Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• City of Melbourne elections set for a shake-up
• Yarra moves forward with a potential ban on smart-glasses
• Hepburn apologises for errors in its rates notices
• Maladministration claims at Liverpool not supported by inquiry findings
• A long running tiny home dispute reaches its conclusion in court
• Kiama searching for solutions to a $3.8M budget gap
• and criticism aimed at Gold Coast Council over escalating staff and consultancy costs

and more local government news from across Australia and beyond.

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 today’s episode:

Victoria

State parliament has passed changes to the City of Melbourne Act, ending automatic voter enrolment for businesses and non-resident property owners in the City of Melbourne.

The voting shake-up, reported by The Age, also abolishes group voting tickets to bring local electoral rules into line with other Victorian municipalities.

While the amendments are expected to increase the influence of resident voters ahead of the 2028 elections, parliament voted down proposals to eliminate double voting rights for corporations and ban donations from property developers.

New amendments to the Local Government Act have also been debated in Parliament. They include an extension of Councillor Conduct Complaint deadlines from three months to six.

The government says model governance rules will go out for consultation, and there’ll be a “robust” consultation process on the new Fair Jobs Code via the Engage Victoria website.

Governance professional Rhys Thomas reported that there will be no funding provided to the sector to meet regulatory obligations, pay independent CEO Matters committee members, or for seeking legal advice on implications.

Most of the Opposition’s proposed amendments to the bill failed.

The amended bill now goes to the Legislative Assembly for consideration, with its passing considered a formality.

Yarra City Council has voted to investigate banning smart glasses at leisure centres, childcare facilities, and playgrounds to protect community privacy.

Mayor Stephen Jolly said there is a need to safeguard vulnerable community members while confirming exceptions will be investigated for people living with a disability.

The motion was brought forward by Cr Sophie Wade, after the federal government signalled it would be a local council responsibility, confirming it was not planning to ban imports of the wearable technology.

Yarra is believed to be only the second council in Australia to move on a potential ban, after Brisbane City Council.

The Council will also advocate for stronger federal privacy legislation to address emerging technologies.

Hepburn Shire Council has issued an apology after two separate printing errors by a contractor affected the latest distribution of rates notices and community flyers.

While overall balances remain correct, impacted pensioners will soon receive a reissued notice displaying their Victorian Government Pensioner Rebate breakdown, which was omitted from the initial mailing.

Murrindindi Shire Council has appointed disaster recovery and community resilience expert Anne Leadbeater OAM as its new Recovery Manager.

Having previously led community support efforts following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, Ms Leadbeater brings over two decades of local government and disaster recovery experience to assist Murrindindi Shire Council in guiding local communities through their long-term recovery journey.

Brimbank City Council is urging the Victorian Government to tighten restrictions on pokies venues after the city recorded more than $185 million in EGM losses in 2025–26 (about $500,000 a day), the highest total in Victoria and up $9.5 million from the prior year.

The Council is calling for measures including shorter venue trading hours, a “sinking cap” to reduce machine numbers over time, lower EFTPOS limits, and faster rollout of mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play to reduce gambling harm.

Baw Baw Shire Council has completed recruitment of its new Executive Leadership Team following an organisational restructure that reduced the number of director roles from five to three.

Anthony Petherbridge has been appointed Director Community and Planning Services, joining Nathan Kearsley (Customer and Corporate Services) and Jill Colson (Infrastructure and Environment Services). Mr Petherbridge joins Baw Baw from Mt Alexander Shire Council in central Victoria.

Stage one early works for the long planned Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre have been officially opened, delivering new landscaped public spaces, walking trails, boardwalks, seating and protective infrastructure around the site.

The Council has committed $5 million toward stage two and is advocating for an additional $5 million to build a fully operational centre for education, research, volunteering and improved visitor access.

The Frankston City Council‘s local Arts Centre has taken centre stage after being named Australia’s Performing Arts Centre of the Year.

Presented by PAC Australia, the prestigious award recognises over three decades of outstanding community engagement, artistic leadership, and accessible cultural programming.

The Australian Local Government Association says the Federal Government’s decision to abandon mandatory national packaging standards will leave councils and ratepayers carrying more of Australia’s plastic waste costs.

