Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- Greater Geelong’s deputy mayor on the mend after a mid-meeting medical scare
- Mornington Peninsula Shire to revisit its aged care exit plan
- CEO level terminations in New South Wales and Western Australia
- Ku-ring-gai withstands pressure from protestors over a controversial synthetic turf field project
- Ipswich Mayor and councillors at loggerheads over media policy
- A Tasmanian Council orders a review of its response to a dog attack
- NZ council amalgamation decisions delayed
- and more NSW mayoral election results
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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.
Featured in today’s episode:
Victoria
There is concern for the deputy mayor of Greater Geelong Council, Eddy Kontelj, who was taken to hospital after a medical scare during this week’s council meeting.
Cr Kontelj was about to propose an alternative approach during debate on a place naming policy that was proving controversial. The matter was deferred to a later meeting with the unanimous support of councillors.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj later issued a statement confirming that his brother had experienced a medical episode, and after being assessed by medical professionals, was recovering well at home.
Deputy Mayor Kontelj said in his own statement that he was sorry for causing distress, and that he was already getting back to doing what he loves. (Read more: Geelong Advertiser)
Former Moonee Valley mayor Cameron Nation has been sentenced to three months in prison and an 18-month community correction order after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage boy who worked under his supervision.
A magistrate in Melbourne handed down the sentence to the former councillor yesterday. A successful media challenge to lift suppression orders on the case in place since December has meant details of the case can now be reported. Read more from The Age.
The Herald Sun reports that backlash is growing over a proposal by Merri-bek City Council to name the Coburg City Oval grandstand after Joe Luppino, a former long-term council manager of recreation services who passed away from cancer in 2024.
Coburg Football Club icon Phil Cleary and club officials are opposing the move, arguing the stand should instead honour a local sporting figure or community advocate connected directly to the club. Mr Cleary has suggested the grandstand be named after his sister Vicki, who was murdered in 1987, and was described as a significant supporter of the club.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will next week reconsider its plan to exit Commonwealth-funded aged care services after the Federal Government extended the Home Support Program to 2029.
Councillors will evaluate options to either transition services to specialist providers as planned, extend all three services until 2029, or maintain Meals on Wheels while transitioning transport and social support.
Mayor Stephen Batty said the government’s postponement of reforms had taken the community by surprise.
Melbourne City Council will vote next week on a new motion to restore official Australia Day celebrations and assess the return of the annual parade.
The Herald Sun reported that if a proposal from councillor Philip Le Liu is successful, the City would recognise 26 January as the national day and direct management to plan community festivities.
The council decided in 2022 to drop formal recognition of the holiday, joining a national campaign to change the date.
CITY OF BALLARAT councillors have voted to lobby state ministers for a pause on all new data centre approvals until a statewide planning and sustainability framework is created.
The motion calls for local government and community involvement in future decisions to manage the environmental and infrastructure impacts of data facilities across Victoria.
The Outer Melbourne Councils alliance has broadly welcomed the state government’s new Data Centre Action Plan, but it says councils must be brought in earlier.
Acting Chair, Nillumbik Cr Naomi Joiner says growth-area councils aren’t opposed to data centres, but want firm rules on energy, water, siting and community benefit — and want costs like network upgrades and compliance kept off ratepayers.
OMC says it’ll keep pushing government for a formal role in site selection and permit conditions as the plan is finalised.
Monash Council has introduced a new policy requiring council staff, contractors, and volunteers to disclose when artificial intelligence heavily influences decisions affecting ratepayers.
The Leader reported that councillors are exempt from the transparency rules, which also ban automated tools from making autonomous decisions or handling personal information.
Murrindindi Shire Council has taken home the 2026 MAVlab Innovation Award for Design and Planning Excellence after pioneering a multi-faceted strategy to solve regional housing and growth challenges.
The winning initiative integrates major infrastructure and key worker housing projects across local towns to spur economic growth and attract essential workers to the region.
The City of Casey has launched two of three mobile CCTV trailers, funded by a 900-thousand-dollar Commonwealth grant as part of a three-year community safety program.
A third trailer is due to be operational within a month, with Victoria Police to decide where they’re deployed based on demand.
Deakin University will independently evaluate the project’s effectiveness and value for money.
New South Wales
Clarence Valley Council has terminated the services of General Manager Laura Black, and appointed Adam Cameron as Acting General Manager, according to a report from The Daily Examiner.
