On the Local Government News Roundup for Friday, 21st February 2025:
- A council meeting adjourned as tensions boil over
- Melbourne’s new tougher stance on graffiti
- A call for state government help on tree vandalism in NSW
- and the cost of vandalism escalates for a Tasmanian council
- Protests directed at Queensland councils
- A new CEO announced for Redland
- A South Australian Council hands back two iconic landmarks to the state
- and fierce opposition to an election promise in Western Australia
Plus a call for a probe of the conduct of last year’s Victorian local government elections, and more local government news from around Australia and beyond.
Brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony3 – simple, connected customer experiences.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Here is all the news from episode 430:
Victorian Roundup:
There were dramatic scenes at the City of Casey this week, during the council’s first fully public council meeting since emerging from administration.
More than 500 residents packed the council chambers, with tensions boiling over during discussions about private land use permits and vehicle storage regulations.
Mayor Stefan Koomen, who had initially welcomed the large turnout as a positive sign for local democracy, was forced to adjourn the meeting after repeated disruptions.
In a statement following the incident, the Mayor expressed his disappointment.
He said, “The behaviour displayed at the Council Meeting is not welcome and will not be tolerated. We had residents attending in good faith, expecting to hear responses to their questions, but unfortunately they, along with our staff and councillors, were subjected to threatening behaviour.”
Victoria Police were called to the meeting at around 6:15 PM, eventually escorting councillors from the building.
The meeting was the first to be held outside business hours to accommodate more ratepayers.
The council has yet to announce when the adjourned meeting will reconvene.
See our show notes for links to reporting on the meeting from the Dandenong Star Journal, the Age, Sky News and the official statement Mayor Stefan Koomen.
Melbourne City Council is taking a tougher stance on graffiti and vandalism with a new ‘you spray, you pay’ initiative.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece has announced that offenders will face stricter consequences, including court-ordered compensation for cleanup costs.
The Council will now submit Victim Impact Statements in court proceedings, emphasizing that graffiti is not a victimless crime.
They’re also pushing for legislative changes that would require offenders to personally clean up their vandalism, even if they live outside the municipality.
The City of Melbourne is also looking to expand its anti-graffiti efforts through partnerships with neighbouring councils.
Kingston Council is urging Rossdale Golf Course to allow environmental experts onto their property after being denied access this week.
Mayor Georgina Oxley says the assessment is critical before the upcoming bird migration season.
The club had previously permitted an arborist on site but is now questioning Council’s legal authority to conduct the audit.
The council says it remains open to working with the club to complete this essential environmental assessment.
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry is underway, to examine and follow up on two key Victorian Auditor-General reports regarding fraud and corruption in local government.
The inquiry will review findings from the 2019 report on general fraud and corruption control in local government; examine a 2022 report focusing specifically on fraud control over local government grants; and assess what actions Victorian integrity and government agencies have taken to address the issues and recommendations raised in both audits.
The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee is conducting the inquiry and must report its findings by November 20, 2025.
There’s been a call for a probe by the Victorian Auditor General into the conduct of the last year’s Victorian council elections, with claims that the move to single member wards has doubled the cost of democracy for some councils.
(Interview – Jim Magee OAM)
Victorian Briefs:
East Gippsland Shire Council is strongly opposing a new State Government Emergency Services Levy that will significantly increase costs for property owners from July 2025, with primary producers facing a 189% increase in the variable rate component.
The Council, led by Mayor John White, is calling for the levy to be scrapped or at least administered by the State.
At Bayside City Council, Matthew Cripps has been appointed as Acting CEO, set to take the helm from March 28, 2025.
Mr. Cripps, who currently serves as the Director of City Planning and Amenity, will step into the role as outgoing CEO Mick Cummins steps down.
Brimbank Council is funding several community-led events and activities recognising the 50 year anniversary of the Vietnamese community’s settlement in Australia.
The city prides itself as home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities in Australia.
National Roundup:
NSW:
Investigations have concluded without charges after one of the largest acts of tree vandalism in Sydney’s North Shore history.
256 trees were destroyed in Castle Cove’s H.D. Robb Reserve, including an iconic 80-year-old Sydney angophora, standing 21 meters tall.
Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor has expressed frustration at the outcome, calling for urgent state government intervention to address what she describes as inadequate enforcement tools for combating tree vandalism.
The Mayor has met with key state ministers and local representatives, presenting recommendations to strengthen councils’ ability to prosecute such cases.