ALGA President Mayor Matt Burnett says without regulated product stewardship there’s no mechanism to make producers pay for the full cost of managing packaging, warning it could also undermine the recycling sector and push more material into already pressured landfills.

The group is calling on the Commonwealth to reconsider and set a clear, binding pathway to nationally consistent packaging reform.

New South Wales

Draft recommendations from the commissioner reviewing Liverpool City Council have called for minor administrative operational changes rather than structural overhaul, following a public inquiry.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the findings do not support claims of major maladministration across the organisation, instead advising targeted adjustments to staff policies, meeting procedures, and departmental oversight.

Council leadership has indicated that most draft recommendations have already been implemented, while the state government considers its final response to the report.

A New South Wales court has ruled a couple living in a tiny home on wheels on the state’s Far South Coast need development approval, saying it can meet the definition of a caravan but still can’t bypass planning laws, reports ABC News.

Bega Valley Shire Council had ordered the home vacated and demolished after a public complaint, though the court found the council could not legally order demolition because the structure fell outside the definition of a building.

Tiny house advocates warn the decision could affect people hoping to live long-term in mobile tiny homes on rented land, while councils say each case must be assessed on its circumstances and local planning controls.

The Newcastle Herald reports residents of Clift Street in Maitland are in uproar after Maitland City Council put up a for-sale sign on a beloved parcel of land that locals have maintained as their neighbourhood park for 75 years.

While councillors argue the operational site must be sold to reduce reliance on rates, residents are demanding the council ****halt the sale and officially protect their community green space.

A Sydney Morning Herald editorial argues that low remuneration of councillors is discouraging younger and more diverse candidates from putting their hands up for election to local government.

Councillors in NSW are paid modest annual fees, between about $16,000 and $48,000 in Sydney, despite the growing complexity and responsibilities of the role.

It means most can’t treat the role as a full-time job.

The editorial argues that while some councillors are flawed, the majority serve their communities in good faith and deserve better pay and appreciation.

Glen Innes Severn Council has endorsed a revised response to the NSW Government’s proposed Performance Improvement Order, calling for any final decision to be deferred until the outcome of its latest financial audit is available.

Mayor Margot Davis says the submission honestly acknowledges past financial and reporting challenges, while highlighting measures the elected body has already implemented to improve oversight and stability.

Kiama Council is considering introducing parking meters for visitors alongside a potential 20 per cent rate hike for local residents to help fix a $3.8 million budget deficit.

A draft revenue strategy aims to balance its finances following state government performance improvement orders, though any paid parking scheme would still require Transport for NSW approval, reports the Illawarra Mercury.

The draft will be discussed this week before going on public exhibition for 28 days.

Upper Lachlan Shire Council has reduced customer service hours at its Crookwell administration centre due to a shortage of accredited staff.

The council said non‑accredited employees, including executives, cannot cover the counter under Service NSW requirements, prompting criticism from ratepayers according to the Southern Wire.

Let’s catch up on some recent mayoral election results from around NSW:

Muswellbrook Shire Council has re-elected Mayor Jeff Drayton and Deputy Mayor De-anne Douglas to continue leading the shire following a mid-term vote.

The council also confirmed a new committee structure to guide investment and infrastructure priorities across the shire.

Councillor Daniel Keady has been re-elected as Mayor of Coonamble Shire Council for a further two-year term.

Councillor Steven Butler was also returned to his role as Deputy Mayor.

Tamworth Regional Council has re-elected Cr Russell Webb as Mayor, and Cr Jeff Budd is Deputy Mayor.

Newly elected Mayor Cr Lachlan Roberts and Deputy Mayor Cr Brian Leak have taken up their roles at Narromine Shire Council following a statutory mid-term Mayoral election. The leadership team will serve a two-year term.

Hawkesbury City Council has elected Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett as its new Mayor, alongside Councillor Nathan Zamprogno who takes on the role of Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Lyons-Buckett has promised a transformational period focused on major community facility and road improvements. The new team succeeds outgoing mayor and deputy Les Sheather and Sarah McMahon.

