In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• Criminal proceedings against a CEO and Councillor hit court in Ballarat
• Two councillor resignations in one week at a Tasmanian Council
• The Federal Court orders the reinstatement of a sacked Council CEO in the NT
• A new Deputy Mayor, and a new CEO announced, for Merri-bek Council
• Councils monitoring services as fuel prices continue to climb
• High level meetings to tackle rising crime in a rural NSW community
• More details of a CEO recruitment process leaked at Redland Council
• and two new mayors elected in WA

Plus the Roundup Flashback takes us back to 2024.

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Symphony 3, and Rath Engineering Development.

Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platform, or by clicking here.

Transcript for Episode #569

Today’s Top Three

Businessman David Penman has taken his case against Hepburn Shire CEO Bradley Thomas and Councillor Don Henderson to the Ballarat Magistrates Court… acting as prosecutor, for his claims of misuse of ratepayers’ money.

The Herald Sun reported on proceedings in the court last Thursday, where lawyers for Mr Thomas and Cr Henderson argued that the case should be struck out.

Mr Penman is required to file a brief with all parties by April 16, ahead of a committal case conference in late May, according to the report.

Tasmania’s Derwent Valley Council has been hit with a second councillor resignation in one week… and they’ve come just six months out from local government elections.

Matt Hill has stepped down, with his resignation following that of former deputy mayor Jessica Cosgrove, according to a report from The Mercury.

The council says they will not be replaced before October.

Council CEO Wes Young says the vacancies do not affect operations … with six councillors remaining and four needed for a quorum.

Under proposed state government reforms, Derwent Valley’s council would be cut from eight members to seven.

The Federal Court has ordered the reinstatement of Ingrid Stonhill as CEO of Katherine Town Council.

Ms Stonhill was allegedly sacked while on worker’s compensation for PTSD, which she attributed to workplace bullying by a former councillor, according the Human Resources Director website.

The court said it is reasonably arguable that her disability may have played a part in the decision to terminate her … and it flagged concerns about how the council handled the show cause process.

In a statement, the Council confirmed the decision, and Ms Stonhill’s reinstatement, and said it will not be making further comment but would comply with all legal obligations.

The reinstatement is pending the outcome of a complaint process that now sits with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Victorian Report

It took three meetings, and five votes – but Merri-bek City Council finally has a new deputy mayor.

The Council has elected former mayor Cr Helen Davidson to the position, after it was vacated due to the one month suspension of Cr Jay Iwasaki.

Cr Davidson was the only nomination for the role on this occasion. In all four previous votes, the nominations were Cr Liz Irvin and Cr Katerine Theodosis.

Merri-bek City Council will have a new face at the helm of the organisation come June.

Veteran urban planner and community advocate Kate McCaughey has been named the council’s new CEO.

With over two decades of experience across Boroondara, Whittlesea, and Moonee Valley Councils, Ms McCaughey was chosen for her strong track record in both major infrastructure projects and social inclusion initiatives, according to Mayor Nat Abboud.

The Mayor says Kate was the standout choice to lead the city’s 2025-2029 Council Plan.

Ms McCaughey officially begins the role on June 15th, becoming the sixth CEO in the municipality’s history.

In Mildura … the council is stepping back from a service it has run for decades.

Mildura Rural City Council will transition out of delivering Early Learning and Family Day Care Services … saying the programs are no longer sustainable.

Councillors have endorsed a transition plan … with no immediate change for families … while they look for alternative care.

General Manager Healthy Communities Mark Jenkins says the decision follows long term falling demand … ongoing deficits … and workforce pressures … as private providers expand in the region.

In Melbourne’s outer east … Knox City Council is pushing the Victorian Government to tighten the rules around rooming houses … and to fund better oversight.

Council says rooming houses are a key part of the housing system … often used by vulnerable residents … but regulation is spread across multiple agencies.

A Council resolution calls for stronger minimum standards … tougher enforcement and penalties … and more regular inspections.

Knox also wants planning reforms … so all rooming houses require a permit … with stronger community consultation… state funded regional managers… and more support for compliance and wrap around services.

Hume City Council is moving to revive a long running push for a local university campus … arguing the area is being left behind.

Councillor Naim Kurt says just one in five Hume residents has an undergraduate degree … well below the Greater Melbourne average.

The Star Weekly reported that the Council will write to La Trobe University … Melbourne Polytechnic … and the University of Melbourne … seeking briefings on any plans for the north.

Central Goldfields Shire Council says it needs urgent help to ensure the survival of Maryborough’s Princes Park Grandstand.

The heritage listed grandstand, built in 1895, is believed to be the first brick grandstand in country Victoria.

