Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Court victories for Cardinia Shire Council and the City of Stonnington
• A second NSW Council under threat of suspension
• Demerger plans progress for two regional NSW councils
• The tragic death of a former Queensland councillor
• Redland’s mayor denied a request for leave
• Bullying allegations against a South Australian mayor
• and more turmoil at South Perth as the CEO sensationally quits

All of that and more just ahead on Australia’s number one local government podcast.

Also today, how a former professional cricketer is teaming up with councils to helps dads be healthy, gender-equal parents.

Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts.

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 this episode:

Victoria

Cardinia Shire Council has confirmed that the Supreme Court has dismissed proceedings over its earlier process for naming the Pakenham East precinct, with written reasons handed down on 20 October.

According to a council statement issued yesterday, the court has ordered the applicant to pay its costs, which are still being determined, and found her conduct of the case wasteful and unreasonable.

Central to the challenge were claims of conflict of interest involving councillors and staff. Council points out that the Local Government Inspectorate examined those claims, advised in July 2025 that the July 2024 naming decision was lawful, and took no further action. Council says its own review reached the same conclusion, and notes the judgment acknowledges the Inspectorate’s consideration of the issue.

Council also described the online harassment of councillors, staff and their families during the matter as appalling, and said misinformation circulating online has damaged community trust.

A separate naming process is now under way, with community feedback closed and the findings going to an upcoming council meeting.

Gannawarra Shire Council has elected Cr Ross Stanton as Mayor, at its meeting in Kerang last week.

Cr Stanton, who served as Deputy Mayor, replaces Cr Garner Smith, who stepped down from the role at the end of September after nominating as a candidate for Murray Plains at November’s State Election.

Cr Daniel Bolitho was elected Deputy Mayor.

Both will hold their positions until the annual Mayoral election on November the eighteenth.

The City of Greater Geelong faces a crucial vote tonight on a landmark place naming policy following multiple deferrals.

The draft framework prioritises Aboriginal cultural heritage, women, and gender-diverse figures for public assets.

The Geelong Advertiser reported there is a plan to introduce an alternative motion advocating for equal weighting across all categories.

A decision on the controversial policy was adjourned for a second time last month when Deputy Mayor Eddy Kontelj suffered a medical episode during debate.

The City of Stonnington has welcomed a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court decision ordering a landowner and builder to pay thirty thousand dollars in combined fines and costs following the illegal poisoning of a protected Sydney Blue Gum in Malvern East.

An investigation launched by the council in December found the significant tree had been deliberately poisoned through forty nine drill holes before being removed.

The landowner must now plant a replacement Lemon scented Gum and maintain it under an ongoing council regimen.

The City of Whittlesea has called for a moratorium on data centre approvals until proposed Victorian Government planning reforms are finalised and written into planning schemes.

At its meeting on October the twentieth, council also opposed the use of the Development Facilitation Program to approve a data centre at South Morang. It asked for a hold on further applications in the municipality.

Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox said “there is a place for data centres”, but argued that decisions of this scale need genuine community engagement and a transparent process.

Mildura Rural City Council has escalated its push for federal intervention by writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to secure urgent disaster relief and financial support for local growers struggling seven months after severe March rain and floods.

Mayor Ali Cupper has highlighted that the wider regional economy and the export-driven horticulture sector, including table grapes valued at up to $600 million, depend on swift, targeted assistance from all levels of government.

Greater Shepparton City Council has welcomed a $2 million Victorian Government investment through the Trunk Infrastructure Fund to unlock the next stage of development at the GV Link Enterprise Park.

The funding will deliver critical enabling infrastructure for Stage 2, helping to drive future industrial growth, jobs, and investment across the region.

Moorabool Shire Council has received national recognition as a finalist in the 2026 Financial Review BOSS Most Innovative Companies list, standing out as the only government organisation in the country to receive the honour.

The national recognition highlights the Council’s successful transition of artificial intelligence from pilot programs into everyday operational practice.

The VLGA’s new Coaching and Mentoring Program connects Councillors with experiencedcoaches and mentors, matched to your individual needs.Whether you’re looking for guidance, perspective or support through a particular challenge,the VLGA can help.Find out more about the new Coaching and Mentoring Program on the VLGA website.

New South Wales

Moree Plains Shire Council has confirmed that the New South Wales Local Government Minister, Ron Hoenig, is considering suspending it for three months.

