Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• 100 days out from a state election, and the list of Councillors running for state Parliament continues to grow
• As does the list of Councils unhappy with the Victorian Government
• ALGA welcomes an extension to Commonwealth Home Support Program contracts
• The death of four dogs prompts calls for a NSW Council GM to resign
• New guidance released for next month’s mid-term mayoral elections in NSW
• Another new CEO appointment announced by a Queensland Council,
• as a Tasmanian Council GM announces his departure
• and systemic council failures found to have led to a fatal landslide in New Zealand

Plus much more local government news from across Australia and beyond.

Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Local Government News Roundup is supported this month by LG Innovate 2026: the national AI summit for local government, hosted by Davidson, in partnership with Amazon Web Services.

Local Government News Roundup listeners can purchase their tickets now at davidsonwp.com with the promo code “lgnews” for 15% off before the 21st of August.

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.

In today’s episode:

Victoria

More Victorian councillors have confirmed they will contest the upcoming state election, adding to a growing list of local government figures entering parliamentary contests.

Among the latest announcements reported by the Herald Sun, Moonee Valley City Council councillor and former AFL footballer John Barnes, Gannawarra Shire Council mayor Garner Smith, and Baw Baw Shire councillor Ben Lucas have all put their names forward as One Nation candidates.

They join former Casey mayor Stefan Koomen, former Bass Coast mayor Rochelle Halstead, and current councillors Chris Burson at Greater Geelong, and Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell.

Baw Baw CEO Tilla Buden has confirmed that Cr Lucas intends to seek a leave of absence at a future date, to be tabled a Council meeting, and effective until the election is complete.

As the election draws closer, more high profile mayors and councillors are expected to announce candidacy for various seats around the state.

Yesterday marked 100 days until Victorians go to the polls, with local government set to be a major election flashpoint. Early campaigning has already focused on housing, infrastructure and bin collection, and the MAV says councils are ready to partner with the next State Government to deliver a fairer, safer and more resilient future.

The state’s councils have united behind five priorities: from connected housing and safer communities to transport links, community benefit sharing and securing local government’s future.

Murrindindi and Strathbogie Shire Councils will share $1.15 million in joint Commonwealth-State funding to extend their Community Recovery Officer and Recovery Hub programs until June 2028, supporting residents still recovering from the January 2026 bushfires.

But Strathbogie Council says its share of the funding is not enough to support impacted communities over the next two years – it will receive just $230,000 of the $2.8M it says it needs.

It’s also still waiting to hear if the state will grant a request for three years of rates relief for bushfire impacted residents – a request valued at $5.9M.

The government says a broader $15 million investment is backing recovery officers and hubs across fifteen Victorian councils.

Latrobe City Mayor Cr Sharon Gibson has criticised the Victorian Government after Latrobe again missed out on Community Connectors Program funding.

Cr Gibson said Crime Statistics Agency data showed Latrobe recorded higher rates of violent crime and family violence than Brimbank, Greater Dandenong and Maribyrnong, the three councils selected for a new seven-million-dollar harm-reduction response.

She noted a ministerial visit promised over a year ago has still not occurred, and questioned why funding was going to lower-crime, Labor-held areas in a state election year.

Boroondara Council has unanimously voted to demand the Victorian government scrap its controversial planning fast-track scheme, slamming secret negotiations that let developers bypass local height limits.

The Herald Sun reports that the move comes as the council takes legal action against Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny over the approval of an 18-storey tower at Kew Junction.

The Victorian Government has approved a controversial 57-million-dollar industrial development in Lilydale, overriding opposition from Yarra Ranges Council and local residents.

The project at 65 Quarry Road will construct 106 warehouse units across five stages, which planning documents estimate will nearly triple daily vehicle movements on surrounding suburban streets.

Despite concerns regarding road safety and pavement strength, state planners determined the precinct provides a net public benefit through local job creation, according to the Herald Sun.

A controversial proposal for a $600,000 skin cancer clinic in Wy Yung has been thrown into limbo after East Gippsland Shire Council failed to reach a definitive vote this week.

According to the Bass Coast News, councillors were deeply divided over traffic, safety, and rural-residential zoning concerns versus local health benefits.

