Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Wyndham councillor suspended again
• Fields set for two council by-elections
• Councils demand bigger untied federal funding
• Gilgandra GM resigns, heads to Mid-Western
• Councils react to the NSW state budget
• Water buybacks draw more council criticism
• A Perth council narrowly votes to scrap ratepayer funded alcohol
• and the London council suing over affordable housing targets

And much more local government news from around Australia.

Listen to this episode now.

Victoria

Wyndham City councillor Josh Gilligan has been suspended for the second time in four months after an independent arbiter found he misrepresented the council’s position on the proposed redevelopment of RAAF Base Point Cook.

Arbiter Dr Meredith Gibbs found Councillor Gilligan breached the Model Councillor Code of Conduct by creating the impression the council had formally opposed residential development of the site, when no such position had been adopted at the time.

Cr Gilligan has been suspended for two weeks, ordered to apologise to a fellow councillor, and directed to undertake training on the role of the mayor in making public statements.

The determination was tabled at this week’s Wyndham City Council meeting.

Wyndham City Council has rejected a proposal from the Western Melbourne Group to alter its stadium precinct agreement, citing unacceptable financial risks to ratepayers, according to Wyndham TV.

The developer has been placed in default following recent insolvency events, with Council warning the agreement will be terminated if outstanding issues are not immediately rectified.

Council confirms all precinct land remains in public ownership.

Nominations have closed for two Victorian council by-elections, both scheduled for Friday the thirty-first of July.

In Latrobe City Council‘s Morwell River Ward, five candidates will contest the postal by-election. In ballot paper order, they are Rob Moffatt, Dean Sutton, John Ellingham, Guss Lambden, and Graham Lougheed.

In Wyndham City Council‘s Heathdale Ward, three candidates have nominated — Pippa Pace, Marcel Mahfoud, and Kim McAliney.

McAliney is a former mayor and councillor of 11 years, making her potential return a notable feature of what is otherwise a tight field. Mahfoud has also served as a councillor on two occasions.

Both are postal by-elections to be conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission.

East Gippsland Shire Council has handed down its budget, keeping rate increases below the state cap for the second consecutive year.

The average rate increase is set at two point five per cent—just under the Victorian Government’s two point seven five per cent limit.

Mayor Jodie Ashworth noted the decision balances ongoing cost-of-living pressures against increasing service delivery demands across the municipality.

The budget incorporates one point five million dollars in embedded savings to offset rising insurance and material costs.

Hepburn Shire Council has resolved to establish a representative community panel to guide the future of its aging aquatic infrastructure.

The decision follows the release of a feasibility study examining the significant funding challenges facing rural outdoor pools and indoor facilities.

The Council has introduced a $150,000 expenditure cap per pool for urgent maintenance ahead of the upcoming summer season.

Yarra City Council has launched Victoria’s largest roll-out of pole-mounted electric vehicle chargers.

Twenty-six new units are being installed across June and July, delivering forty-one active charge points to support residents without off-street parking.

The project is a joint initiative with CitiPower and EVX, designed to provide accessible community infrastructure without ongoing operational costs to the municipality.

Mansfield Shire Council is pushing for a significant shift in tree pruning regulations to protect the town’s streetscape.

The Mansfield Courier reported on Mayor Steve Rabie’s call for the state government to transition Mansfield from a rural to an urban vegetation management standard, which would reduce mandatory electric line clearances.

He argues the move is vital to preserve township identity amid a state-mandated influx of nearly four thousand new homes.

Greater Shepparton City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to introducing a kerbside hard waste collection service, despite an earlier delay to its rollout.

The Council abandoned the previous procurement process after it failed to meet competitive tendering requirements.

An updated timeline has now been confirmed, with a new tender to be issued, and the service now rescheduled to commence in the 2027/28 financial year.

Pyrenees Shire Council is calling for proposals for a new public artwork to welcome visitors to Avoca, at the intersection of the Pyrenees and Sunraysia Highways.

The installation will replace the former wine barrel display removed over safety concerns, and aims to create a striking gateway celebrating Avoca’s identity in the Pyrenees Wine Region.

The $33,500 project is funded through the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns Fund.

NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEWS

Australia’s local councils have voted unanimously at the National General Assembly to demand an immediate increase in untied federal funding.

The sectors’ peak body, the Australian Local Government Association, warns that financial sustainability is at breaking point, with local infrastructure facing a multibillion-dollar renewal backlog.

An urgent joint letter has been issued to all federal parliamentarians calling for a multi-partisan commitment to restore Financial Assistance Grants to at least one percent of national taxation.