The council says the Minister has cited concerns about the conduct of meetings, repeated police involvement, and deteriorating relationships between councillors.

An extraordinary meeting on Monday, November the second, will consider the council’s response, due by November the sixth.

Last week, 7News reported that Cr Kelly James filmed her own removal by Police from a council meeting, after she refused an order to stop livestreaming on Facebook. It was apparently the fifth time this year Ms James has been expelled from a council meeting, according to the report.

The council is currently well advanced in its recruitment for a permanent general manager, to replace Natalia Cowley who departed for Cessnock City Council earlier this year.

If a suspension goes ahead, it would be the second in recent weeks, following Clarence Valley Council.

Representatives from Snowy Valleys Council have met with the New South Wales Minister for Local Government in Sydney to advance discussions on de-amalgamation grant funding.

The delegation outlined a revised project cost estimate of nearly five million dollars, which includes a local co-investment framework to support the transition to two new entities by July 2028.

The Minister has committed to a detailed review of the funding application following the talks.

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is finalising its demerger Transition Plan ahead of a December deadline for submission to the Office of Local Government. Once the plan is lodged, a proclamation will be prepared to establish two new councils.

Council has recommended that Cootamundra Shire have seven councillors and Gundagai Shire five, that both be unsubdivided, and both be under administration until elections, currently scheduled for September twenty twenty-eight.

Recruitment of a General Manager for each council has begun, with start dates no later than April the thirtieth, twenty twenty-seven.

Dubbo Regional Council has recorded a five year high in code of conduct complaints and investigation costs, according to the Daily Liberal.

Between September 2025 and August 2026, the council received 14 complaints and spent 61,475 dollars addressing them, with further invoices expected for open investigations in the current reporting period.

In response to councillor dissatisfaction with governance rules, earlier this year theCouncil unanimously voted to revert to its earlier code of conduct.

Bega Valley Shire Council has formally called on the New South Wales Government to review its compensation package for the commercial abalone industry ahead of the Central Zone closure in July 2027.

Councillors raised concerns that current share valuation payments overlook impacted divers, processors, and local support businesses.

The council is urging Minister Tara Moriarty to either expand the financial support or delay the program to allow for further consultation.

Griffith City Council has refuted online claims that it intends to permanently remove the local Fairey Firefly aircraft memorial.

In a statement, Mayor Doug Curran clarified that recent workshop discussions focused entirely on preservation, restoration, and necessary maintenance for the deteriorating structure.

The council confirmed that while the memorial will be temporarily removed to facilitate restoration works, it will be fully reinstated upon completion.

The mayor criticised misleading social media reports for creating unnecessary community alarm regarding the historic monument, saying they were more focused on generating outrage and division than providing accurate information.

Commercial passenger flights began at Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday.

Penrith Mayor Cr Todd Carney and G-M Andrew Moore attended the official opening.

The airport has capacity for up to ten million passengers a year, and one-third of the aerotropolis sits within the Penrith local government area.

Cr Carney said “the airport opening brings the world closer to Penrith”. He also said council will keep advocating for the full north-south metro link, from St Marys to Tallawong and from Bradfield to Macarthur.

A proposal to seek community views on a name for Georges River Council’s new Carss Park pool has drawn criticism from veterans’ representatives.

According to 2GB, R-S-L N-S-W President Vince Williams said any plan to rename the Kogarah War Memorial Pool would be disrespectful to veterans. Georges River Mayor Cr Elise Borg told the station she does not want “War Memorial” removed from the name.

Council was set to consider a report last night recommending a twenty-eight day consultation on name options. The report did not put forward a preferred name.

Bellingen Shire Council has announced that Mayor Steve Allan is taking a leave of absence from his mayoral duties following the passing of his wife, Wendy.

During his absence, Deputy Mayor Cr Graeme Shephard will step in to handle mayoral responsibilities to ensure council operations continue as normal.

The council has requested respect for the privacy of Mayor Allan and his family during this difficult time to allow them space to grieve and support one another.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will establish a new award in memory of the late Cr Lisa Intemann.

At its October meeting, council endorsed the Lisa Intemann Community Spirit Award, recognising her service and contribution to the community. The award will form part of council’s annual Australia Day Awards program, beginning in twenty twenty-seven.

