Intro/Headlines
Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- A last minute extension for Kingston’s monitors
- Wangaratta flags its exit from aged care
- E-bike clutter targeted in NSW
- as Sutherland Shire deals with e-bike vandalism
- More big council budgets landed in Queensland
- New councillors incoming in Western Australia
- and a local authority chief tapped to become chief of staff for the UK’s likely new Prime Minister
Plus more local government news from around Australia and beyond.
Listen to this episode now:
Victoria
Municipal Monitors at Kingston City Council won’t be moving out just yet.
John Tanner and John Watson, appointed last year to observe the council’s governance, have been given another last-minute extension to their term.
They were due to finish yesterday, and submit their final report to the Minister for Local Government within weeks.
However, the Council announced last night that the Local Government Minister Paul Hamer had decided to keep them in place until after the upcoming by-election to fill a vacancy in Melaleuca Ward, after the resignation of Tess Law in March.
Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley says council has focused on delivering services and infrastructure throughout the monitoring period, and would continue to do so through the extended appointment of the monitors.
The term is now set to conclude on 14th August, wth the final report due after that.
The Rural City of Wangaratta looks to be the next council to exit delivery of aged care services.
It has confirmed its intention this week, following an independent review that found the current model is no longer sustainable under new funding and regulatory settings.
Council says there are no immediate changes, with clients to continue receiving support as usual while consultation occurs with staff, carers and families.
If the transition proceeds, Support at Home services would end by late September 2026, with other programs continuing until mid-2027.
The Star Weekly reports that Melton Council will formally lobby the Victorian Government for a major overhaul of bus services across the municipality.
Councillors want longer operating hours — from six in the morning to ten at night — plus buses every 20 minutes in peak times and at least every 40 minutes off-peak and on weekends.
They’re also pushing for new north–south routes to better link suburbs with town centres, rail stations and key projects, including the future Melton Hospital.
Three Gippsland shires are joining together to rollout a new food and garden organics bin service.
Baw Baw and Wellington start next Monday, July 6, while South Gippsland gets off the mark from today.
The collected waste will be processed in Morwell into compost, with councils urging households to check local guidelines on what can go in the new FOGO bins.
The City of Greater Dandenong is considering establishing its own animal pound after managing a major surge in lost cats blew its animal services budget by $736,000.
A report in the Dandenong Leader reveals the council’s transitional contract with the Lost Dogs Home will rise to $1.82 million for the upcoming financial year.
Councillors will be briefed on options for a dedicated municipal facility later this year to mitigate future financial exposure.
Bayside City Council has committed nearly $700,000 to recreational biking infrastructure in its latest budget.
As reported by The Age, the funding allocates $350,000 for a new purpose-built pump track, alongside $347,000 to upgrade an existing dirt track in Cheltenham.
The investment marks a notable policy shift for the council, following strong community advocacy after officials initially moved to dismantle a makeshift BMX course last year.
Surf Coast Shire Council has approved a contract with Belgravia Health and Leisure Group to manage its aquatic facilities.
Under the agreement, the external operator will oversee the new Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Torquay, scheduled to open in early 2027, as well as the recently refurbished Winchelsea Swimming Pool.
Moonee Valley City Council is calling for First Nations artists to design a permanent Stolen Generations marker for Napier Park.
The initiative, part of the council’s reconciliation plan, is open to artists with a connection to Victoria.
Expressions of interest are open now and will close on August ninth.
The National Growth Areas Alliance will hold its first Emerging Growth Areas Forum on Tuesday the fourth of August, at Hume City Council Town Hall in Broadmeadows.
The event will bring together councillors and officers from growth councils across Australia to share lessons on managing rapid population growth and housing delivery.
It runs alongside the NGAA’s National Congress, with registration now open for all local governments.
NSW
The New South Wales Government has announced a six-point-six million dollar funding program to help local councils manage shared e-bike clutter.
Under the new regulatory framework, councils will gain powers to establish mandatory parking bays, designate “no-go” zones, and penalise non-compliant operators.
The initiative, funded by a trip levy on operators, aims to reduce footpath obstructions by half.
Sutherland Shire Council is investigating after parkland at the Burnum Burnum Sanctuary in Woronora was damaged by an e-bike rider over the weekend.
The Woronora River Community Association reported the incident to council after wet parkland was left severely torn up on Sunday afternoon.
St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader reported that the vandalism follows growing council and community concern regarding illegal e-bike rider behaviour on public reserves.
In a related story, the Leader reports that the council is open to a proposal from Lime bikes to extend its service into the shire, as new state rules coming into effect.
The City of Newcastle has condemned a spate of thefts and vandalism across local sporting grounds and public infrastructure.
It says damage at Lambton’s Kentish Oval and Smith Park has disrupted clubs and volunteers, while two fast EV charging stations in Hamilton and Newcastle West remain out of action after their cables were stolen.
Repairs are underway and replacement cables have been ordered, with the incidents reported to NSW Police.
Northern Beaches Council is proposing to extend the Mona Vale Beach South off‑leash dog trial for another 12 months, to October 13, 2027.
The trial began in October last year and was due to end this October, but council says the extension will avoid disruption while results from the first year are assessed.
If approved, rules and time restrictions would stay the same, with fines of up to 330 dollars for breaches, according to the Manly Observer.
