Councillor passes, corruption probe set, and a CEO contract terminated – #614

Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

Tributes flow after the death of a Greater Bendigo councillor
Melton’s push for rail electrification ramps up after a V/Line outage
Liverpool Council awaits a crucial inquiry report
A $30,000 fine for Blue Mountains Council over a toxic spill
A second misconduct finding in a month for Cairns’s Mayor
An insurance payout dispute in Launceston
Adelaide Hills parts ways with its CEO
and more super council proposals put forward in New Zealand

Listen to this episode now:

Victoria

Sad news from the City of Greater Bendigo, where Councillor Donna Nicholas has died.

Cr Nicholas was elected to represent the Lockwood Ward at a by-election in April, and attended her first Council meeting in May.

Mayor Cr Thomas Prince and CEO Andrew Cooney have remembered her enthusiasm and genuine commitment to her community, and her natural way of engaging with residents, fellow councillors and staff.

Cr Nicholas is survived by her husband Drew, son Cody, and granddaughter Stella.

We note with sadness the passing of Julie Eisenbise, a widely respected senior local government executive who served the community with distinction, including through her leadership role as Chair of Administrators at South Gippsland Shire Council.

Sincere condolences are extended to her family, friends, and former colleagues.

Vale Julie Eisenbise.

A telecommunications outage on the V/Line network left commuters stranded on Wednesday morning has prompted renewed calls from Melton City Council for the urgent electrification and duplication of the Melton rail line.

The council is urging the Victorian and Australian governments to provide a fully funded commitment to deliver the project by 2030, alongside two new stations at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park.

The council quotes modelling that shows electrification would increase public transport use by 27 per cent and remove 12,000 cars from local roads daily.

Mornington Peninsula Shire says it has launched a precautionary safety review of all council-managed sporting fields featuring synthetic cricket wicket covers.

The move follows a recent fatal incident at Lalor Recreation Reserve in the City of Whittlesea.

Mayor Stephen Batty confirmed senior grounds are being prioritised for immediate maintenance ahead of weekend fixtures.

Alpine Shire Council has adopted a new Surveillance Technology Policy, bringing its CCTV and body-worn camera rules into one framework.

The Council says it will strengthen privacy safeguards, create an internal oversight committee, and keep a central register of approved devices.

The policy explicitly bans the use of AI and facial recognition technology.

NSW

Liverpool City Council is bracing for an Office of Local Government report that could determine if the municipality is placed into administration.

The Daily Telegraph reports the final inquiry report is expected to be tabled in state parliament within weeks.

The council has dealt with more than 300 internal code of conduct complaints since late 2024, costing over $500,000.

An ICAC inquiry is set to examine allegations of corruption linked to Strathfield Council and NSW Liberal Party branch stacking, with developer Jean Nassif central to a web of claims.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that investigators will look at alleged illegal donations and whether donation caps were breached or declarations avoided.

The inquiry will also examine claims of intimidation and surveillance involving a former minister , and alleged attempts to smear the NSW Building Commissioner..

Hearings are expected to begin soon.

Northern Beaches Council has urged state planning authorities to reject a 45 million dollar sports precinct proposed by Queenwood School for Girls at Oxford Falls.

The council argues the current plans, submitted as a State Significant Development application, are inappropriate for the local character, exceeding building height limits and failing to meet required front setbacks.

The Daily Telegraph reports that concerns have also been raised about increased traffic congestion and potential microplastic pollution from the proposed synthetic turf fields.

Blue Mountains City Council has been fined 30,000 dollars by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority following a major landfill leak earlier this year.

An investigation revealed that an incorrectly closed isolation valve at the Blaxland Waste Management Facility caused up to 260,000 litres of toxic leachate to overflow into Cripple Creek.

The EPA noted council staff were not properly trained to operate the valves, but acknowledged the council has since cooperated, updated its safe operating procedures, and improved staff training.

The council has also installed clearer signage at the facility to prevent future incidents.

Cumberland City Council has proposed updates to its social media policy after managing over six hundred complaints against a single councillor.

A news.com.au report reveals the complaints against Independent Councillor Ahmed Ouf cost ratepayers over one hundred thousand dollars.

The revised policy grants the general manager powers to remove content impacting staff health and safety.

Muswellbrook Shire Council has implemented a major structural overhaul to navigate economic changes across the region.

A new Economic Investment Directorate has been established to drive local job creation, attract investment, and support economic diversification.

The restructure also includes a dedicated Corporate and Community Services Directorate alongside an Infrastructure Directorate focused on major project delivery. The council has commenced recruitment for multiple positions across the new structure.

