty to contest the state seat of Macedon at November’s Victorian election.

Cr Kendall remains a councillor.

Cr Borthwick, who named good governance and transparency as her priorities, will serve alongside newly elected Deputy Mayor Cr Daniel Young until the scheduled November mayoral election.

Latrobe City Council is seeking an urgent meeting with Victoria’s new Premier, Ben Carroll, to discuss jobs and investment in the Latrobe Valley.

The call comes after Opal Australian Paper announced 84 job losses at its Maryvale Mill, and with the Yallourn Power Station set to close in 2028.

Mayor Sharon Gibson says the focus now must shift beyond “transition” to what comes next — including attracting new industries and private investment.

She is urging the Victorian Government to work with Council on major projects aimed at long-term job creation and economic diversification.

Brimbank City Council says it has secured key community protection measures following an agreement with Melbourne Airport regarding the federal conditional approval for its third runway.

The outcome obliges the airport to deliver a twelve-year noise amelioration program for affected homes and facilities alongside fairer noise-sharing flight paths.

The council also successfully advocated for a world-first, twenty-year independent health study to monitor long-term noise impacts on local residents.

Maribyrnong City Council Mayor Mohamed Semra has called on the Victorian Government to increase police resources and community safety services across Melbourne’s west.

He said rising violence against local traders has highlighted an urgent need for more visible frontline policing and accessible local stations to support growing populations.

10 News reported last night that Mayor Semra was himself confronted by a man with a knife in Sunshine this week on his way to a media conference with the mayors of Wyndham, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Melton, where they called for more state investment in mental health, homelessness, and addiction services to address the root causes of anti-social behaviour.

Stonnington City Council has endorsed a plan to cut its Victorian Congestion Levy costs by closing under-utilised rooftop parking at two Council-owned facilities and seeking a 50% concession on remaining spaces.

To offset the impact on local trade and visitors, Council will expand its ticket validation scheme to provide one hour of free parking during market hours at the Elizabeth Street car park.

Mayor Melina Sehr said the strategy aims to protect ratepayer funds while ensuring off-street parking facilities cover their own levy liabilities.

Wellington Shire Council has completed a review of its Wellington Libraries Service, and has confirmed that library services will continue to be delivered in-house as an ongoing Council-run service. The decision was made a council meeting on Tuesday.

Ararat Rural City Council has renewed its $1,000 annual membership with Welcoming Cities for 2026/2027 to promote community inclusion, access practical resources, and feature on the national Welcoming Map network.

Melton City Council has introduced an updated, accessible logo featuring its familiar blue sky and golden plains motifs. The new look will be rolled out gradually across digital, printed, and physical assets starting this week.

Vandals recently destroyed about 25 native trees planted along Barongarook Creek in Colac, throwing them into the creek only days after they were put in the ground by Colac Otway Council. The council says it will also be removing unauthorised bike tracks in the same area due to creek bank damage and safety concerns.

New South Wales

Murrumbidgee Council in south-west New South Wales is set to become Australia’s first local government to trial a four-day working week.

Starting this January, staff will compress their full 38-hour week into four days, with most council services closing on Fridays. General Manager John Scarce told ABC News the 15-month trial aims to boost productivity and attract staff in regional areas.

While 75 per cent of workers back the move, nearly 40 per cent of community submissions opposed it over concerns about reduced access.

Neighbouring council Wagga Wagga says it has no plans to adopt a four-day work week, telling the Daily Advertiser that operating a large inland city requires a distinct model to support seven-day community services and major facilities like the local airport and aquatic centre.

General manager Peter Thompson said that the council is not considering changes to current work schedules and will maintain existing service levels across the Wagga Wagga area.

Mystery surrounds the sudden departure of Nambucca Valley Council‘s General Manager, Mr Bede Spannagle, who has resigned, effective on the twenty-fourth of July.

The resignation was noted through a confidential mayoral minute at the Council’s July meeting, with no public statement issued since.

The matters listed for the confidential session of the council agenda did not appear include anything related to the General Manager’s performance or employment.

The Council’s formal resolution noted the departure of Mr Spannagle, who had served since December 2023.

The resolution, which passed by five votes to three, also appointed Director Engineering Services Mr David Moloney has been appointed Acting General Manager for up to twelve months.