Councillors made the call after a three-hour confidential session Wednesday — the council’s third meeting in under a week.
Before going into session, Deputy Mayor Cr Christie Yager urged colleagues to proceed with care, respect and dignity.
The move followed a mayoral vote that was left unresolved after a tie and a wrongly declared result.
In breaking news, an extraordinary meeting was called yesterday, at which Cr Peter Johnstone was again elected as mayor – legally this time – from three candidates, including the deputy mayor Christie Yager, who was elected to that position last week.
Ku-ring-gai Council has voted to proceed with a $24.4 million synthetic turf field at Norman Griffiths Oval in Sydney’s north, despite community opposition and cost blowouts from its original $3.3 million budget.
An extraordinary meeting on Monday was briefly disrupted by around 100 protesters after the council decided to scrap planned community consultations regarding whether to install synthetic or natural turf, according to ABC News.
Newly elected Mayor Kim Wheatley defended the decision to move forward without further consultation, citing ongoing site maintenance costs of $60,000 per month. Construction is expected to run from March next year until February 2028.
Kiama Municipal Council Mayor Cameron McDonald has slammed proposed changes to Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants after the NSW Local Government Grants Commission revealed plans that would slash Kiama’s funding by more than half, from $2.558 million down to $1.062 million.
Mayor McDonald has warned the massive cuts will hit local ratepayers hard, adding that neighbouring areas like Wollongong City Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, and Shoalhaven City Council are facing similar devastating reductions.
Kiama will make a submission to the Grants Commission, expressing its concerns, and staff are preparing a report for the Council.
Oberon Council Mayor Andrew McKibbin has issued a public call for safe and respectful debate regarding the proposed Pines Wind Farm project.
He has emphasised that the council is holding a neutral position while the private developer investigates feasibility, noting any final approval determination lies strictly with the state government.
Community members are being urged to maintain lawful conduct and engage constructively through formal assessment channels.
Murray River Council has resolved to strongly advocate against the NSW Government’s decision to close the Riverina Domestic Firewood Collection Program in local national parks.
Council expressed deep concern over the closure’s impact on residents relying on firewood for winter heating, as well as the heightened bushfire risks caused by accumulating timber fuel loads.
BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL general manager Paul Hickey has announced his retirement after nearly two decades with council. His decision was announced at a council meeting yesterday, reported by the Ballina News Daily.
Mr Hickey has held the top job for more than ten years.
Meanwhile, Cr Damian Loone has been re-elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor after the council voted down a proposal to shorten the term to one year.
Now for some more mayoral election results from around the state:
Councillor Olly Arkins has made history after being elected as the City of Sydney’s first openly transgender Deputy Lord Mayor by fellow councillors.
Serving alongside Lord Mayor Clover Moore until September 2027, Cr Arkins has plans to prioritise affordable housing, nightlife, and modernised council services.
Councillor Brad Bunting has been re-elected Mayor of Blacktown City Council, with Councillor Robert Fitzgerald OAM stepping into the role of Deputy Mayor following a vote on Wednesday night.
Mayor Bunting confirmed his priority is driving major local projects forward—including the $273.3 million Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program and the $2.5 billion Blacktown Quarter development.
Edward River Council Mayor Ashley Hall and Deputy Mayor Kellie Crossley have both been returned unopposed to lead the council through to 2028.
The pair praised the stability of the council following their re-election, pointing to strong ongoing community momentum and key local investments for the term ahead. (Source: Riverine Herald)
BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL has elected Councillor Elia Hauge as its new Deputy Mayor following a 5–3 vote.
Serving a 12-month term alongside Mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Councillor Hauge succeeds Councillor Jack Dods and plans to focus on urgent climate action and local housing needs across Byron Shire.
BEGA VALLEY SHIRE COUNCIL has elected long-serving councillor and former mayor Tony Allen as its new Deputy Mayor for a two-year term.
Cr Allen will work alongside Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick to deliver a busy program of community projects, backed by $100s of millions in regional infrastructure funding.
New England Councils have gone with stable leadership, returning current mayors and deputies unopposed. Brownyn Petrie and Greg Sauer have been re-election mayor and deputy respectively at Tenterfield Shire; Inverell Council has returned mayor Kate Dight and deputy mayor Jo Williams; while Armidale Regional Council has maintained the team of Sam Coupland as mayor, and Todd Redwood as deputy.