Australian councils are facing up to $280 billion in infrastructure renewal and upgrade demand over coming decades, including $65 to $68 billion to replace assets already rated poor to very poor, according to a major new national report commissioned by the Australian Local Government Association.

Based on data from more than 460 councils, the 2026 National State of the Assets Report finds around 64 to 69 per cent of local government infrastructure is in good condition, but warns growing risks are emerging around function and capacity—even where assets still look physically sound.

Northern Territory councils are in Canberra, calling on the Federal Government to match the Northern Territory’s 100-million-dollar Flood Recovery Fund.

LGANT President Peter Pangquee has warned that rising financial pressures and disaster recovery costs have put several councils at a critical juncture.

The peak body is urging immediate Commonwealth investment in regional roads, housing, and waste infrastructure to sustain local economic growth.

NSW

Woollahra Council has voted unanimously to investigate heritage protection for individual trees on private land, aiming to safeguard the local canopy against state-led high-density rezoning near the planned Woollahra Station.

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully has strongly criticised the move, according to the Daily Telegraph, accusing the metropolitan council of obstructing essential housing delivery.

The council will use a seven-hundred-thousand-dollar financial reserve to assess the urban forest’s biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage value before reporting back in September.

Gilgandra Shire Council General Manager David Neeves has resigned, and will depart in August after a decade in the role.

Mr Neeves has accepted the General Manager position at Mid-Western Regional Council.

During his tenure at Gilgandra, council delivered more than a hundred million dollars in capital works and navigated drought, flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Doug Batten said council would shortly commence recruitment for an interim General Manager to ensure continuity of leadership.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun has welcomed cost-of-living relief in the New South Wales budget but warns Southwest Sydney’s rapid growth is outpacing critical infrastructure.

The Mayor is calling for urgent State and Federal commitment to major metro and rail extensions to tackle long commutes, reduce congestion, and unlock housing supply.

Camden Council has expressed disappointment with the new State Budget, arguing it shortchanges one of New South Wales’ fastest-growing regions.

Mayor Therese Fedeli says a lack of funding for critical road and healthcare infrastructure will worsen congestion, failing to support a population forecast to exceed two-hundred and fifty thousand.

The Mayor of Leeton has joined calls for action over the Federal Government’s latest 430-million-dollar water buyback.

Mayor George Weston has called for urgent Prime Minister intervention into what he calls the “the Water Minister’s needless water buybacks.”

He has warned that the purchase of 86 billion litres threatens regional economies and rural jobs, urging a full investigation into the socio-economic impacts on Basin communities.

Wingecarribee Shire Council has moved to strengthen its social media policy, directing the General Manager to update governance, moderation and risk management practices covering both the organisation and individual councillors.

The revised policy will formally recognise councillors as potential publishers of third-party content, acknowledge social media as a workplace, and clarify that councillors are not required to respond to comments or messages. Council also reaffirmed it will not engage through closed or private Facebook groups.

The vote on the policy changes wasn’t without debate. Cr Rachel Russell proposed an alternative approach — a simpler policy focused on positive engagement and the boundaries of free speech — but failed to find a seconder.

The ultimate resolution was carried six votes to two. The amended policy will go to public exhibition for 28 days before final adoption.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has issued a single-year pricing determination for **Central Coast Council’**s water and sewer rates.

Starting 1 July, typical household bills will increase by 5.5% including inflation.

While expressing disappointment over the lack of a multi-year determination, council CEO David Farmer confirmed that robust funding reserves will ensure its planned infrastructure program remains unaffected.

Queensland

Gold Coast City Council is considering outsourcing the management of its remaining council-run aquatic centres to private operators.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that a confidential review explores transitioning four facilities to private management to achieve operational efficiencies.

The council says the assets will remain in public ownership, though negotiations continue amid staff concerns regarding changes to workplace benefits.

The Queensland Government has announced Toowoomba Regional Council will transition into the regional waste levy zone from July 1st.

Mayor Geoff McDonald welcomed the move, and said the shift recognises the challenges of managing waste across a vast regional footprint.

The council predicts the realignment could save the community tens of millions of dollars over the next decade, easing pressure on future waste charges.

The decision follows years of sustained advocacy by local officials.

Noosa Council has unanimously adopted its 2026–27 budget, locking in a 6.9 per cent general minimum rates increase.

The Courier Mail reported that the rise equates to approximately $2.58 a week for the majority of residential ratepayers. While council retained its five per cent on-time payment discount, the budget faces some internal scrutiny, with councillors calling for an imminent full service review to critically examine expenditure.

The capital works program will focus heavily on infrastructure renewals and hinterland disaster recovery.

