Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- A end to the Wyndham mayoral standoff in sight
- A councillor’s conduct complaint dismissed as “vexatious”
- A costly compliance failure at a regional sports stadium
- Ku-ring-gai formally adopts a 29% rate increase
- A Queensland Council CEO resigns after 18 months
- Tensions in the chamber as Cairns Council adopts its new budget
- Glenorchy scraps its public arts policy
- and a local government reform success story… from Cyprus!
Listen to this episode now:
Victorian Report
A bill before the Victorian Parliament would make it easier for councils to remove a sitting mayor. Right now, councillors can only force a vote to declare the mayoralty vacant if that mayor was elected for a two-year term.
The Local Government Legislation Amendment Bill scraps that restriction, letting any council move a mayor out of office through a majority-backed motion, with formal notice and a right of reply.
The change follows months of pressure on Wyndham City Council, where councillors have been unable to force out Mayor Preet Singh despite a unanimous no-confidence motion.
The bill also addresses another controversy: currently, a councillor is automatically stood down the moment any criminal charge is laid against them — including charges brought by a private individual rather than police or a formal prosecuting authority.
The new law would restrict that automatic stand-down trigger to cases where proceedings are commenced by a recognised law enforcement agency.
The change is directly relevant to Hepburn Shire‘s Don Henderson, who has been stood down since March after a private resident laid charges alleging misuse of his position — charges that neither Victoria Police nor the Director of Public Prosecutions initiated.
That matter is continuing before the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court, with the next hearing set for August.
The bill also creates new rules for councillors eyeing a tilt at state politics.
Once a councillor formally nominates for state parliament, they’ll automatically be placed on leave from council duties until the result is declared.
Mayors and deputy mayors who declare their candidacy even earlier lose their leadership role straight away, though not their council seat.
It’s understood the new obligations are expected to apply to elections held from January next year, so councillors contesting this November’s state poll will not be covered.
In other Victorian council news:
An internal arbitration application lodged by Kingston Councillor Hadi Saab against Mayor Georgina Oxley has been dismissed as vexatious.
Cr Saab alleged the Mayor published a misleading Facebook post in December last year regarding the extension of muncipal monitors at the council.
In a ruling to be tabled at the council’s upcoming meeting, Arbiter Matt Evans found Cr Saab had made no genuine attempt to work through Kingston’s internal dispute resolution procedure before lodging the application — and that his claim to have exhausted internal avenues was misleading.
The arbiter noted this is at least the third conduct proceeding involving the same parties at Kingston this year.
Surf Coast Shire Council is investigating a compliance failure at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay, after independent testing revealed new retractable tiered seating does not meet national fire safety standards.
The Council has implemented interim safety measures, so the stadium can remain open, and is seeking legal advice.
A full replacement of the seats will be required.
Northern Grampians Shire Council has addressed community calls for public CCTV installation in Stawell and St Arnaud following recent concerns over vandalism and safety.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said that while the council is aware of the reports, no formal community submissions have been received. She highlighted significant budget constraints, noting that the purchase and upkeep of a camera network would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Star Weekly reports that Macedon Ranges Shire Council has intensified its opposition to a proposed new township at Clarkefield.
The Council is calling on the Victorian government to refer the controversial development to the Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee for a full public hearing.
Officers cited significant strategic, infrastructure, and governance concerns, claiming a verbally rejected extension request left inadequate time to assess the extensive planning amendments.
A more detailed council submission will be tabled next month, ahead of the Planning Minister’s expected decision in August.
Moonee Valley City Council plans to demolish the historic Ormond Park pavilion at the conclusion of the 2026 season, following a $2 million estimate to repair its collapsed roof.
According to the Herald Sun, the decision will displace junior teams from the Essendon Royals Soccer Club, who have tenanted the site for over 60 years.
The Council maintains the demolition balances community outcomes with sustainable financial management, confirming that the affected teams will be accommodated at other local grounds with increased allocations next season.
From the Berwick Star News: The City of Casey has unanimously endorsed a new Affordable Housing Policy, mandating a comprehensive review of council-owned land for potential housing sites by late November.
An amendment introduced by Councillor Lynette Pereira requires a formal implementation plan featuring clear annual targets and six-monthly progress reports to prevent the policy from stalling.
In more Casey news, the council will roll out a fully electric fleet of six compactor trucks for hard waste services from 1 July 2026, backed by electric tray trucks.