Cr Vince Ferreri and Cr Eliza Rahman have been elected as the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Camden, respectively. Mayor Ferreri says his primary focus will be advocating for vital infrastructure to keep pace with Camden’s rapid growth as one of Australia’s fastest-expanding communities.

Queensland

The Gold Coast City Council is facing mounting criticism after employee and consultancy costs surged by over $240 million over three years, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin – and that’s despite orders to the CEO to streamline operations.

Staff and councillors have expressed shock at the figures, with the union urging the Gold Coast City Council to utilise existing qualified workers rather than relying on expensive external consultants.

Quilpie Shire Council has appointed Julie Reitano as Interim Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of outgoing CEO Justin Hancock, effective 16 October.

Ms Reitano, who previously held executive roles at Gladstone Regional Council and Maranoa Regional Council, will lead the organisation while executive recruitment company Luminary Partners recruits a permanent successor.

Logan City Council has surged from 10th to first place in Queensland in Snap Send Solve’s 2026 Community Satisfaction Index, scoring 62.9 out of 100—above the state average despite satisfaction falling statewide and nationally.

Snap Send Solve says councils that engage closely with residents and act quickly on reported issues tend to rank higher, though the company hasn’t disclosed how many Logan responses contributed to the score.

Tasmania

Former television journalist Charles Wooley has announced his bid for Lord Mayor at the upcoming elections for the City of Hobart.

The Mercury and others have reported that the former Sorell Council deputy mayor will run as an independent, and is campaigning on a middle-ground platform aimed at ending partisan feuding within the chamber.

His election manifesto highlights key priorities, including pragmatic compromises on urban bike lanes, rates management, medium-density housing developments, and constructive engagement on the Macquarie Point stadium project.

The Mercury reports that the Tasmanian state government has rejected calls to classify a proposed artificial intelligence data centre in Wesley Vale as a major project, despite Latrobe Council warning that local planning processes are inadequate to assess the facility.

State officials insist the development can be handled through standard municipal channels, even as concerns grow over the site’s potential to consume up to 30 per cent of the state’s power grid.

South Australia

Adelaide Hills Council has reversed its three-year policy against holding Australia Day ceremonies on January the twenty-sixth.

Councillors voted ten to one to reinstate citizenship and civic award ceremonies to the date from 2027, alongside a new community grants program for local Australia Day events.

Mayor Nathan Daniell said the varying perspectives on the issue are real, and recognising one should not require dismissal of the other.

He said Council would now engage further with First Nations stakeholders ahead of future ceremonies.

Four South Australian mayors, including leaders from the City of Victor Harbor and the District Council of Kimba, have nominated for the presidency of the Local Government Association ahead of November’s vote.

Current President, Mitcham Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross is ineligible to stand again after two years, as the role is now expected to move to a regional mayor.

The Advertiser reports that the election has sparked a debate over whether local government should strictly focus on so called core functions or address broader community and environmental issues.

Western Australia

The Shire of Boyup Brook in Western Australia is six months into a trial of a compressed four-day work week for office staff, reporting near-total success in solving key recruitment and retention challenges according to ABC News.

Full-time administrative employees complete their regular hours across four nine-and-a-half-hour days, allowing the council to fill senior vacancies while maintaining uninterrupted public services.

Variations of the four-day week are a growing trend among regional local governments, with New South Wales’ Murrumbidgee Council also planning a similar trial commencing in January.

Perth City Council has unanimously backed a motion to investigate installing decorative lighting on more than 500 trees along Riverside Drive to make the riverfront safer, more welcoming, and boost evening activity.

The plan would be assessed alongside broader riverfront redevelopment proposals that may change tree species and the road layout. PerthNow reported that staff have described the project as feasible but logistically challenging.

The Shire of Esperance will hold an extraordinary local government postal election on 3 December 2026 to fill a Town Ward council vacancy caused by Cr Gemma Johnston’s resignation last month, as required under legislation.

The Council has appointed the Western Australian Electoral Commission to run the election to support voter participation and ensure an independent process, with an estimated cost of $46,000 (ex GST).

New signs have been installed at key intersections along Parade Street in Kinjarling/Albany to recognise it as Western Australia’s oldest street and highlight its origins in the British military outpost established in 1826–27.