An extraordinary council meeting at the City of Hawkesbury will be held on Friday afternoon, to discuss the position of General Manager.

The matter will be considered in a closed session, with the mayor to advise the resolution made afterwards.

The position was vacated in April with the resignation of Elizabeth Richardson, and Will Barton has been acting in the role since then.

Wollondilly Shire Council has granted conditional support for the rezoning of the proposed Macarthur Business Park near Douglas Park and Menangle, advancing a project expected to create up to 20,000 local jobs.

The endorsement for the Walker Corporation-led proposal is subject to key conditions, including a 40 per cent increase in conservation land to protect koala habitat and the proponent funding critical road and water infrastructure from day one.

The draft planning proposal will now proceed to the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for Gateway determination and further public exhibition.

Community consultation has opened on four financial options to address Temora Shire Council’s long-term sustainability, including proposed cumulative rate increases of up to 124 per cent over three years.

The options range from a rate-peg base case requiring service cuts to Council’s preferred scenario of managed staff attrition to stabilise finances.

Submissions close on 28 August before councillors decide in November whether to submit a Special Rate Variation application to IPART.

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Mayor Abb McAlister has joined the Country Mayors Association of New South Wales in backing the ‘Invest in Us’ campaign.

The campaign urges the Commonwealth Government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of total tax revenue to support essential services and local infrastructure.

Cr McAlister said it was about fairness, and rural councils need the government to invest in them so they can can invest in their communities.

Nominations have officially opened for the 2026 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government, recognising outstanding leadership and service across metropolitan and regional councils in New South Wales.

Celebrating its 19th year, the program has expanded to include two new award categories: Excellence in Mentoring and Sponsorship, and Emerging Councillor Leadership.

Submissions close on 28 August 2026, with the awards set to be presented at Parliament House in October.

In more news from NSW Councils:

Federation Council has formally endorsed a submission backing a major redevelopment of Corowa Hospital while requesting full public disclosure of the health service plan and further community consultation.

Bland Shire Council has launched a new tourism promotional video featuring local residents and key regional attractions to encourage visitors to explore the area and extend their stay.

Snowy Valleys Council’s De-amalgamation Steering Committee will hold its first public meeting on Thursday in Batlow. The committee has been formed to provide leadership and oversight of the transition to two independent councils.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has commenced a three-month trial using Mobile Licence Plate Recognition technology on ranger vehicles to manage parking turnover and improve compliance across the Port Macquarie CBD.

Northern Beaches Council has installed a rainwater fill point for street sweepers at its Cromer Depot – a staff initiative that has saved 1,820 kilolitres of water, reducing CO₂ emissions by 11 tonnes, and regaining 780 driver hours previously spent travelling to public hydrants.

Interview: Vanessa Huxley, Davidson – LG Innovate 2026

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.

Australian councils are warning of a looming solar panel waste crisis, with up to 50 million panels expected to be dumped by 2035, according to Renew Economy.

ALGA President and Mayor of Gladstone, Matt Burnett told a Parliamentary committee hearing this week that without a funded national recycling scheme, ratepayers will be left to cover disposal costs and landfill risks.

He is urging fast action on a mandatory stewardship model to stop panels being dumped across state borders.

Queensland

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has announced Nick Hauser as its preferred candidate for Chief Executive Officer following a recruitment process attracting 44 applicants.

Mr Hauser has served in senior leadership positions at Toowoomba Regional Council, including periods as Acting CEO.

Mayor Tanya Milligan said he had emerged as the standout candidate. Councillors are expected to formally consider the appointment at a meeting on Wednesday, 19 August.

Ipswich City Council has formally called on Australia Post to reverse its decision to close the Amberley Post Office ahead of a planned August closure.

Following a unanimous vote, Mayor Teresa Harding is writing to federal shareholder ministers urging a rethink on the facility located at RAAF Base Amberley, which provides essential postal and banking services to more than 5,000 local personnel.

Bundaberg Regional Council has approved a new macadamia processing and packaging facility for Windermere, supporting growth and employment in the agricultural sector.

The purpose-built site will feature cracking and packing rooms, cold storage, and administrative infrastructure capable of handling up to 2,500 tonnes of produce annually.