This comes as Sydney’s North Shore grapples with an increasing number of tree vandalism incidents.
Northern Beaches Council has moved to set the record straight after recent media reports following its decision to seek a substantial rate variation.
The Council’s Chief Financial Officer says claims about excessive cash reserves don’t tell the full story, explaining that the reported $43 million in unrestricted funds is primarily needed to maintain essential services during the critical period before rates are collected.
In a detailed response, Council officials highlighted that over $30 million is required just to keep basic services running in the first two months of each financial year.
The Council maintains that using existing reserves would be a short-term fix that could expose ratepayers to unnecessary risk and wouldn’t address long-term financial sustainability challenges.
It has also addressed concerns about staffing levels, revealing that full-time equivalent positions have actually decreased from 1,315 to 1,287 since the council amalgamation.
Shoalhaven City Council has announced it will cease operating its Family Day Care service, due to growing financial pressures.
The service, which has been running since 1980, currently faces an annual deficit of $96,000.
Mayor Patricia White says the Council will assist the service’s 23 active educators to transition to new providers.
Two not-for-profit organisations have already expressed interest in taking on the educators.
Families will be exempt from upcoming annual enrolment fees, and educators will be reimbursed for the costs of any signage changes.
The NSW Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has assessed its first batch of 28 housing proposals out of over 160 expressions of interest, with 11 being declared State-significant projects that will bypass council assessment.
Local Government NSW, while critical of the HDA’s function, is now calling for collaboration between the State Government and councils to ensure proper infrastructure and community amenity considerations in the development process.
Albury City Council has secured $5 million in Federal Government funding, matched with $5.7 million of Council investment, to strengthen the runway at Albury Airport.
The project will take approximately two years to complete and will enable larger aircraft to land, benefiting both the visitor economy and emergency services, particularly during bushfire season.
Kempsey Shire Council has moved to address its financial challenges with a proposed staged rate increase.
During a marathon three-hour discussion at their February meeting, Councillors voted to split a previously approved 15% rate variation across two years.
Under the plan, ratepayers would see a 7.5% increase in 2025/26, followed by a potential 11.5% rise the following year.
The NSW Government has launched a new round of Social Cohesion Grants offering local councils up to $150,000 each from a $500,000 pool to combat hate and strengthen community connections.
The grants, open until March 28, 2025, aim to fund projects that address hate, polarisation, and local impacts from global events, building upon previous successful initiatives that supported community cohesion and intercultural leadership programs.
Making news in the press:
Lismore City Council has voted to significantly reduce public participation in its meetings, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The council has decided to move public access sessions to 9 AM, before the formal meeting begins, and has halved the number of allowed speakers on any given issue.
The changes, which passed in an eight-hour marathon meeting, also reduce speaking time from four to three minutes and impose new restrictions on question time.
The motion passed 7-4, although a rescission motion has since been lodged on that issue as well as three others.
Singleton Council is seeking state and federal support to address issues caused by flying foxes roosting in Burdekin Park and nearby streets.
Radio 2HD reported that the flying foxes which are creating noise and sanitation problems for local residents and businesses.
The council has voted to request permission for tree lopping as a potential solution.
QLD:
Redland City Council has this week named Louise Rusan as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Rusan, who has been serving as acting CEO since September last year, brings nearly 15 years of executive experience within the Council to the role.
Mayor Jos Mitchell says Ms Rusan’s appointment will be crucial in developing new corporate and city plans for the region.
The appointment follows a national recruitment search, with the final decision confirmed at yesterday’s General Meeting.
Ms Rusan’s background includes executive roles at Queensland Motorways and WorkCover Queensland. She holds a Bachelor of Business degree and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Council will now begin recruiting for Ms Rusan’s previous position as General Manager of Community and Customer Services.
Protesters gathered outside Redland City Council chambers yesterday to voice their opposition to a controversial new portfolio structure.
The plan, approved in a 7-4 vote, has sparked accusations that Mayor Jos Mitchell is being deliberately sidelined by her own council, according to the Courier Mail.
Around 60 residents turned out to protest the changes, which will see eight councillors taking on portfolio roles.
Deputy Mayor Julie Talty maintains the mayor’s influence remains intact across all areas, but critics including former councillors and local residents argue the move effectively limits the mayor’s role in key community discussions.
The final structure is set to be formalised next month.
Tensions continue to simmer over a controversial council rate hike on the Gold Coast.