The City of Albany says the signage is part of its 2026 Bicentenary initiative, encouraging residents and visitors to explore the surrounding heritage precinct and learn more about the area’s layered history.

International

Turning now to our international wrap. Council amalgamation costs are mounting in New Zealand, London is confronting an e-bike parking crisis, and England’s local government shake-up has hit fresh turbulence, with a tourist tax stoush also brewing in the North East.

We start in New Zealand, where Canterbury’s five largest councils have spent a combined four-hundred-and-twenty-eight-thousand dollars developing local government amalgamation proposals ahead of a Government decision expected later this month.

Waimakariri District Council topped spending at almost one-hundred-and-twenty-nine-thousand dollars, engaging consultants Ernst and Young for financial and governance modelling. Selwyn District Council spent one-hundred-and-sixteen-thousand dollars on a standalone unitary proposal, while Christchurch, Ashburton and Timaru each spent between thirty-four and one-hundred-and-six-thousand dollars.

Several mayors and chief executives say the figures exclude staff and councillor time, and that the largest costs are still to come once any merger proceeds.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts says the Head Start process was voluntary, and central Government has not yet decided on funding for the wider reorganisation that follows. (Source: The Press)

In London, boroughs have seized more than three-thousand-three-hundred hazardously parked or abandoned hire e-bikes so far this year, up twenty-three per cent on the whole of last year, according to a Guardian investigation.

Lime accounted for more than two-thousand of those seizures, ahead of rivals Forest and Voi. Disability advocates say abandoned bikes are increasingly blocking pavements for blind, elderly and mobility-impaired residents, with one campaigner saying some people “do not go out on their own any more.”

Operators point to a shortage of designated parking bays, while boroughs complain of a lack of centralised regulation across the capital. (Source: The Guardian)

Also in England, ten Labour metro mayors have pledged to voluntarily cap a new overnight visitor levy at five per cent, after hospitality operators warned an uncapped so-called tourist tax could put jobs at risk.

In a joint letter to the Chancellor and the Local Government Secretary, the mayors described five per cent as a “reasonable ceiling,” while stressing any levy would still be subject to local consultation and would allow for local variation. Reform and Conservative mayors are expected to oppose the charge altogether. (Source: BBC News)

Staying with the tourist tax debate, Northumberland County Council’s Conservative administration has vowed to fight any North East levy, setting up a clash with regional Mayor Kim McGuinness. The Mayor believes a two-pound nightly charge could raise around twenty-million pounds a year for cultural attractions and major events. Deputy council leader Coun Richard Wearmouth says the levy would ultimately hit hard-pressed hospitality businesses already facing higher costs, while local Labour leader Coun Scott Dickinson argues visitors should help fund the infrastructure tourism relies on, particularly in high-traffic towns. (Source: Hexham Courant)

Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner has defended her decision to pause council reorganisation plans across sixteen English areas, telling the BBC she needed time to review legal advice before proceeding. Rayner has already withdrawn reorganisation proposals for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk following legal challenges from Reform and Conservative-led authorities, and councils including Kent and Leicestershire have threatened similar action. The plans would abolish England’s remaining two-tier council areas, where county and district councils share responsibility for services. The Government argues this will improve efficiency, but critics say the changes will not deliver promised savings and will leave communities more remote from decision-makers. (Source: BBC News)

In France, the Eiffel Tower has reopened after a staff strike over management instructions limiting female employees’ contact with a visiting Hindu delegation of around one hundred people.

A union official described the instructions as unacceptable, and staff walked out in protest before the tower reopened.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire has ordered an investigation, saying gender equality “must apply everywhere and to everyone.” The visiting religious organisation, BAPS, says the arrangement was never intended to be gender-based, and has apologised for any offence caused. (Source: CBC News)

And in Canada, Calgary City Council has voted to refer one of its own, Coun Landon Johnston, to Alberta’s Municipal Affairs Minister and the province’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, after he admitted leaking confidential budget material.

Johnston maintains he acted in the public interest over potential tax rises. CBC News reported that because council holds no direct power to discipline members for privacy breaches, any sanction now rests with provincial authorities.