A major clean-up operation in the Tumut State Forest has successfully removed up to thirty tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish, including eight abandoned vehicles.
The joint initiative involved Snowy Valleys Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestry Corporation, and the Brungle/Tumut Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Officials confirmed that investigations are now underway after personal information was recovered from the debris, with offenders facing significant penalties.
Queensland
Toowoomba Regional Council has handed down a 728-million-dollar budget focused on infrastructure and financial sustainability.
Mayor Geoff McDonald confirmed a base general rate rise of 6.9 per cent, balancing cost-of-living pressures against rising material and energy costs.
Key allocations include over 81 million dollars for the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project. Waste charges will remain steady following the state government’s decision to transition the council to a regional waste levy zone.
Redland City Council has adopted a four-hundred-and-sixty-eight-million-dollar operating budget, locking in a five point four-seven per cent general rates increase.
Acting Mayor Julie Talty stated the rise equates to roughly one dollar sixty-four a week for a median owner-occupied property, with council absorbing fourteen-point-five million dollars in costs to limit the hike.
The budget also introduces new rating categories for shopping centres and retirement villages, according to reporting from the Redland Bayside News.
Tasmania
Hobart City Council has scrapped plans for a fenced dog park in South Hobart, following strong community backlash.
Pulse Tasmania reported that the $180,000 project at Lower Wellesley Park was dropped after consultation found about 80% opposed dividing open green space with fencing.
Council says the park will remain off-lead, but a separate dog ban at South Hobart Oval will still take effect on July 1.
South Australia
The City of Mount Gambier is rolling out a new Cats By-law after a 2025 review, backed by subsidised desexing and free microchipping programs that proved so popular vouchers were fully taken up.
From July 1, all cats must be registered with Council, with cheaper fees for desexed and microchipped pets.
The by-law also introduces a three-cat limit per household, with transitional arrangements for existing owners.
Western Australia
Shire of Manjimup’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Catherine Mills, has won the national Women in Local Government Award at the National Awards for Local Government ceremony in Canberra.
The Shire says Mills has been recognised for driving cultural change and delivering major infrastructure projects across the region.
Shire President Donelle Buegge congratulated Mills, calling the honour richly deserved.
The Shire of Chittering has sworn in a newly-elected councillor.
Rene van Eeden was welcomed to the council at a swearing-on ceremony Monday afternoon, after a recent extraordinary election triggered by the resignation in March of former shire president Mark Campbell.
Meanwhile at the Shire of Brookton, Carlo Andretta has been elected in an extraordinary election to complete a term that expires in October 2027. That followed the resignation of Tamara de Lange from the council in February.
A United Nations delegation has visited Kalgoorlie-Boulder to study how resource-rich communities transition into sustainable regional hubs.
Senior government officials from Laos and UN representatives met with city leaders at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall for discussions focused on crucial regional challenges, including workforce retention, housing affordability, and managing FIFO workforces.
The delegation also toured the iconic Super Pit to examine the ongoing economic impact of local mining operations.
International
Likely incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has asked Greater Manchester Combined Authority chief executive Caroline Simpson to become his deputy chief of staff, leading a new “No 10 North” unit based in Manchester.
The role will oversee the devolution of power and resources to English regions, a centrepiece of Burnham’s policy platform. (Source: The Guardian)
Devon County Council is aiming to introduce a directly elected mayoralty, with elections potentially taking place as early as next May.
Council Leader Julian Brazil says the model will give local government greater control over housing and economic infrastructure.
The Exmouth Journal reports that preparatory discussions with government officials have already commenced. It would make Devon one of the first in England to adopt the model under the new wave of devolution.
USA:
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has introduced a Protect Renters Ordinance amending the city’s Residential Tenant Ordinance.
The proposal would require landlords to give valid reasons for non-renewal of leases, contribute to relocation costs where tenants are displaced through no fault of their own, register rental properties with the city, and fund a new enforcement agency through a registry fee. (Source: CBS Chicago)
In Minneapolis, Ward 10 Council Member Aisha Chughtai has announced a month-long leave of absence for outpatient mental health care, citing the cumulative impact of a high-stakes election, mass shootings and a federal occupation.
Her office remains open, and she’s expected to return before the council’s 30 July meeting. (Source: CBS Minnesota)
In New Jersey, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon has revised a proposed 20 per cent property tax increase down to 15 per cent, after securing 120 million US dollars in state aid to help close a 255 million dollar budget deficit.
The revised figure goes to council for approval on 15 July, with further spending cuts flagged. (Source: CBS New York)
NZ:
Gore District councillors have closed a code of conduct matter against Councillor Donna Bruce, who used a slur to describe a staff presentation in April.
An independent investigation found the breach was not significant or serious, and Bruce apologised at Tuesday’s meeting.
Several councillors questioned the cost and proportionality of the process, with Bruce calling for early adoption of LGNZ’s new standardised code of conduct. (Source: RNZ)
Porirua City Council is urging residents to check their enrolment ahead of a by-election in the Onepoto General Ward, following the sudden death of long-serving councillor Mike Duncan earlier this month.
Mr Duncan, a former newspaper printer and designer, had served on the council for ten years.
Nominations for the by-election open 9 July and close 6 August, with postal voting closing 16 October.
(Source: RNZ)