Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• A Governance Crisis Deepens at Hepburn – Now the Mayor has Been Stood Down
• A Court Orders Penalties and Dogs Destroyed After an Attack
• Casey Flags Green Wedge Alarm
• A Mayor Moves to Quell Wind-Farm “Heavy Haul” Fears
• A Controversial Traffic Plan Reversed After Community Backlash
• Hobart Councillors Warned Over “Demeaning” Conduct
• A Sacked CEO Launches Legal Action
• And a Warning for SA Councils Over Confidential Information Leaks

Listen to this episode now:

Victoria

Hepburn Shire Council Mayor, Cr Tony Clark, has been automatically stood down after being served with alleged criminal charges in a private prosecution.

The Council says the matter has not involved an investigation by Victoria Police or any public prosecutorial authority – but under the Local Government Act, the stand-down is automatic while the case proceeds through the courts.

Deputy Mayor Cr Shirley Cornish steps into the mayoral role in the interim.

Cr Clark is the third senior Hepburn Shire figure caught up in a private prosecution this year. Cr Don Henderson, a former mayor, was stood down in March over an alleged misuse of position, in action brought by a private prosecutor, local businessman David Penman.

Chief executive Bradley Thomas was charged in the same matter with alleged unlawful expenditure of ratepayer funds, and remains in his role. He has however resigned his position and is due to depart the council next month.

The Council says it’s constrained in commenting further while the matters are before the courts, but has welcomed proposed state reforms that would end automatic stand-downs for councillors in similar circumstances.

Cr Clark told the ABC that the unproven charges were exploiting a loophole that undermined local government, and is a “threat to our democracy.”

Latrobe City Council has successfully prosecuted a pet owner following a serious dog attack.

The Latrobe Magistrates Court ordered the owner to pay more than $17,000 in fines and costs, and issued destruction orders for both dogs under the Domestic Animals Act.

Council CEO Steven Piasente said serious dog attacks can have significant impacts on victims, families and the broader community, and encouraged all pet owners to understand and meet their responsibilities to help maintain a safe community.

Casey Council has raised concerns over a proposed twelve-fold expansion of a Cranbourne South school within the Western Port Green Wedge.

Australian Christian College Casey wants to grow from 125 to 1,500 students in a $95 million staged development.

The Council isn’t the decision-maker — that sits with the state’s Development Facilitation Program — but it has flagged traffic, parking and environmental concerns in its submission, alongside formal objections from local residents, according to the Cranbourne Star News.

Warrnambool City Council‘s annual Community Satisfaction Survey has recorded declines across all eight core measures, with overall performance dropping six points to fifty-two, against a state average of fifty-eight.

The Standard reported that councillors have described the results as a wake-up call, though Cr Billy Edis argued council often copped blame for state government responsibilities.

The Council says the results were also shaped by a change in survey methodology, moving to a mix of phone and online responses, which the survey provider suggested may have produced more critical scoring.

Alpine Shire Council has formally adopted a new Domestic Animal Management Plan, which includes the introduction of a 24-hour cat curfew.

75 per cent of respondents to a community consultation supported the measure. There’ll be a 12-month transition period, with full implementation set for July 2027.

NSW

Wollongong City Council has launched an immediate review of covered concrete cricket pitches at shared sporting grounds.

The move follows safety concerns raised by local groups, including the Bulli Junior Football Club, in the wake of the tragic incident in Victoria last week.

The council said the administration is currently working to relocate upcoming fixtures while balancing multi-sport community access.

Balranald Mayor, Cr Louie Zaffina, has moved to calm concerns that the town’s traffic islands and bollards could be removed to allow large wind farm trucks through the Central Business District.

In a statement, Cr Zaffina said no formal plan is before council, and any changes would only follow safety assessments and public consultation.

The Sturt Highway is expected to carry oversize renewable energy convoys, with Balranald part of an eight-council taskforce pushing the state for road safety upgrades.

Moree Plains Shire Council has welcomed a 138-point-3 million dollar funding commitment in the state budget for the Moree Special Activation Precinct.

The allocation will deliver critical enabling infrastructure for the regional industrial hub, with works starting next year.

Meanwhile, the council is continuing to lobby federal and private stakeholders to secure completion of the local stages of the Inland Rail project.

Port Stephens Council is asking residents to help decide the future bin collection schedule ahead of a new food and garden organics service launching in July 2027.

The weekly FOGO bin is locked in as part of a statewide push to halve food waste to landfill by 2030, but councillors are still weighing a weekly versus fortnightly general waste collection.

That decision goes to the September council meeting, informed by a community survey open until 4 August.

The New South Wales Planning Minister has issued an updated Statement of Expectations for councils, introducing new targets for development assessments.

Average determination times must hit 90 days this year, dropping to 65 days by 2028. Average assessment times across the state have falled by 31 days to 84 days, according to LG NSW.

Councils must also spend a proportion of developer contributions on infrastructure annually.

The City of Ryde has acknowledged the passing of former three-time mayor Ivan Petch at the age of 87 on 6th July.

Mr Petch spent nearly 30 years as a Ryde alderman and councillor, alongside serving as the state Member for Gladesville from 1988 to 1995.

Vale Ivan Petch.

Queensland

Redland City Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee has demanded closer scrutiny over several major council projects and long-term financial risks.

According to a report from the Redland Bayside News, the committee requested enhanced reporting on the organisation’s multi-million dollar digital transformation program, alongside a follow-up audit into the Birkdale Community Precinct.

While the council’s current cash position remains favourable, members have also asked for a detailed post-budget analysis to assess underlying assumptions for the 2026-27 financial year.

Flinders Shire Council is calling for urgent government intervention to protect Hughenden’s Anglican Church precinct from being sold.

The property is currently listed for disposal under the National Redress Scheme.