Similarly at Narribri Council, the leadership team of Mayor Darrell Tiemans, and Deputy Mayor Brett Nolan has been returned – Mayor Tiemans for two years, and Cr Nolan for 12 months.
At Yass Valley Council, Councillors have voted to keep Mayor Jasmin Jones and Deputy Mayor Kristin Butler in their leadership positions for another two-year term. Both leaders have served in their respective roles since 2024.
And at Murrumbidgee Council, Cr Ruth McRae OAM has been re-elected as mayor, continuing a leadership run that started back in 2017- even longer, if you count her time as mayor of the former Jerilderie Shire from 2014.
Her deputy, Cr Robert Black, was also re-elected unopposed, and both will serve in the roles until elections in two years.
If I’ve missed any recent mayoral or deputy mayoral results, please let me know and I’ll cover them in a future episode.
Queensland
Ipswich City Council has passed policy amendments allowing all councillors to access the local government’s communications team for media releases, a move supporters call a victory for council transparency.
Mayor Teresa Harding has strongly criticised the decision, arguing it will misuse ratepayer dollars to boost individual political profiles and effectively dilute the mayor’s official voice.
But councillors have hit back, calling the mayor’s comments “untrue and hurtful”.
The proposal came from Cr Paul Tully, who said it would ‘democratise’ the council.
More from ABC News and the Brisbane Times.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden has issued a public apology after a sacred, handcrafted Cook Islands Ei Katu flower crown gifted to her by a local elder inadvertently ended up on sale at a charity op shop.
The Mayor described the incident as a deeply regrettable mistake following a home clean-out, offering to personally meet with the family and reimburse the dollars spent to buy back the cultural treasure. More from the Cairns Post.
Newly-elected Tablelands Council Mayor Kevin Cardew has suffered an early defeat in his attempt to secure sole authority to appoint an acting chief executive.
Councillors voted four to two against the mayoral minute during his first ordinary meeting, raising concerns over a lack of transparency and proper councillor consultation.
Mayor Cardew also wants to ban acronyms from council reports and scarp private pre-agenda briefings, according to the Cairns Post.
In related news, the local government minister has approved a full postal vote for the Division 1 seat left vacant by the Mayor, with dates to be announced by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Gympie Regional Council has endorsed a major overhaul of its local laws covering shipping containers, short-stay rentals, and pet management, while waiving all application and permit fees for the next 12 months.
Mayor Glen Hartwig assured ratepayers that the new regulations will be strictly complaint-driven, with no proactive inspections planned as the community adjusts to the changes.
Rockhampton Regional Council has warned it cannot meet Queensland’s ambitious recycling targets as high fuel prices push transport costs over $1 million a year to truck waste 600 kilometres away for processing.
Mayor Tony Williams is calling on the state government for transport subsidies after the region’s local processing plant was destroyed by fire. More from ABC News.
Townsville City Council has launched a new Bushfire Dashboard to give residents real-time fire danger ratings, weather, incidents and official warnings in one place.
It will be the first page on Council’s Emergency Management and Disaster Dashboard during the North Queensland Bushfire season.
The council says the new tool will make it easier for locals to stay informed, prepare their properties, and access guidance on permits.
Tasmania
Hobart City Council has spent over $135,000 on legal matters involving sitting councillor Louise Elliot, according to a report from Pulse Tasmania.
Matters under dispute included a venue booking, workplace complaints, and family claims.
The bulk of the expenditure stems from a discrimination case over a blocked Town Hall booking, for which council management later apologised.
Northern Midlands Council has unanimously backed a notice of motion to commission an independent review into how it investigated a dog attack on a resident in Longford in July.
Council determined the incident did not meet the legal threshold for a dangerous dog declaration under the Dog Control Act, but imposed a muzzle and lead condition on the dog involved.
The review, to be carried out at an estimated cost of three thousand dollars, will examine the adequacy of the investigation, witness consultation, procedural fairness, and Council’s compliance with the Act. Findings are to be reported publicly, subject to legal and privacy obligations.
South Australia
Eleven South Australian properties slated for forced council auctions have been saved at the last minute after owners cleared their overdue rates debts.
It includes all nine listings under Port Adelaide Enfield council as well as properties in Renmark Paringa and Elliston.
Only four properties will still proceed to auction to cover unpaid rates and council costs, while several vacant land blocks passed in at auction will move to private treaty sales. (Source: Real Estate.com.au)
Western Australia
Former chief executive of the City of Perth, Michelle Reynolds, has been dismissed following a confidential council vote this week.