Council is asking the Victorian Government for eight million dollars … to conserve the structure and modernise the downstairs change rooms and canteen.

Mayor Ben Green says the project is ready to move into detailed design and construction … with five hundred and fifty thousand already committed for changerooms.

Victorian Briefs

Whittlesea Council has picked a preferred site for a new Youth Hub in South Morang.

The hub would sit at the Civic Centre South site … near public transport and the main entry off Ferres Boulevard … and would anchor a broader “hub and spoke” model of youth spaces across the municipality.

Council will set aside up to six million dollars in future budgets … and is seeking state funding.

Central Goldfields Shire Council says its draft 2026/27 budget is looking to save three point two million dollars … as rate capping and costs squeeze the council.

Chief executive Peter Harriott says the aim is to avoid an ongoing deficit … even if it means reducing services.

A small park in Yarragon has a new name.

Baw Baw Shire Council has officially renamed Rollo Street Park as Angela Malacarne Park … honouring a teacher who spent nearly four decades at Yarragon Primary School.

Mayor Councillor Kate Wilson says council sought a rare exemption to commemorative naming rules … and community consultation showed strong support.

NSW Report

In Warren, in western New South Wales … a run of break ins and vehicle thefts has sparked a joint meeting between council and police.

Mayor Greg Whiteley says residents have been unsettled … and the shire is taking the concerns seriously. He met with NSW Police commanders this week … who outlined current investigations and new initiatives aimed at youth related offending.

The mayor says many incidents appear opportunistic … and is urging locals to lock cars and secure homes … even when they are at home.

General Manager Gary Woodman says the discussions were constructive … and the shire will stay engaged for the long haul.

The Country Mayors Association of NSW says remote and rural councils are hearing from farmers … freight operators … tourism businesses … and civil contractors … all worried about diesel supply and soaring prices.

Chairman Mayor Rick Firman OAM says the group has joined the NSW Government’s Rural and Regional Diesel Fuel Security Roundtable … to press for practical solutions before the sowing season ramps up.

He says many towns have little public transport beyond the school bus … and the association is questioning why prices are spiking … if supply is supposedly adequate.

The fuel price spike is changing the way Kiama Council does business … with staff being directed to work from home wherever they can.

Council CEO Jane Stroud says the move is designed to keep costs down … services will continue as normal … and facilities will stay open during usual hours.

Staff who have access to a council vehicle … and can do their job remotely … will work from home to reduce operating expenses.

In Bega Valley … councillors have voted to stay with the Canberra Region Joint Organisation … as the NSW Government reviews whether the regional bodies should continue.

Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick says the CRJO has delivered practical projects … from waste and recycling programs … to disaster waste planning … electric vehicle trials and drought resilience work … all funded from outside council budgets.

The Mayor says joint advocacy helps regional councils be heard in Sydney … but he is urging the state to provide ongoing financial support … if it wants strong governance and real collaboration.

A five-storey hotel proposal in Wagga Wagga’s CBD is on pause … after the council was split on whether to defer the decision, according to Region Riverina.

The plan is for a thirty one room development on Peter Street.

The sticking point is car parking … with the applicant seeking to cut at least two spaces … arguing nearby public parking is enough.

A resident also says the design ignores rules intended to protect the street’s heritage character.

Councillor Richard Foley pushed for more time … and Mayor Dallas Tout used a casting vote to defer the matter.

In Balranald … the shire council has formally opposed federal water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan … warning it could hollow out agricultural towns.

Mayor Louie Zaffina says the strategy risks long term economic damage … because local jobs and businesses rely on reliable water for horticulture, rice and cotton.

The BackCountry Bulletin reported that he is urging governments to shift from demand reduction … toward investing in new water sources and infrastructure … that can meet environmental goals without sacrificing communities.

Council says it will keep pressing state and federal leaders … before the next stage of the Basin Plan review is locked in.

NSW Briefs:

In Byron Bay … a dog owner has been convicted and fined five thousand dollars … after Byron Shire Council prosecuted two breaches linked to a menacing dog.

The owner pleaded guilty … and was also fined for failing to take reasonable steps to stop the dog escaping … with the court ordering council costs on top.

Shoalhaven is among the first regions to offer shrouded cremation.

It follows a change to state law … and a new roller system designed by council staff … so a person can be cremated wrapped in linen or cotton … without a traditional coffin.

The Council says the goal is a respectful service … that matches family wishes … while making the process safer and more sustainable.

Dubbo Council has asked staff to look at new road pavement materials that could make streets last longer and cut environmental impacts.

The council will consider trialling alternative pavement technologies in future road projects.