With no official motion passed to approve or refuse the planning permit, the applicant now holds the right to appeal the matter directly to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Cardinia Shire Council will formally object to a proposed battery energy storage system in Bunyip North, over concerns about significant risks to local agricultural land and green wedge values.

The council has called on the Victorian Government to develop a statewide strategic planning framework to properly guide where large scale battery facilities should be located.

It will also put forward a motion at the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council meeting in October to advocate for clearer state planning guidelines for regional communities.

Wyndham City Council has issued a $2,035 fine to a driver caught on surveillance cameras dumping cardboard boxes next to full public recycling bins, rather than using alternative disposal options.

Local laws officers identified the offender after CCTV captured the incident at 4am.

Council is reminding community members that leaving waste beside public bins constitutes illegal dumping.

Also making news from Victorian councils this week:

Starting in July 2027, Mount Alexander Shire Council will introduce a new weekly lime-green-lid FOGO bin service and shift general waste collection to a fortnightly schedule.

To comply with Victorian Government reforms and reduce landfill waste, glass will be removed from mixed recycling bins and managed through a dedicated drop-off network.

Monash City Council is reviewing how residential parking permits are managed and has released a proposed new Residential Parking Permit Policy. Community feedback is open til September 14.

Hobsons Bay City Council is advocating for both major political parties to commit $13 million toward restoring the historic, community-focused Williamstown Mechanics Institute building, which has sat abandoned since 2018. The Maribyrnong Leader reports further.

The City of Greater Bendigo has become Australia’s first Mentoring Welcoming City, building on its earlier accreditations as the first Accredited Welcoming City (2020) and an Excelling Welcoming City (2025).

The new top-level accreditation recognises Bendigo’s long-term leadership in fostering inclusion locally and its active mentoring and support of other councils across the Welcoming Cities network.

Today (21st August) is your last day to get your early bird tickets for LG Innovate 2026, the local government AI summit presented by Davidson and AWS Services. If you’ve been thinking about, think no longer – the summit is on 2nd and 3rd September at the Melbourne Town Hall.

Book your tickets at davidsonwp.com/lg-innovate-2026 and use the promo code “LG News” to get your discount.

The Australian Local Government Association has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to extend Commonwealth Home Support Program contracts until June 2029 and keep the program standalone, saying it gives vital certainty for older Australians and providers.

But ALGA says the extension doesn’t fix deeper problems, warning councils still face inadequate cost recovery, workforce shortages, rising delivery costs and growing regulatory burden—especially in regional, remote and First Nations communities.

The group is urging the Government to include local councils in designing the long-term future of CHSP and to deliver sustainable funding beyond 2029 so older Australians don’t lose access to essential home support services.

New South Wales

Wagga Wagga’s general manager is facing calls to resign after four dogs were found dead at Wilks Park, according to Region Riverina.

A local housing advocate group says the Shar Peis were returned to a homeless man living at the park after spending 11 days in council care, raising questions about why they were released.

Wagga City Council says the owner was legally entitled to the dogs’ return after paying fees, and that staff faced escalating threats and abuse in the days leading up to the release.

The cause of the dogs’ deaths hasn’t been made public.

Council says the remaining dogs at the site have now been taken into care at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter.

Councils across New South Wales that elect their own mayor are being reminded to prepare for mid-term mayoral elections in September.

New guidance from the Office of Local Government outlines the process under the Local Government Act, covering elections for mayor, deputy mayor, and chairpersons of joint organisations and county councils.

Open ballots can be conducted by audio visual link, but ordinary and preferential ballots are secret, requiring councillors to attend in person.

The Office has also issued a fact sheet with further guidance for governance staff.

City of Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown says the rapid rollout of shared e-bike services is creating problems in the community, including obstructed footpaths, accessibility issues and impacts on pedestrian safety and public amenity.

The Mayor says the NSW Government has expanded the scheme without enough supporting infrastructure, and Council is now identifying priority locations for designated e-bike parking.

It will seek up to $200,000 in funding through a new Shared Scheme Grant Program.

Meanwhile, the Mayor is also urging residents to “take the pledge” to save TG Millner Fields, warning proposed rezoning for housing would worsen local open-space shortages highlighted in the State Government’s new Sydney Plan.

Willoughby City Council has issued a penalty notice to the occupier of a Castlecrag property, after a follow-up inspection revealed a failure to comply with pollution control directions.