Woollahra Municipal Council has cut outdoor dining fees by 50 percent for local businesses with an annual turnover under three million dollars.

Announcing the initiative in Paddington, Mayor Sarah Dixson said the measure aims to reduce operational costs for restaurants and bars in the current economic climate.

The council has also launched a new 24-hour virtual assistant, named Lara, on its website to help residents access local services.

Gunnedah Shire Council has opened a new, purpose-built Animal Impound Facility, replacing a pound more than twenty years old.

Mayor Colleen Fuller OAM officially opened the site, which doubles the Shire’s capacity and includes an isolation pen, dedicated veterinary room, and a public meet-and-greet area for rehoming.

The one-point-nine million dollar project was jointly funded by the NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund, the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and Council.

Queensland

The Councillor Conduct Tribunal has handed down a second misconduct finding against Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden in less than a month.

The independent body ruled that Ms Eden recklessly breached public trust by failing to disclose a conflict of interest regarding a close personal friend’s business during a 2023 preferred supplier decision.

According to The Courier Mail, Ms Eden has accepted the finding, labelled her omission an oversight, and must make a public admission at an upcoming council meeting.

In an unusual move, Tablelands Regional Council has launched a dedicated webpage to counter community misinformation and rumours.

The ‘Is it true at TRC’ platform addresses forty-six questions regarding council performance, operations, and governance.

The Cairns Post reports the initiative follows recent community survey results demanding greater organisational transparency.

Tasmania

A dispute has flared between Tasmania’s wool industry and the City of Launceston over a 100,000-dollar insurance payout for a stolen historical trophy.

According to The Mercury, the council has allocated the funds to general revenue, rejecting calls from the Tasmanian Wool Centre for an independent review into the ownership of the trophy – and therefore who is entitled to the money.

Hobart City Council has unanimously backed a plan to formalise guidelines for hosting public live sites and fan zones.

Prompted by strong World Cup attendance, the framework will investigate whether the council should purchase permanent screening equipment to reduce long-term event costs.

South Australia

Adelaide Hills Council has parted ways with Chief Executive Officer Greg Georgopoulos, effective immediately.

5MU reported that the decision was made at a special council meeting on Wednesday, with the council citing a need for a change in executive leadership to support its future direction.

Georgopoulos joined the council in July 2023, following five years as CEO at Kangaroo Island Council. He’ll receive six months’ pay in lieu of notice.

Director of Environment and Infrastructure Jade Ballantine has been appointed acting CEO, with recruitment for a permanent replacement to begin soon.

Western Australia

The City of Fremantle is considering plans to convert a council-owned asset into a twenty-eight-bed overnight respite centre.

Partnering with St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, the city has allocated five hundred thousand dollars in its current budget to repurpose the former St John Ambulance station.

If approved on July 22nd, Fremantle will become the first local government in Western Australia to use its own property for this purpose.

Two more WA councils have locked in new budgets with rate rises for the year ahead.

The City of Wanneroo has adopted a 430‑million‑dollar budget for 2026–27, including 138 million dollars in capital works to support rapid population growth, alongside an average six per cent rates increase — despite a projected two‑million‑dollar operating deficit.

The City of Stirling has also signed off on its 2026–27 budget, with an average 4.9 per cent rise for homeowners — about 66 dollars a year — and a 6.9 per cent increase for commercial and industrial properties. The council says it remains debt‑free, and is forecasting a 4.5‑million‑dollar surplus by year’s end.

International

NZ:

Northland is moving closer to establishing a single super council for its two hundred thousand residents.

In a landmark majority decision, the region’s local government reform steering group voted to recommend a staged transition. Under the proposal, Northland’s four existing councils would first be reorganised into two unitary authorities by October 2028, with the ultimate goal of merging into a single unitary council by 2031 to align with local election cycles.

While representatives from the Whangārei and Far North district councils, alongside the Northland Regional Council, voted in favour, the Kaipara District Council did not support the staged approach. The recommendation will now go to each individual council for ratification ahead of the central government’s August deadline for voluntary reform proposals.

According to a report by the NZ Herald, a single council structure is expected to deliver the greatest overall strategic benefits for the region, marking the most significant local government shake-up in the area since 1989.

A proposal to merge nine Wellington region councils into a single authority has been unveiled by Lower Hutt Mayor Ken Laban.

Under the draft plan, a new twenty-member body would manage regional infrastructure and planning for over half a million residents, while devolving some decisions to community councils.

Passing budgets would require a two-thirds majority to ensure cross-regional consensus, though the proposal has already drawn early mixed reactions from neighbouring mayors.