Queensland

Emergency services have recovered the body of former Fraser Coast Regional Council division one councillor James Hansen from floodwaters at Boompa, west of Maryborough.

The fourth generation dairy farmer served three terms on the Fraser Coast Regional Council following a term on the former Woocoo Shire Council.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to his strong rural connections and decades of community representation.

ABC News reported that police are preparing a report for the coroner as investigations into the incident continue.

Redland City Council has confirmed that there is no vacancy in the mayoral position despite having rejected a leave application for Mayor Jos Mitchell during last week’s general meeting.

According to reporting the Redland Bayside News, the decision came after the chief executive confirmed no formal request for unpaid leave had been received for the period spanning late July to late October.

Deputy Mayor Julie Talty will continue to serve as acting mayor.

Brisbane City Council has withdrawn destruction orders for two dogs involved in an attack on a runner at Chermside’s Seventh Brigade Park on October the sixteenth.

According to the Brisbane Times, council now proposes to declare both dogs dangerous under state law. That carries higher penalties and stricter containment requirements.

The owner has until November the fourth to respond, and council can still issue new destruction orders. Cr Sarah Hutton said council must follow the state’s strict legal processes.

Gold Coast City Council has deferred three-hour parking restrictions around the new light rail extension, following opposition from residents and councillors.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, councillors on Thursday backed a motion from Deputy Mayor Cr Mark Hammel to survey parking demand first. Two rounds of surveys will run next year, and a Traffic Area would only proceed after a further report to council.

Cr Josh Martin said the data would allow council to “make an evidence-based decision”.

A parliamentary inquiry has heard local government workers in Far North Queensland are facing a mental health crisis, driven partly by severe delays in councillor conduct investigations.

Former Cairns Regional Council and Douglas Shire Council employee Michael Matthews told the committee that restructuring integrity bodies and support frameworks is vital to restore staff morale.

The Cairns Post reported that the parliamentary committee is expected to deliver its final report next month.

South Australia

An independent investigation has found the mayor of the District Council of Robe breached behavioural standards following allegations of bullying and undermining council staff.

Investigators concluded that Mayor Lisa Ruffell made inappropriate remarks regarding employees, allegations that the mayor has strongly denied.

The findings were set to be tabled at a special council meeting last night, with elected members to vote on whether to censure her.

Cr Ruffell told ABC News that she was disappointed the meeting papers contained only a summary of the investigator’s findings, and not the full report.

The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has deferred a decision on a proposed street parking restriction following pushback from residents on Gloucester Street in Largs Bay.

According to Adelaide Now, more than 25 property owners signed a petition opposing the plan to install yellow no-parking lines on the western side of the road.

The council confirmed the proposal is now undergoing further community consultation to evaluate safety concerns before any final treatments are implemented.

An Adelaide arborist has been ordered to pay sixty-two thousand dollars in legal fees and exemplary damages following an investigation by the Marion Council into the unlawful removal of thirteen regulated trees.

Environment, Resources and Development Court Judge Michael Durrant described the operator’s refusal to cooperate as a “contumacious* breach” of court orders, according to The Messenger. (*stubbornly, perversely, or willfully disobedient)

The defendant is due to return to court early next year.

Western Australia

The City of South Perth has lost its chief executive after Liz Ledger resigned abruptly after ten months in the job, citing a dysfunctional council culture and factional politics.

In a statement described by the West Australian as “scathing”, Ms Ledger said she was continuously blocked from addressing long-standing institutional dysfunction and carrying out her statutory duties.

Ms Ledger took leave immediately following a council vote to block an independent psychosocial assessment of the city. She had been in the role since last December, after eight years as CEO of the Town of Claremont.

Her departure follows the resignations of four councillors in recent months, and the appointment of a government monitor in February for a term that was extended twice up til last Friday.

The City of Melville council has unanimously condemned violence and intimidation directed at local government representatives, following a recent attack on a federal parliamentarian.

However, councillors voted 6 to 7 against requesting the WA Local Government Association to push for a coordinated sector wide review of existing protections.

According to PerthNow, debate centred on whether the proposal adequately addressed systemic safety gaps or overstepped council responsibilities.

A major contract has been awarded to Downer Group for significant upgrades to the main runway, taxiways, and lighting at Albany Airport, following a comprehensive procurement process led by the City of Albany.