The non-compliance involved failing to install required sediment controls, conducting unauthorised dewatering, and failing to submit a consultant-prepared dewatering plan to protect nearby Sailors Bay Creek.

Albury City Council has announced it will cease providing Out of School Hours care at two schools from late September.

The Council says the decision follows workforce attraction and retention challenges, child safety considerations, and growing regulatory obligations.

It’s now working alongside the New South Wales Department of Education to help transition the services to a new provider.

Bega Valley Shire Council has voted to transition operational responsibility for Merimbula’s Twyford Theatre Complex to Council, following a formal request from the venue’s board amid ongoing financial pressures.

The decision leaves $333,000 from an outstanding council loan integrated into municipal oversight, with Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick confirming future ongoing cost implications for local ratepayers.

While councillors accepted operational management, they rejected a secondary request to return a prior $37,000 loan repayment, according to Power FM Bega Bay.

Meanwhile, the South Coast News reports that Bega Valley Shire Council has proposed increasing building height limits in Merimbula’s CBD to stimulate redevelopment and tackle a projected housing shortfall.

Under the proposal, maximum height caps would rise in targeted areas—allowing some developments to reach up to 19 metres—while key heritage and flood-prone sites will remain protected.

Lismore City Council has reached a key disaster recovery milestone, completing the first ten repairs under its fourteen point five million dollar Landslip Restoration Package.

Jointly funded by state and federal governments, the works form part of a broader program addressing more than sixty flood-damaged sites across the local government area.

Construction on the remaining sites will continue in staged phases through to late 2027.

MidCoast Council says the value of its May 2025 flood recovery transport program has risen to around three hundred and thirty-three million dollars, covering emergency, immediate, and major reconstruction works.

Council has identified seven hundred and sixty roads and more than four thousand seven hundred damage sites eligible for funding, with thirty-one major reconstruction submissions lodged worth over one hundred and fifty-six million dollars.

Approval from the NSW Reconstruction Authority remains the key hurdle.

Greater Hume Shire Council has voted unanimously to close its Jindera public pool for the upcoming summer season following severe leak issues and structural ground movement.

The Border Mail reported that an engineering report deemed the twenty-five metre facility beyond practical repair, prompting councillors to commission a full business case and feasibility study for a replacement.

To mitigate the impact on local families and school programs, the local government will provide Jindera residents with free entry to the nearby pool in Walla Walla.

The Country Mayors Association of NSW has backed a proposal by Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane to host a full parliamentary sitting week in a regional host city to better connect city politicians with rural communities.

While CMA Chairman Rick Firman commended the effort to address regional isolation, he noted that local councils still hold concerns regarding the potential costs involved in relocating the parliament.

The City of Newcastle has unveiled updated designs for the final stage of the Newcastle Ocean Baths upgrade, incorporating public feedback to enhance accessibility, amenities, and heritage preservation.

The amended plans will go on public exhibition for 28 days later this month, with construction tender expected by mid-2028.

Six new prefabricated cabins funded by Transgrid’s HumeLink project are being delivered to Crookwell Caravan Park to house project workers through 2027 before transitioning to long-term community rentals and tourist accommodation for the Upper Lachlan Shire.

The VLGA has developed its Year 2 Councillor Professional Development Program with councillor needs, cost, and time efficiency in mind.

In Year 2, the VLGA is offering flexible delivery options—from fast-paced one-hour online modules to more intensive half-day sessions that allow participants to take a deeper dive into key aspects of the councillor role.

If you’d like a program designed around the specific needs of your council and delivered in a format that suits your schedule, contact the VLGA.

You can also view the full Year 2 Councillor Professional Development Prospectus on the VLGA website.

Queensland

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has appointed Nick Hauser as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Tuesday the sixth of October.

The appointment follows a Council resolution at this week’s Ordinary Meeting.

Mayor Cr Tanya Milligan said Mr Hauser brought more than twenty years of local government experience and strong ties to the region, having grown up in Helidon and Gatton.

Mr Hauser succeeds Scott Greensill, who resigned in May.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Somerset Regional Council have been forced to dissolve their shared regional water company, due to a state government approval oversight.

The Courier Mail reports that the councils will replace the initial structure with a new company limited by guarantee to retain local government oversight.

The administrative restructuring requires transferring existing customer contracts while maintaining progress toward the wider $650 million recycled water scheme.