Under the approval conditions, the facility will employ approximately 12 staff while complying with strict environmental regulations, including a prohibition on on-site dehusking.

The City of Moreton Bay has commenced Tokyo Innovation Week in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Five shortlisted Japanese startups are presenting technology solutions to council focused on disaster preparedness and local infrastructure maintenance management.

Moreton Bay is one of only two global partner cities delivering the international initiative, with the winning proof-of-concept project to be announced later this year.

Toowoomba Regional Council has unveiled a refreshed CBD mural commemorating community resilience following Cyclone Alfred.

Artist Matt Adnate collaborated with Indigenous enterprise Adapt Mentorship to weave disaster recovery themes into the existing Neil Street artwork.

Jointly funded through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the project highlights local government initiatives in civic renewal and disaster preparedness.

Also making news in Queensland:

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that Invest Gold Coast is cutting 10 of its 35 positions, nearly a third of its staff, as part of a major organisational restructure of the **Gold Coast City Council’**s controlled entities. The move has reportedly caught several local councillors off guard.

The Brisbane Times reports that Brisbane City Council is taking heat after promoting an average 3.97% rates rise that applied mainly to freestanding houses, while many unit owners, especially those on minimum rates, have been hit with much larger increases of around 13–14% due to higher minimum charges and property revaluations.

Townsville City Council says its “Back to Basics” push is paying off, after new Snap Send Solve satisfaction data shows the biggest year‑on‑year improvement of any council in Australia.

Townsville’s rating lifted 7.1 per cent to 58.5 in 2026. Mayor Nick Dametto says faster responses to issues like potholes and park maintenance are driving the gains, but there’s still work ahead.

Tasmania

Dorset Council has announced financial hardship support for residents affected by the closure of the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter in Tasmania’s North-East.

Ratepayers experiencing hardship can access tailored assistance, including deferred rates, flexible payment plans, and interest relief.

Local councils across the region are also directing impacted workers and businesses to joint state and federal employment and retraining programs following the shut down of Australia’s only commercial manganese alloy shelter.

West Coast Council has formally noted a heritage report on the historic Cape Sorell Lighthouse Lens to explore options for a permanent public display.

Council officers are now preparing a comprehensive proposal covering display locations, estimated costs, funding pathways, and preservation standards for the maritime artefact.

The lens will remain in secure storage while planning progresses.

South Australia

The City of Port Lincoln has voted to seek advice on a potential boundary review affecting the city and surrounding southern Eyre Peninsula communities.

Council adopted Mayor Cr Diana Mislov’s motion at its July meeting, directing the CEO to report on statutory processes, including the role of the South Australian Local Government Boundaries Commission.

The mayor says the decision commits council to no outcome, but will build an evidence base on governance, equity and service delivery options.

South Australia’s Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a state government attempt to wind up the Davenport Community Council near Port Augusta.

The Advertiser reported that the legal action, initiated over alleged statutory breaches and unsubmitted financial statements, was rejected on procedural grounds after the Corporate Affairs Commission failed to formally request a winding-up order.

Norfolk Island Pines will remain a defining feature of Holdfast Bay’s coastline, says the City of Holdfast Bay.

Responding to recent media speculation, the Council said its Tree Asset Management Plan aims to keep mature pines for as long as they’re safe, while planting new trees to ensure long‑term succession.

The city manages about 1,033 pines, with 19 planted so far this year and more planned.

Whyalla City Council has led national fundraising efforts for the recent local Sleepout initiative, securing over $45,000 to assist regional homelessness services.

Organised alongside the Whyalla Homelessness Awareness Committee, local officers joined community members sleeping rough to highlight housing instability across regional Australia.

The council confirmed all funds raised will remain in the region to support crisis prevention programs and community outreach.

Western Australia

The Shire of Manjimup has announced that its planned 24th September extraordinary postal election will not progress. It says the vacancy will instead be filled through the statutory backfill process allowed for under the Act.

The council says the advice that it could proceed with that process came after it was required to formally commence the election process under legislated timelines.

Shire President Donelle Buegge acknowledged that the change in process was unexpected and may cause confusion. The shire will not be charged for costs incurred to date by the WA Electoral Commission.

The City of Wanneroo has partnered with Murdoch University to remove feral carp and goldfish from local lakes using specialised electrofishing techniques.