9News reported that around 200 residents took to the streets this week to protest against the so-called ‘view tax’ which has seen some apartment owners hit with rate increases of up to 50 percent.
Mayor Tom Tate is standing firm, arguing the adjustments are about ensuring those with higher-value properties pay their fair share, and has ruled out any reversal of the decision.
However, he has promised future rate rises will be kept in line with inflation.
Protesters aren’t backing down, and have another demonstration planned for next month.
Meanwhile, ABC News reported that Gold Coast City Council has delayed a crucial decision on introducing waste management fees, as industry experts warn of an impending “landfill train wreck.”
With local tips nearly full and only 10 years of capacity remaining, the council is facing a $138 million budget shortfall over the next five years.
The Gold Coast remains the only council in south-east Queensland without gate fees at waste facilities.
A proposed $1.6 billion Advanced Resource Recovery Centre could provide a solution, but that decision isn’t expected until mid-2026.
In Townsville, the City Council has unanimously approved new policies to address what officials describe as unreasonable and vexatious complaints.
The Townsville Bulletin has reported that the move comes amid ongoing social media tensions involving suspended mayor Troy Thompson.
Chief Legal Officer David Sewell says the changes will help manage a small but resource-intensive group of complainants, while maintaining services for the majority of ratepayers who engage reasonably with Council.
The policy updates include measures such as email filtering and police referrals for threatening behaviour.
Thompson, who remains suspended on full pay since November, claims the changes are partly due to his sharing of contact information with the community.
Council CEO Joe McCabe has specifically called for an end to online attacks that he says are harming staff wellbeing.
National Briefs:
Snowy Monaro Regional Council has commenced the search for a new permanent CEO to replace interim CEO Stephen Dunshea, whose contract ends in June 2025.
Applications open until March 5, 2025, with recruitment being managed by McArthur.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council has extended the appointment of Marina Hollands, Director of Utilities, as Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective this week, until a permanent General Manager is appointed.
The permanent position has been vacant since Aaron Johansson’s resignation last November.
Cairns Regional Council and CQUniversity have signed a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding, building upon a previous 2020 agreement that enabled various community-focused initiatives.
The partnership has already yielded significant results, including contributions to cyclone recovery, urban growth strategy, green economy initiatives, student employment opportunities, and educational game development.
Northern Beaches Council has announced the closure of its Vacation Care services after the Autumn 2025 school holiday program due to declining attendance and financial losses.
The Manly Observer reported that the decision was made before Council’s vote on rate increases, with attendance dropping from 72% in 2019 to 46% in Summer 2025, well below the 85% required for financial viability.
West Arnhem Regional Council has appointed Tamar Nawirridj as its newest Elected Member for the Gunbalanya Ward.
Her official swearing-in ceremony took place during an Ordinary Council Meeting earlier this week.
TAS:
The increasing cost of vandalism is hitting home in Tasmania’s Northern Midlands municipality.
The council has had to fund a repair bill of nearly thirty thousand dollars this financial year, with public toilets being a major target.
January alone saw damage bills exceeding five thousand dollars across multiple towns.
Pulse Tasmania reported that local police are now working with council to identify suspects through surveillance footage.
Kangaroo Island is marking a significant milestone this week with the arrival of QantasLink’s first Dash-8 Q400 aircraft at Kingscote Airport.
The larger 74-seat aircraft is set to boost capacity between Adelaide and the Island by 48 percent.
Mayor Michael Pengilly said the development will provide a significant boost to local tourism and improve access for residents.
The occasion has been celebrated with a special welcome event at Kingscote Airport, where first-flight passengers were treated to a taste of local Kangaroo Island produce.
SA:
The future of two iconic South Australian jetties is in doubt, after Tumby Bay Council announced it will hand back control of its local landmarks to the State Government.
The Council says it simply can’t afford the $13.4 million price tag to maintain the Tumby Bay and Port Neill jetties over the next fifteen years, even with $2.4 million in state funding on the table.
Mayor Geoff Churchett says the decision follows strong community opposition to proposed rate hikes that would have been needed to keep the structures in local hands.
The Council says it will now focus on protecting its coastline, with $700,000 earmarked for temporary coastal protection measures in the coming year.
Whyalla City Council is seeking community input on a proposed city-wide alcohol ban in public spaces.
The move comes in response to growing concerns about alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in the area.
Mayor Phill Stone acknowledges there’s no ‘quick fix’ to the issue, emphasising that the proposed dry zone is just one part of a broader solution requiring multi-agency cooperation.