In a tight five-to-four vote, Redland City Council has approved a leave of absence for Mayor Jos Mitchell, extending her medical leave until late October.

According to reporting by Redland Bayside News, the decision followed a tense debate among councillors regarding the adequacy of medical documentation, ongoing remuneration, and return-to-work planning for the absent mayor.

Townsville City Council says an average of five dogs a day are being collected from streets after escaping their homes, with almost one-thousand-eight-hundred loose dogs picked up in the past twelve months.

Division Seven Councillor Kurt Rehbein said most owners did the right thing, but roaming dogs remained a growing problem, straining ratepayer-funded services and posing risks to people and other animals.

So far in twenty-twenty-six, Council has issued nineteen off-leash fines, seven for wandering dogs, and ninety for ineffective enclosures, with Cr Rehbein flagging repeat offenders as a particular concern.

Burdekin Shire Council has launched the Burdekin Employment and Skills Development Network—funded under the Regional Drought Resilience Plan—to bring together local employers, training providers, and community groups to address regional workforce shortages and create career pathways for local youth.

Tasmania

Dorset Council has announced that General Manager John Marik will conclude his tenure in mid November.

Mr Marik joined Council in 2017 as Director Corporate Services, and was appointed General Manager in late 2022.

He says the decision was made for himself and his family, to prioritise his health and wellbeing.

Mayor Cr Rhys Beattie thanked Mr Marik for his service, with Council to now begin recruiting a new General Manager.

South Australia

The District Council of Karoonda East Murray has appointed Ms Bridget Mather as its Interim Chief Executive Officer following a special meeting last week.

Ms Mather, who brings more than 31 years of experience across local and federal government organisations, previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Coorong District Council.

Her tenure takes effect from September 16 while the council undertakes a formal recruitment process to secure a permanent chief executive officer.

The City of Mount Gambier has unveiled six major concepts in its new central business district master plan, aiming to revitalise the regional city’s commercial and cultural hub.

The proposed initiatives include inner-city housing, expanded green space, outdoor dining areas, and lower speed limits for local traffic.

Public consultation on the proposal remains open until September 6, allowing community stakeholders to provide feedback before final project budgets and timelines are established.

The Coorong Conversations Matter Suicide Prevention Network has secured a $20,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal to deliver the “Regional Brain Reset Tour“—featuring science-based mental health workshops led by Allan Parker OAM in Meningie and Karoonda, in early 2027.

Western Australia

The City of Belmont will consider a notice of motion from Councillor Chris Kulczycki proposing a six-month trial of a new meeting structure when it meets next Tuesday.

The motion proposes scrapping Agenda Briefing Forums in favour of Information Forums, and introducing Public Statement Time at Ordinary Council Meetings.

Cr Kulczycki argues the two forum types currently overlap, creating duplication in the monthly meeting cycle, and says a simplified structure could improve efficiency while still giving the community a new avenue to address Council.

Officers have recommended against the trial, advising Council instead retain its existing meeting cycle, format and procedures.

Three candidates have officially nominated for the upcoming extraordinary election to fill a vacant seat on the City of Rockingham Council.

Jason Davies, James Mumme, and Elaine Smith will contest the Rockingham and Safety Bay Ward position following the resignation of Dr Craig Buchanan earlier in the year.

Postal voting packages will be dispatched to local electors from August 25, with voting scheduled to close on September 24.

City of Melville Council has voted not to proceed with a permanent civic tribute to late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, citing cost and relevance concerns, reports PerthNow.

A feasibility study was estimated at around $15,000 plus a further $10,000 in specialist consultant fees, with the tribute itself forecast to cost anywhere from $150,000 to more than $500,000.

The motion passed 7–6, though councillors agreed to remain open to future opportunities to recognise Scott’s connection to the city.

The Shire of Nannup has announced that Ian Gibb has been elected as a Councillor to fill an extraordinary vacancy following the resignation of Timothy Sly, with his term running until October 21, 2027.

International

NZ:

A damning independent review into January’s fatal landslide at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park has found the tragedy was preventable, identifying systemic failure within Tauranga City Council spanning more than two decades.

The Council commissioned the external review immediately after the landslide at the council owned and operated holiday park, and released the external review report to the public this week.