The council says the move will cut emissions and noise, and reduce exposure to volatile diesel fuel costs.
NSW Report
Ku-ring-gai Council has formally adopted a 29% rate increase for the coming financial year following approval from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
The decision combines a 24.6% special rate variation with a 4.4% rate peg, generating an additional $20.7 million annually.
Mayor Christine Kay said the revenue will target generations of under-investment in asset renewal, funding critical infrastructure upgrades including stormwater drainage, footpaths, and recreational facilities.
Randwick City Council is partnering with Surf Life Saving New South Wales to secure permanent drone surveillance at Coogee Beach following last weekend’s shark attack.
A local woman remains in critical condition in hospital as a result of that attack.
Mayor Dylan Parker says Council lifeguards used newly installed shark bite kits during the emergency response.
The Council will co-host a community recovery swim and fundraiser this Sunday.
In more Randwick news, the Council has scaled back its controversial beachside paid parking proposal following extensive community consultation.
Under the revised plan, parking meters will be confined strictly to beachside zones rather than surrounding residential or business streets. The council will also issue multiple resident parking permits per household, moving away from its initial one-permit limit.
A report on the amended scheme will be presented to the full council on June 30.
For more details on this story, visit Nine News.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council is making a final push for infrastructure funding ahead of next Tuesday’s New South Wales Budget.
Mayor Adam Roberts and executive staff have met with senior ministers, seeking to secure state backing for critical growth projects. Top priorities include the Oxley Highway upgrade, the Cowarra Water Supply Scheme, and regional sportsfield drainage.
Council says the funding is vital to address current traffic congestion and support state-mandated housing targets.
Kyogle Council has launched a new advocacy campaign targeting State and Federal funding for essential community-identified infrastructure projects.
Key priorities outlined in the campaign briefs include sealing fifteen kilometres of unsealed roads annually, replacing all causeways with bridges, and completing upgrades to Clarence Way.
The council is also lobbying for a permanent exemption from the state waste levy.
Lismore City Council has reached a major milestone with one hundred and fifty flood restoration projects now complete.
Delivered under the country’s largest-ever council infrastructure restoration program, recent works include rural bridge replacements and extensive landslip repairs.
A further one hundred and eighty projects remain on the council’s schedule.
Forbes Shire Council has approved a six-month trial of the Return and Earn Bin Basket Program.
Wire baskets will be attached to existing public litter bins in the popular Lions Park to keep eligible drink containers separate from general waste.
The initiative aims to boost local recycling rates and improve public amenity by discouraging people from rummaging through bins.
According to the Forbes Advocate, council staff will monitor the trial to assess its effectiveness against issues like pest management and illegal dumping before considering a wider rollout.
Tamworth Regional Council has voted to endorse the public exhibition of new transparency guidelines governing how local councillors interact with property developers and registered lobbyists.
The framework aims to formalise community and developer interactions during the planning process. The policy is now open for public feedback.
The council has also announced a major digital transition for its premier country music publication.
After more than fifty years in print, Tamworth Country Music Capital News will move exclusively online late this year, due to rising production and distribution costs.
The Council says the strategic shift to a fully digital platform ensures the publication remains financially sustainable while continuing to promote Australian talent.
The September/October edition will be the final printed magazine.
Queensland Report
Balonne Shire Council in south-west Queensland is searching for a new Chief Executive Officer after Michelle Clarke tendered her resignation at this week’s council meeting.
Clarke, who has served in senior roles at Balonne since 2016 and as CEO since December 2024, is stepping down to be closer to family in north Queensland following the birth of her grandson.
She’ll remain in the role until 7th August, when an interim CEO will take over while the permanent recruitment process gets underway.
4CA reported on tensions at Cairns Regional Council during the adoption of its $785.6 million budget for the upcoming financial year,
Mayor Amy Eden noted that a February councillor workshop—held without her—ultimately shaped the final project lineup, though councillors claim the Mayor chose not to attend.
The budget locks in a 3.95% general rates rise alongside major infrastructure investments, as the council manages rising operational costs ahead of projected long-term population growth.
Severe inflation is squeezing the Ipswich City Council budget ahead of its June thirtieth release.
Material and labour costs have surged by up to seventy-five per cent over three years.
As a result, Mayor Teresa Harding says service delivery costs will rise nine per cent, driven by fuel and construction spikes amid ongoing shortfalls in federal infrastructure funding.
Central Highlands Regional Council has handed down its budget, projecting a 7.2-million-dollar operating surplus.