Mayor Kate Peddle warns that losing the town’s last remaining place of worship, along with its co-located family playgroup building, will severely impact the community’s social fabric.

While supporting justice for survivors, the council is urging stakeholders to find a solution that keeps the infrastructure in public use.

Noosa Council has reversed its traffic management plan for the Doonella Lake Bridge upgrade following extensive community and business feedback.

Sunshine Coast News reports that a single-lane, two-way traffic arrangement managed by traffic lights will now be implemented, replacing the heavily criticised westbound closure.

CEO Larry Sengstock said the change will not eliminate congestion, but aims to provide motorists with greater network choice while ensuring project delivery and safety.

The decision means a proposed extraordinary council meeting scheduled for today is no longer required.

Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council has welcomed the final determination of Queensland’s electoral redistribution, confirming the community will remain within the Townsville electoral district.

Mayor Alf Lacey said maintaining the boundary ensures vital continuity, preserving long-standing historical, social, and economic connections with the mainland region.

More than 600 musicians have gathered during the SPARK Ipswich Arts Festival in a bid to break the Guinness World Record for the largest trombone ensemble.

Mayor Teresa Harding said the performance of the piece 76 Trombones soared past the current record for the world’s largest trombone ensemble of 368. That record was set in Washington D.C. in 2012.

The council is currently awaiting formal verification of the result from Guinness World Records.

Tasmania

The Office of Local Government has formally warned Hobart councillors over demeaning and disrespectful conduct at a recent meeting.

The Mercury reports that in a strongly worded letter, Acting Director of local government Luke Gregory said that behaviour during a five-and-a-half-hour debate on June 29 fell well short of the standards expected of community leaders.

While no regulatory action is being taken yet, councillors have been urged to improve communication ahead of the October local government elections.

Three councillors from differing political lines have reportedly since pledged to end the infighting and work co-operatively.

The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has overturned Glenorchy City Council‘s refusal of a twelve-unit social housing development in Claremont.

Council rejected the modular project over density and parking concerns, but the tribunal ruled it offers a significant community benefit amid acute housing shortages.

Pulse Tasmania reported the permit mandates the units remain social housing for ten years.

South Australia

Sacked Adelaide Hills Council Chief Executive Greg Georgopoulos has confirmed he is taking legal action against the municipality following his abrupt dismissal last week.

The council has terminated the employment relationship citing evolving strategic priorities, appointing environment and infrastructure director Jade Ballantine as acting chief executive.

Mr Georgopoulos told the Advertiser he has initiated legal proceedings regarding the exit, which follows a turbulent period marked by the resignation of the former mayor and significant staff turnover.

South Australia’s Ombudsman, Emily Strickland, has put every council in the state on notice, according to Adelaide Now.

The warning follows complaints that confidential legal advice was shared by elected members with private solicitors and members of the public.

The alleged conduct would breach the Local Government Act, which bars councillors from disclosing confidential council information.

Ms Strickland hasn’t launched a formal investigation, but says future complaints will be assessed with this warning in mind.

Western Australia

The Shire of Gingin has secured four hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars in state government funding to tackle severe coastal erosion in north Lancelin.

Following a ministerial meeting, the council confirmed the CoastWA emergency funds will back immediate mitigation works, including rock bags and dune stabilisation.

The shire is planning a community workshop with coastal experts as it investigates long-term options beyond sand nourishment.

International

UK:

Suffolk County Council leader Michael Hadwen is facing criticism over an eighteen-thousand-five-hundred-pound office refurbishment at the authority’s headquarters.

Freedom of Information disclosures reported by BBC News detail spending on enhanced access control and workspace modifications.

Management defended the expenditure as necessary to support cabinet collaboration and confidential executive meetings.

Meanwhile, Reform UK has retained a seat on Gateshead Council following a close by-election recount.

As reported by the BBC, candidate Lindsay Atkinson secured the High Fell ward by just five votes.

The poll was triggered by a councillor’s resignation mere days after May’s local government elections.

Staffordshire County Council is set to debate a strict new dress code that would ban councillors from wearing sportswear, shorts, and items featuring political slogans or messages at official meetings.

According to the BBC, the proposed constitutional changes aim to ensure elected members maintain a professional image that reflects the dignity of their role.

If approved at this week’s full council meeting, the policy will require smart casual attire as the standard baseline, with formal dress mandated for civic events.

USA:

In the United States, the mayor of London, Kentucky, Randall Weddle has resigned following an appeals court ruling upholding his impeachment.

The court cited misconduct and wilful neglect after Weddle secured a tourism loan using park property without council approval.

The council had been set to vote on asking the state’s attorney general to remove Weddle from office, before the court’s ruling was released.

A successor is expected to be appointed today, according to WKYT News.

Chicago City Council is considering a ban on elected officials and staff using insider knowledge to wager on online prediction markets.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the council’s ethics committee has unanimously advanced the measure following concerns over bets regarding local policy and council elections.

A final vote is expected this week.

USA Today reports that gunshot detection technology is facing a fresh wave of controversy across the United States, with several local governments halting deployments over accuracy and privacy concerns.

In Roanoke, Virginia, dozens of sensors were installed at the wrong addresses due to a data entry error, prompting their removal.

San José and Champaign both dropped the technology after trials found it significantly underperformed accuracy claims, while in Jackson, Mississippi, devices remain on private property despite a removal request.

Advocates continue to raise eavesdropping concerns, though the manufacturer maintains the devices don’t record continuously.

CANADA:

The Canadian municipality of Newmarket has permanently adopted a pandemic-era staff wellbeing initiative.

Mayor John Taylor’s appointment of a ‘Chief Positivity Officer’ to boost organisational morale and resilience has now drawn interest from councils worldwide, according to a report by CBC News.