Southern Downs Regional Council is calling on the Federal Government to maintain critical flood monitoring platforms for local governments.

From October, the Bureau of Meteorology plans to withdraw support for the free Enviromon software platform, which provides real-time data essential for disaster preparedness.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton warns the move shifts financial burdens to councils and ratepayers, leaving regional communities vulnerable.

Tasmania

South Australia

Adelaide City Council has approved its annual budget, locking in a 5.6 per cent residential rate rise for the upcoming financial year.

InDaily reported that despite pushback from several councillors who cited mounting cost-of-living pressures on residents, the budget passed on Tuesday night with a projected operating surplus of 4.9 million dollars.

Key allocations include 68.8 million dollars for asset renewal and 13.6 million dollars for main street revitalisation projects. For more on this story, visit InDaily.

Lower Eyre Council has announced the appointment of Marnie Lock as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Lock brings over 30 years of local government experience to the role, having most recently served as the General Manager of Community and Business and Acting CEO at the City of Holdfast Bay.

Ms Lock will oversee key regional initiatives, including the implementation of the Economic Growth Plan and the Coffin Bay Foreshore Revitalisation Project.

The District Council of Cleve has condemned recent vandalism to local infrastructure, labelling the behaviour disappointing and unsafe.

Sections of a road reserve, footpath, and signage were damaged, creating potential hazards for road users and leaving ratepayers to cover the repair costs.

Repairs are underway, and council staff are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Western Australia

Joondalup councillors will have to pay for their own drinks from now on, following a razor-thin vote at city hall this week.

The City of Joondalup council has voted to end the tradition of ratepayer-funded alcohol in the Elected Members’ Lounge.

Mayor Daniel Kingston used his casting vote to break a six-all deadlock to pass the ban, finishing a year-long political battle.

The decision follows an intense community campaign and an e-petition signed by more than 900 local residents.

The City of Kwinana is set to deliver a 4.75 per cent rates increase for 2026-27 — higher than the 4.5 per cent advertised for public consultation.

At a Special Council Meeting on the 10th of June, council resolved unanimously to prepare the budget on the higher figure, citing escalating contract costs, construction cost volatility, and a 10.8-million-dollar loan repayment for the Recquatic Centre refurbishment.

The budget is scheduled for formal adoption at a further Special Council Meeting on the 8th of July.

The City of Rockingham council will stick with fortnightly red-lidded bin collections, rejecting a resident-led motion to reinstate weekly service.

Mayor Lorna Buchan said the decision balances environmental responsibility with cost efficiency, noting that returning to weekly collections would cost five million dollars in the first year.

97.3 Coast FM reported that large households will receive targeted relief, with discounted rates for additional bins starting July first.

A federal inquiry into local government funding is in Canberra this week, focusing on the distinct financial challenges facing remote communities.

The House Standing Committee will host a roundtable with councils from the Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

Representatives are expected to highlight how extreme remoteness, limited revenue capacity, and expanding community responsibilities are impacting their long-term fiscal sustainability.

International

NZ:

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has deflected calls to spearhead Canterbury’s council amalgamation talks, according to The Press.

It follows comments from Ashburton Councillor Tony Todd urging him to put on his “big pants” and take charge.

While he wouldn’t be drawn on those comments, Mayor Mauger said his council was committed to an evidence-based approach to the issue.

UK:

Three London councils have launched a legal challenge against Mayor Sadiq Khan over cuts to affordable housing targets.

Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Lewisham are seeking a judicial review, arguing the decision to reduce the quota from 35 per cent to 20 per cent was made without proper consultation, as reported by BBC News.

Brighton and Hove City Council is facing more than one thousand unresolved equal pay claims, following a report by external auditors Grant Thornton.

The claims, dating back to 2023, are expected to take at least two years to resolve.

BBC News reported the council intends to contest the cases, describing the potential financial liability as currently unquantifiable.

Rossendale Council Chief Executive Rob Huntington has criticised the UK Cabinet Office after being excluded from a regional leadership forum.

Organisers barred him because Rossendale is a district council. Huntington warns that sidelining authorities closest to communities is a critical mistake, especially ahead of planned 2028 council reorganisations.

Further reporting is in the Lancashire Telegraph.

USA:

A curious case of governance has emerged in California, where an entire local government is refusing to step down.

YourCentralValley.com reports that four out of five city council members in the California town of Avenal were overwhelmingly voted out in a formal recall election.

However, the ousted representatives have used their remaining time in the chamber to hold a closed-door session, subsequently voting to reject the election results and keep themselves in office.

The extraordinary standoff has triggered major constitutional and legal challenges, with state authorities now intervening to determine who legally holds power.