Despite recent leadership challenges, the council has delivered a below-CPI average general rates rise of 3.7 per cent.
The surplus will be used to clear remaining debt, with administration outlining a strategy that avoids new borrowings for the next decade.
Industrial action at Western Downs Regional Council has been extended, marking the region’s longest-ever strike.
Members of the Australian Workers’ Union and The Services Union continue to dispute wages and conditions.
A Queensland Industrial Relations Commission conciliation meeting will be held next month, according to the Courier Mail.
Fraser Coast Regional Council has approved the next phase of planning for a new kerbside green bin service.
A recent business case reveals the initiative could divert over 6,700 tonnes of organic waste annually, significantly extending the lifecycle of the Maryborough landfill.
While the council will now progress with service design and funding applications, a formal rollout is not expected until at least 2028.
Tasmania
Devonport City Council will vote on Monday on a proposed budget featuring a 4.75 per cent general rate increase.
The budget outlines a 33.4 million dollar capital works program, highlighted by a 24 million dollar allocation to complete the Devonport Indoor Sports Stadium.
More details today in the The Advocate.
From The Mercury: Glenorchy City Council has voted eight-one to scrap its dedicated Public Arts Policy, removing guaranteed funding percentages for future public art installations.
Chief Executive Emilio Reale said public artworks will now be treated as standard capital works projects, requiring case-by-case funding bids during the annual budget process.
Council management maintains that public art remains supported through the city’s existing community strategy and annual planning frameworks.
The council has also confirmed a general approach to include gender-neutral toilets in new builds, though the policy remains unwritten.
While future public facilities will feature lockable cubicles and shared handwashing spaces, the council’s six-point-five million dollar War Memorial Pool upgrade will retain separate male and female changing rooms alongside independent family options.
Burnie City Council has lodged a development application to convert the disused North Terrace rail corridor into public recreation spaces.
Supported by TasRail, the foreshore redevelopment plans include a shared pedestrian and cycle pathway, new playgrounds, and an all-abilities beach access ramp.
The Advocate reported that an Aboriginal Heritage Assessment will be conducted prior to works commencing early next financial year.
South Australia
The City of Onkaparinga has announced a partnership with the state government and non-profits to establish a new community food hub at Seaford.
Backed by over nine hundred and eighty thousand dollars in state operational funding, the facility aims to tackle a forty per cent local food insecurity rate by providing low-cost essentials and wrap-around social services from September.
The council has also finalised the fixed charge component for the upcoming financial year’s rates, ahead of next week’s final decision on the Annual Business Plan and Budget.
Global Report
UK:
A political row has broken out at Liverpool Town Hall, with Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Kemp calling on three Labour councillors and one suspended member to resign over poor attendance.
According to a report by the BBC, the councillors are accused of attending only three to five meetings over the last 18 months while drawing their full annual allowance.
The accused councillors have rejected the calls to stand down, stating that the figures are out of context and that the vast majority of their community work occurs outside formal chamber meetings.
An investigation is underway after a UK parish council’s website was compromised and replaced with an online gambling advertisement.
The incident at Old Catton Parish Council highlights growing cybersecurity risks for local authorities, prompting renewed recommendations for smaller councils to transition to secure government domains, as reported by the BBC News.
Westminster City Council has streamlined its citizen services using artificial intelligence.
Microsoft technology used to deliver the council’s new AI chatbot has successfully resolved nearly ninety per cent of over thirty-three thousand enquiries without human intervention.
The technology has also reduced post-call administrative workloads, saving frontline staff an estimated five hundred thousand minutes annually to focus on complex cases.
NZ:
The Selwyn District Council has voted six to two to retain its membership with Local Government New Zealand, costing 63 thousand dollars annually, according to Star News.
Mayor Lydia Gliddon advocated for staying “in the tent,” citing the power of numbers as major local government sector reforms loom.
Councils now have just 52 days to submit regional amalgamation plans to the Government, alongside managing upcoming rates capping and Resource Management Act overhauls.
CYPRUS:
A sweeping structural reform in Cyprus has seen Nicosia’s metropolitan municipality slash its deficit by 80 per cent in its first two years.
According to the Cyprus Mail, the consolidation has streamlined operations, delivering a 77 per cent citizen request resolution rate alongside major digital and environmental upgrades.
The city has launched Cyprus’ first citizens’ energy community as part of efforts to promote sustainable development and the green transition.