Ms Reynolds held a press conference after the sacking, labelling the council’s action as “a witch hunt”, and revealing she had had no contact from the Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds during a months-long investigation into her conduct.
Ms Reynolds had been suspended since May, and maintains the allegations against her were trivial. She has reportedly vowed to challenge the decision.
Minutes record that the Council vote to terminate her employment was 5 to 2, with two councillors absent. Lord Mayor Reynolds said the termination was with immediate effect, and while it would remain a “confidential employment matter”, he said the findings were sufficiently serious to warrant the outcome.
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said the Local Government Inspector would review the dismissal process as part of his ongoing inquiry into governance at the council. WA Opposition Leader and former Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas described the decision as “outrageous”, saying he was stunned that the move was made during an ongoing inquiry into dysfunction and governance issues.
Western Australian local councils have been granted new powers under amendments to the State’s Cat Act to enforce cat curfews, restrict pets to their owner’s premises, and keep them out of public areas.
The new measures were passed by the Parliament with the support of both sides of politics.
The City of Canning is already seeking resident feedback on potential night-time or 24-hour curfews.
The City of Nedlands is considering a controversial proposal to rezone part of one of its leafy suburban streets to medium-density housing.
Perth Now reports that the plan that could deliver up to 45 new homes on Bedford Street, but it has sparked opposition from local residents concerned about traffic and neighborhood character.
City officers are recommending the density increase as part of its plans to accommodate thousands of new residents expected by 2050.
The Town of Mosman Park council will vote next week on whether to release its first dedicated draft policy to support people experiencing homelessness for 21 days of public feedback.
PerthNow reported that the proposed framework aims to replace ranger-focused responses with compassionate coordination, banning anti-homelessness architecture while connecting vulnerable individuals directly to local support services.
The Shire of Irwin is warning local ratepayers could be left footing the bill for road damage linked to Hancock Energy’s 850‑million‑dollar Belisama Gas Project near the Mingenew boundary.
The Shire says it was shut out of key traffic decisions, and wants the approval changed so all project traffic sticks to the approved route — unless signed off by the council. It’s calling for a binding road‑use agreement before construction begins.
Northern Territory
Barkly Regional Council has scrapped printed annual reports and corporate documents in favor of digital formats to save money, reports the NT News.
The savings have allowed the council to purchase new ride-on mowers to maintain local parks and public spaces while reducing its $4.6m deficit.
The City of Darwin has confirmed it is considering permanently shifting its annual kerbside hard rubbish collection to May after the wet season, following the postponement of this year’s pre-cyclone clean-up to focus on recovery efforts from Cyclone Fina.
ABC News reported on that development, as well as neighbouring City of Palmerston’s plans to proceed with its scheduled 2026 pre-cyclone collection.
International
NZ:
The New Zealand Government has paused its head-start local council amalgamation process until early 2027, delaying decisions on redrawing the local government map until after the upcoming election.
Local Government Minister Simon Watts noted that while 18 proposals were submitted, none received unanimous regional support, leaving major gaps around representation and function transfers.
Based on estimates from councils like Hamilton City Council and New Plymouth District Council, local authorities have collectively spent over 10 million dollars preparing these proposals.
The move has attracted some sharp criticism from local leaders, like the Mayor of Wellington Andrew Little, who, according to 1News, said it shows the government isn’t serious about the process.
UK:
A councillor in Peterborough is facing pressure to step down after receiving a 50-month driving ban for drink-driving and failing to provide a breath sample.
The leader of Peterborough City Council called for his immediate resignation, though the independent member dismissed the demand as a political stunt following fines and costs totaling just 200 pounds.
Former council leader Jason Zadrozny is set to be replaced on Monday following his conviction for setting up a fake heritage group to defraud Nottinghamshire County Council out of thousands of dollars and failing to pay tax on rental properties.
After resigning as leader of Ashfield District Council, Zadrozny confirmed he will remain as a non-aligned independent councillor ahead of his sentencing in November, where he faces a potential prison term, reports BBC News.
USA:
Seattle has become the first U.S. city to ban grocery stores from using personal data and artificial intelligence to alter prices for individual shoppers.
Seattle City Council has this week approved the Fair Pricing and Transparency Ordinance to ensure consumers receive equal treatment and clear, transparent pricing at the checkout counter.
USA Today reports that Seattle follows eleven other states to either pass or consider legislation to ban surveillance pricing.