Retired High Court judge Paul Davison, KC, found consultants had flagged the landslide hazard repeatedly since the early two-thousands, but warnings were never escalated, recorded or acted on.

Six people died when the slope above the council-owned campground failed during record rainfall on the twenty-second of January.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale has apologised to victims’ families and accepted all of the review’s findings and recommendations. And former mayor Stuart Crosby told RNZ News that warnings about the landslide risk never reached him in his 12 years at the helm.

According to a report from Stuff, Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell says the findings are “unforgivable”, and that a huge question mark now hangs over the chief executive’s Marty Grenfell’s future.

Mr Grenfell says he was never told of any risk to life at the site in his eight years leading the organisation, and intends to remain in the role to drive the response.

Police, Coroner, WorkSafe and a separate Government inquiry are all still under way. The chair of the government’s inquiry says the council’s conclusions will be considered, but it would reach its own conclusions and recommendations in due course.

Upper Hutt City Council has appointed Kate Thomson as its new Chief Executive. She has served as Acting CEO since May, and will officially start in the role on 31 August.

UK:

Now to the illegal dumping scourge in the UK.

The Guardian reported on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge of a new national drive to tackle toxic waste. He’s promising tougher enforcement alongside clean-up, including higher fines and AI-powered drones to catch illegal dumping as it happens.

The government will use taxpayer funding to clear three major illegal waste sites in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent, as part of a wider crackdown on rogue dumpers and organised waste crime.

Mayors in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire will be asked to coordinate agencies as part of the increased efforts.

Two Green councillors have quit the Liberal Democrat-led coalition running Huntingdonshire District Council, leaving the authority without a majority.

The BBC reports that they’ve lost confidence in the administration, citing concerns over how proposed redevelopment plans involving building homes on council-owned car parks have been handled.

Cornwall Council has reportedly asked the UK Government for permission to put Cornish alongside English place names on new and replacement road signs, saying it would promote the language and local pride at no extra cost.

The Department for Transport says it supports Cornish but road sign rules are strict for safety, and any change would need new legislation and a public consultation.

The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body is calling on the UK to strengthen integrity training and enforce clearer sanctions for local councillors following a review of local government safeguards.

Local Gov reports that while praising existing anti-corruption measures, the watchdog has issued six recommendations to improve transparency around lobbying, gifts, and local auditing.

USA:

Police in Michigan have launched an investigation after members of the Marshall City Council received credible death threats regarding a proposed data centre project.

News Channel 3 reported the threats followed a unanimous decision by local elected officials to implement a one-year moratorium on new developments to review municipal ordinances.

City leadership confirmed that extra security measures are currently being evaluated for upcoming local government meetings while the police investigation continues.

Albuquerque City Council has failed to override Mayor Tim Keller’s veto of a proposed charter amendment, according to The Paper.

The measure aimed to strip mayoral control over the city attorney and city clerk, but fell two votes short of the required supermajority following concerns over drafting errors that would have created an independent branch of local government.

Supporters, including Council Vice President Dan Champine, plan to redraft the proposal to clarify administrative oversight and strengthen governance structures ahead of future legislative sessions.

In California, a Stockton City Council candidate Desiree Lynch has been arrested on a felony warrant alleging election-related offences. Prosecutors claim she falsely declared residency and committed perjury in voter and candidacy filings.

RecordNet reported that Lynch was later released on bond. She says she’s staying in the race against the incumbent, and is due back in court in early September.

CANADA:

The Ontario and federal governments have announced a joint one billion dollar investment in housing-enabling infrastructure, targeting municipalities that refrain from charging development fees on new residential builds.

While the funding was welcomed by former Association of Municipalities of Ontario president and Village of Westport Mayor Robin Jones, Municipal World reported that big city leaders are pressing the province for broader action on social issues.

Speaking on behalf of Ontario’s Big City Mayors, City of Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward urged the provincial government to establish a dedicated ministry and provide increased funding to address the growing homelessness and mental health crisis facing local communities.

A new survey by the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities says small towns across northeastern Ontario are increasingly struggling to recruit and keep staff, with 94 per cent reporting difficulty attracting qualified candidates.

Municipal leaders say they’re being outbid by mining and other public-sector employers, forcing many communities to raise wages and call for more training, benchmarking and long-term planning to ease the labour crunch. More on that from CTV News.