Funded by a partnership between the federal and state governments alongside a contribution from the City of Albany, the project aims to accommodate larger aircraft and improve regional connectivity for the Great Southern.

Mayor Greg Stocks said the project represents the largest investment in Albany Airport’s airfield infrastructure in decades and will help secure the airport’s future as a key gateway to the Great Southern.

Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2026, with staged works designed to minimise operational disruptions for regular passenger services and emergency operations.

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is seeking external funding partnerships after reporting a record 562,710 passenger movements at Kalgoorlie-Boulder airport across the 2025-26 financial year.

Mayor Glenn Wilson says the needed major infrastructure upgrades, estimated to cost between 75 and 100 million dollars over a decade, exceed local government capacity.

Funding advocacy efforts are currently underway through regional municipal networks to support long-term terminal and airfield redevelopment.

The Shire of Harvey has commenced the process of recruiting a new chief executive.

The council’s CEO recruitment and selection committee met last week to review documentation prepared by the recruitment consultant.

Former Busselton CEO Tony Nottle was appointed as temporary CEO in July, with the departure of former CEO Annie Riordan after eight years with the shire.

International

UK:

BBC News reports that Joanne Sexton has returned as leader of Spelthorne Borough Council following a successful no-confidence vote against her predecessor, Greg Neall.

The transition occurs months before the authority is dissolved and absorbed into the newly formed West Surrey Council next spring.

The change in leadership comes as the council manages ongoing asset sales and government-appointed commissioners.

IRELAND:

The Association of Irish Local Government has issued a stark warning that escalating abuse directed at local public representatives poses a severe threat to democratic participation.

According to the Irish Examiner, the condemnation follows recent targeted threats and harassment experienced by high-profile civic leaders, including the mayors of Limerick and Galway.

Sector advocates argue that robust protections are urgently required to ensure community members can serve safely without fearing intimidation.

USA:

New York City Council has voted to phase out horse-drawn carriage operations by June 2028, following legislation named in memory of an 18-year-old who died earlier this year, according to The Guardian.

The measure includes a transition plan for affected employees and business owners, though union representatives have raised concerns over a lack of concrete retraining details.

Industry advocates warn the decision threatens hundreds of jobs and generational family enterprises, while the Transport Workers Union has signalled plans to pursue federal legal action.

Voters in the small town of Mountain View, Colorado will decide in November whether to strip their mayor of executive powers and shift toward a council manager model.

The upcoming vote follows a turbulent year involving twelve ethics complaints against Mayor Emilie Mitcham, all of which an independent magistrate ultimately cleared or dismissed.

According to Denverite dot com, the local council unanimously voted in July to place Question 2B before the electorate after a similar proposal was narrowly defeated in 2024.

If approved, the reform would align the twelve-block municipality with standard council-manager frameworks, transferring operational oversight and budget preparation to an appointed professional.

Meanwhile in Texas, an independent investigation into former Kyle City Council leadership has found no criminal wrongdoing or improper contract influence regarding civil engineering agreements.

The inquiry determined that former mayor Travis Mitchell did not violate state laws or penal codes during his tenure.

However, investigators concluded that Mitchell committed two technical violations of the local ethics code relating to job acceptance disclosures and failure to formally recuse himself.

The findings have now been formally presented to council members for review, according to Community Impact dot com.

More than 100 local government officials—including leaders from Baldwin Park, San Jose, and Coachella—have endorsed California’s Proposition 37, which aims to boost middle-class homeownership by lowering required down payments to 3%.

Supporters say the November ballot measure will incentivise the construction of roughly 190,000 new single-family homes across the state without imposing any new taxpayer costs, according to California City News dot org.

NZ:

An update from New Zealand, where Local Government Minister Simon Watts says the threshold for government intervention at Gore District Council has not been reached.

It follows Mayor Cr Ben Bell’s apology for leaving four councillors off emails setting out conditions for amalgamation options ahead of an extraordinary meeting in August.

According to The Press, Minister Watts said the benchmark is “deliberately set incredibly high”, but he did not say whether the exclusion breached the Local Government Act.

ROUNDUP EXTRA:

Ryan Carters from Dadfit, and Thomas Hynes from Symphony3, join Chris to talk about how they are working togethe with councils around Australia to make ‘dadding’ a team sport, and helps dads be healthy, gender equal parents.

Find out more at dadfit.au