The plan would prohibit alcohol consumption in all public spaces across Whyalla, with violations carrying penalties of up to $1,250.
WA:
WA Labor’s $217 million election promise to build a motorsport circuit at Perth’s Burswood Park has sparked fierce opposition from local officials and residents, according to reporting from ABC News.
The Town of Victoria Park council has voted overwhelmingly to oppose the development, with Mayor Karen Vernon saying the community was “shocked” by the announcement, which came without any prior consultation.
The proposed development would include a street circuit for Supercars, a 20,000-seat music bowl, and a function centre.
While the council supports the entertainment facilities, they’re particularly concerned about the impact of the motorsport track on local parklands and wildlife.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti has defended the plan, saying it would boost tourism, comparing it to similar circuits in Adelaide and the Gold Coast.
A changing of the guard at the City of Canning, where Councillor Mark Bain has been elected as the new Deputy Mayor after a three-way contest at Tuesday night’s Council Meeting.
The appointment follows the resignation of Amanda Spencer-Teo, who’s stepping down after five years to focus on her campaign for the state seat of Riverton.
Your Local Examiner reported that the Council is seeking approval to keep Spencer-Teo’s seat vacant until the October local government elections.
Global Roundup:
UK:
A village in Surrey has made headlines this week, after two massive sinkholes have appeared following a water main burst
The larger of the two holes in Godstone has reached 65 feet in length, forcing the evacuation of approximately 30 homes in the area.
Surrey County Council has confirmed to the BBC that the situation has stabilised, with the holes no longer expanding.
Engineers are currently conducting borehole testing to assess the underground conditions, though repairs are expected to take several months.
A Conservative councillor in Pendle who was elected in May 2023, has been found to owe £3,835 in unpaid council tax over three years.
It has made Tim Ormerod unable to vote on the authority’s budget, according to BBC News.
Liberal Democrat group leader David Whipp has called for his immediate resignation, citing his minimal meeting attendance and the scandal of unpaid taxes.
East Lothian Council has become Scotland’s first local authority to implement a 10% council tax increase.
Council leader Norman Hampshire said it’s necessary for essential services and protecting vulnerable residents.
For a typical property, the increase amounts to £2.76 per week or £11.96 monthly.
The Council has also approved a 6.5 per cent increase for Council tenants for 2025/26, and to invest an additional £1M per year for five years for modernisation of existing council homes.
USA:
President Donald Trump has called for a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., citing concerns over crime and homelessness, according to Reuters news agency.
His call comes as Republican lawmakers push legislation to eliminate D.C.’s local government, including its elected mayor and city council.
The controversial move would place the capital’s 700,000 residents under direct Congressional control.
Mayor Muriel Bowser continues to advocate for D.C. statehood instead.
The peaceful pop of tennis balls has given way to what some residents are calling an “auditory assault” in a Boise, Idaho neighborhood.
Two homeowners near Willow Lane Park have filed a lawsuit against the city over the conversion of tennis courts to pickleball facilities, claiming the distinctive sharp crack of pickleball play has made their property “unlivable.”
The Oregonian reported that the homeowners are seeking $1.6 million in damages and want the courts shut down.
While the city has attempted to address concerns with sound barriers and restricted playing days, the plaintiffs say the measures haven’t solved the problem.
CANADA:
The rural municipalities of Saskatchewan are urging the provincial government to fund removal of abandoned buildings across the province.
The derelict structures pose safety risks and burden rural municipalities with costly cleanup requirements.
Association of Rural Municipalities President Bill Huber said the buildings threaten community development, with municipalities struggling to afford removal under current environmental regulations.
They are seeking a grant program for demolition and restoration, aiming to convert problem sites into developable land or natural grassland.
NZ:
And now to Gore, in New Zealand, where cutting-edge technology is transforming the way urban forests are monitored.
1News has reported that New Zealand company, Treetech, has partnered with Singapore’s Greehill to introduce what’s being dubbed as an ‘MRI scanner for trees.’
Using a combination of four million lasers and six cameras mounted on a vehicle traveling at precisely 39 kilometers per hour, the system can scan up to 8,000 trees in a single day.
The technology creates a 360-degree view of trees and can assess their health and vulnerabilities with unprecedented accuracy.
Gore is the first NZ location to use the technology, which has already been successfully deployed in major cities worldwide, including Marseille, Prague, and Singapore.