Queensland Report

Redland City Council is facing fresh questions about how it hired its chief executive … after another document leaked to the Brisbane Times pointed to concerns about the recruitment timeline.

The email reportedly shows Deputy Mayor Julie Talty asking Mayor Jos Mitchell and panel chair Micah Beaumont, if more time was needed to vet candidates … warning the process could be open to legal challenge.

The story follows a string of leaks alleging decisions were made behind closed doors … and the council has refused to release related emails through right to information.

A bruising vote inside Central Highlands Regional Council is heading straight for the ballot box.

Central Queensland Today reported on a meeting in Capella last week… where councillors voted five to four to replace Deputy Mayor Rachael Cruwys with Karen Newman.

Soon after … long time councillor Gai Sypher resigned on the spot … calling the council dysfunctional … and triggering a by election.

Mayor Janice Moriarty was among those backing the change in deputy mayor.

Cr Cruwys says experience should not be treated as a liability … and she will keep working for ratepayers. The drama played out with police present … and residents watching from the gallery.

Copper theft is leaving some Brisbane community facilities in the dark … and Crime Stoppers Queensland is asking locals to help stop it.

A new campaign, backed by Brisbane City Council, was launched at Murarrie Recreation Reserve … a site repeatedly targeted by thieves stripping wiring from lighting towers and irrigation systems.

Crime Stoppers CEO David Hansen says the real victims are children and families … when fields and school spaces are shut for weeks or months.

The campaign message is simple … if you see people around electrical cabinets or other copper infrastructure … and something feels off … report it.

Gladstone is getting a two billion dollar boost … with the Australian and Queensland governments backing future industry operations in Gladstone and Weipa.

Gladstone Regional Council says the funding is aimed at securing the long term viability of key industrial sites … protecting jobs … and keeping economic activity flowing through the region.

Mayor Matt Burnett says the announcement is a strong vote of confidence in Gladstone’s industrial base … and adds certainty for local workers, families and businesses linked to Rio Tinto.

Noosa Council says it is watching the fuel price spike closely … but for now … services are unchanged. CEO Larry Sengstock says planned work and day to day operations are continuing … while staff track fuel use … and stay in touch with suppliers and contractors.

Sengstock says the goal is to absorb the impact within the existing budget … and keep essential maintenance and community services running.

But he warns if prices stay high for an extended period … council may need to reassess how some services are delivered … to manage higher operating costs.

Tasmania

Glenorchy City Council is pushing back against a federal map redraw … that would move the city out of Clark and into the regional seat of Lyons.

Draft boundaries from the Australian Electoral Commission would shift more than a quarter of Tasmanian voters into new electorates.

Mayor Sue Hickey says the proposed redistribution doesn’t reflect the way Greater Hobart actually functions day to day… and that “Glenorchy belongs in Clark because that is where our community of interest lies economically, socially, and through daily travel and communication.”

The council’s CEO has filed a formal submission, with alternative boundary options. The submission is presented for endorsement by the Council at its March 30 meeting.

South Australia

In the state’s south east … the District Council of Grant has confirmed a new chief executive … choosing continuity after weeks of change.

Councillors have appointed Gary Button as CEO … after he stepped in as Acting Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of Darryl Whicker in February.

Mayor Kylie Boston says Button has provided steady leadership … and will now focus on delivering the council’s strategic plan … including major work like the Saleyards Transformation Project.

Button is due to officially start in the role today.

Western Australia

In the City of Nedlands – Leonie Browner has been elected as the new mayor with an absolute majority on first preferences. She received 3423 first preference votes, more than 2,000 votes ahead of the nearest of her two rivals for the position.

Ms Browner describes herself as having two decades of senior experience across government, community and private sectors, including working in Treasury, Premier & Cabinet, the Auditor General’s Office and the Economic Regulation Authority.

She will be joined by four women and two men elected to the fill the six councillor positions. The election was called after the council was removed by the Local Government Minister last year, and replaced with Commissioners.

At Port Hedland, Jacinta Behrend has been successful in the election for mayor, ahead of a field containing some former mayors, including the most recent mayor Peter Carter, who resigned last year.

More than half of the councillors resigned triggering a crisis, and action from the minister to replace the council with three commissioners.

Eight councillors have also been elected – four men and four women.

In the Shire of Boyup Brook – Helen Hack and John Matthews elected to fill two vacancies on the council. A field of five candidates contested the positions.

The City of Melville will have a new face around the Council table after an Extraordinary Election last week.

Michael McGoldrick, a former Citizen of the Year, was successful in the ballot, and will be sworn in on Tuesday evening.

Melville was one of 14 local governments having extraordinary elections on Thursday.

Another is the City of Joondalup, where Bettina Gould was elected to North-Central Ward from a field of seven candidates.

