Tag: Victoria

Details are emerging of an agreement between the state government and Indigenous groups that will reportedly sideline ten Victorian councils from certain decisions. News.com.au exclusively reports that the agreement proposes to give the groups powers to rename roads, bridges and public spaces, co-manage waterways, and provide preferential access to council procurement contracts and jobs. The […]

While Greater Geelong recently denied a proposed overseas trip for its mayor, Ballarat City Council has endorsed Council representatives to travel to Turkiye to attend the UNESCO annual general meeting. Ballarat is one of four UNESCO Creative Cities in Victoria, along with Geelong, Bendigo and Melbourne. A councillor and a council officer will head to […]

Greater Geelong councillor and former Mayor Stephanie Asher has reportedly resigned from the council with immediate effect. The Geelong Times reports that Ms Asher notified the Mayor and Acting CEO yesterday (Saturday 29th July) of her impending move out of the municipality. She said her work obligations as a Melbourne-based project director have led to […]

Strathbogie Shire Council has been hit by another councillor resignation. Sevens Creek Ward councillor Kristy Hourigan is stepping away, citing an in-house political bureaucracy and a gender bias that has taken its toll. In a statement published on the Council’s website, Ms Hourigan describes the role of councillor as a “thankless task” but says she […]

The report from IBAC’s Operation Sandon has finally been released, and makes sweeping recommendations that would shake-up local government planning laws. Details of the 34 recommendations have been reported by various media outlets this morning. The recommendations include: A taskforce to oversee the implementation of the recommendations; Development of an independent planning panels model to […]

Victorian councils will share in a $25M support package to cover Commonwealth Games related costs, including the salaries of executives employed specifically for the now cancelled regional Victorian games. The Age reports that the package was announced today, and comprises $5M each for Greater Geelong, Greater Bendigo, Ballarat and Latrobe, and $3M for Greater Shepparton. […]

A councillor at Golden Plains Shire has been suspended for one month after being found by an arbiter to have engaged in misconduct. Cr Les Rowe was the subject of a complaint lodged by the Mayor Brett Cunningham, after comments from Cr Rowe were published in a local newspaper criticising the standard of road grading […]

Councillors at Surf Coast Shire have voted to make bathrooms in the shire gender neutral through amendments to its Community Amenity Local Law. The local law has been updated to allow people over six years of age to enter a Council toilet or facility that is signed for use by persons of a different gender. […]