The initiative supports the council’s Local Biodiversity Plan by protecting native wildlife and restoring wetland water quality.

To date, the broader Perth management project has successfully removed over three tonnes of invasive fish from urban waterways.

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International

NZ:

Controversial Dunedin city councillor Benedict Ong has been asked to leave two public events in the past week, according to RNZ News.

He was removed from a council meeting after repeatedly interrupting and aggressively questioning staff about proposed local government amalgamation.

The mayor adjourned proceedings as Ong was ordered out, while organisers at a student protest and a health debate say his behaviour was disruptive.

Ong says he’s being politically targeted and prevented from representing ratepayers.

Stratford District Council has voted unanimously to pursue amalgamation with South Taranaki District Council, leaving New Plymouth out of its preferred model.

The move follows South Taranaki backing a two-unitary-councils approach for the region — one in the north and one in the south-central area.

The councils must lodge proposals by Sunday under the government’s local government reform “Head Start” pathway, with decisions expected by September.

New Plymouth is still considering whether to submit its own “Pathfinder” proposal when it votes on Thursday, according to RNZ.

Meanwhile, three Waikato local councils—Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, and Matamata-Piako—have agreed to merge into a proposed unitary authority and are urging the New Zealand Government to accept their proposal ahead of the August 9 deadline, according to the NZ Herald.

Upper Hutt councillors have voted to withdraw from proposed local government amalgamation plans over concerns about costs, affordability, and representation. In contrast, neighbouring Lower Hutt endorsed a proposal for a Wellington–Wairarapa supercity, leaving Upper Hutt’s ultimate fate in the hands of central government ministers.

And Ashburton District Council has decided not to submit an outline proposal after remaining evenly split across four reorganisation options.

Mayor Liz McMillan noted that the 90-day deadline was too rushed for such a significant decision, though the council plans to write to government ministers to confirm its ongoing commitment to exploring alternative reform models.

UK:

Leaders in Kent and Hertfordshire are calling for faster rollout of mayoral devolution, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to “rewire the state” by shifting power away from Whitehall.

A Cabinet Office statement says every part of England should be in the process of setting up a strategic authority by the end of next year, with full coverage by 2028.

The Local Government Chronicle reported that Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran believes the timing is “bonkers,” warning the sequence of local government reorganisation and devolution could cost taxpayers millions.

Hertfordshire’s Steve Jarvis says a mayoral deal is now “more important than ever” to unlock growth and improve services.

Lancashire County Council‘s leader, Stephen Atkinson, has warned that introducing a directly elected mayor could force a council tax increase unless central government funding is provided to cover operational costs.

The Lancashire Post reports that the concern follows new devolution proposals allowing mayoral combined authorities to retain local growth in income tax and business rates.

The Reform UK leader told the Post that he won’t agree to a directly-elected mayor until the financial benefits of the Prime Minister’s plan are set out exactly.

USA:

Democratic Socialist Yousef Rabhi has claimed victory in the Ann Arbor, Michigan Democratic mayoral primary, after incumbent three term Mayor Christopher Taylor conceded.

CBS News reported unofficial results around 11 p.m. showing Rabhi with more than 12,800 votes to Taylor’s 9,400.

With no Republican on the ballot, the primary winner is now favoured heading into November’s election.

Rabhi is a County Commissioner and former state lawmaker; Taylor has been mayor since 2014.

A crowd of Pittsburg residents is demanding the city pause a major data center project approved in 2024, saying it was pitched as a “technology park” with little public awareness.

Critics cite concerns about energy use, noise, and environmental impacts.

The developer says the facility will use closed-loop cooling with no water for cooling, run on zero‑carbon electricity credits, and stay within a small footprint near the former Delta View golf course.

While the city says a community advisory committee will be formed, opponents want a moratorium before construction moves forward, reports CBS News.

Spurs Sports and Entertainment chief executive has rejected calls from San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to put a municipal arena funding deal to a public vote, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

R C Buford maintains the city’s 489 million dollar contribution towards the 1.3 billion dollar venue was finalised when council approved the draft financing framework last year.

Mayor Jones is currently lobbying council members ahead of a 17 August deadline to place the agreement on the November local ballot.