The electoral commission has published all of those results now on its website.

Global Report

UK:

Oxford is about to make a quiet piece of history … with Councillor Chewe Munkonge selected as the city’s next Lord Mayor … the first Black person to hold the ceremonial post.

The council says the role can involve more than three hundred civic engagements a year … from Remembrance events to school visits and community fundraisers.

Cllr Munkonge will be sworn in at the mayor making ceremony at Oxford Town Hall in May … subject to re-election.

He says the appointment is a personal and civic milestone… and he intends to use the position to champion local communities.

A missed council tax payment can trigger a scary letter … and StepChange says some councils are making it worse by raising the threat of prison right away.

BBC News reported that the debt charity wants imprisonment for council tax arrears scrapped … and calls for clearer, more supportive wording as bills rise again in April.

It says jail is used only in England … and is extremely rare … with just four people imprisoned since 2020.

StepChange argues warnings about enforcement can push people to disengage … even when they need help.

South Tyneside councillors are set to lose their routine right to travel first class on the train … after more than fifty first class trips last year cost the council over ten thousand pounds.

BBC News reports that a committee has backed a rule change … requiring elected members to choose the cheapest fare … with upgrades only allowed if they are cheaper … or if a councillor pays the difference.

The proposal goes to the council’s annual meeting on May nineteenth.

USA:

A major report released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week has highlighted a significant fiscal and planning challenge for local governments.

Population growth slowed in nearly 80% of the 2,066 counties that had previously been growing.

The steepest declines were noted in border regions, specifically Laredo (TX), Yuma (AZ), and El Centro (CA).

Large counties, particularly those in the New York metro area, are seeing their population growth diminish or turn negative due to a drop in international migration and residents moving to other parts of the country.

New York City Council has passed the “Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act.”

It mandates that the NYPD develop and publicly post response plans for protests near sensitive locations.

The council also launched new “Budget Dashboards” to increase transparency, allowing residents to track city spending through 2027 in a more accessible visual format.

CANADA:

In Winnipeg … councillors say they are frustrated after Russ Wyatt appeared at City Hall for the monthly council meeting … a day after he was charged with allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a man.

Mayor Scott Gillingham urged Wyatt to step away from council while the matter proceeds … calling his presence a distraction.

Several councillors echoed that view … and one even turned her back when Wyatt spoke … as a silent protest, according toCTV News.

The case has renewed calls to review Manitoba’s rules … so councils can deal more clearly with serious criminal charges.

The City of Hamilton, Ontario is being fined after a decades-long sewage leak into the city’s harbour … a case that highlights how old infrastructure errors can quietly damage waterways.

According to CBC News, a court has heard a cross-connection in a combined sewer system sent an estimated three hundred and thirty seven million litres into Hamilton Harbour over about twenty six years … only discovered in 2022 when staff reviewed older inspection video.

The city says it stopped the discharge immediately with vacuum trucks … then repaired the pipe within a day. The court ordered a six hundred thousand dollar fine … plus eighty thousand dollars to a local restoration charity.

In Niagara on the Lake … the council is moving to shrink itself ahead of this year’s municipal election.

Councillors have voted to ask Ontario to cut two seats … taking the chamber from eight councillors plus Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa … down to six plus the mayor.

Four local councils in the Niagara have passed formal resolutions this month to voluntarily reduce the size of their own councils.

The Council says it is demonstrating that Niagara’s communities are ready to lead reform without waiting for direction from above.

That comes after Premier Doug Ford said last month that any governance changes in Niagara must come from Niagara, by Niagara, with the support of the majority of mayors and elected officials.

NZ:

Wellington City Council has confirmed its draft 2026/27 Annual Plan for public consultation.

In a major shift, the council proposed a 7.4% rates increase, a sharp reduction from the originally planned 12.7%. Mayor Andrew Little cited “rates affordability” as the primary driver following clear feedback from the community.

To achieve this, the council is proposing a new rate for short-term accommodation — set at 2.6 times the general rate for properties available more than 60 days a year—and increasing fees for cremations, marinas, and swimming pools.

A major administrative change was also confirmed: from July 2026, water charges will be removed from general rates and billed separately by a new entity.

A report released last week by Infrastructure New Zealand has sparked debate among local leaders.

It warns that NZ has an “infrastructure discipline problem,” having prioritised new builds over the maintenance of existing assets—a sentiment echoed by several regional mayors facing “set-and-forget” legacy issues.

And local governments in NZ will play a key role in a major infrastructure rollout, with $52.7 million in government-backed loans helping companies like ChargeNet install 1,700 new EV charging points across regional and urban council areas by 2030.