In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• The number of councillors to be cut in Tasmania, as the government unveils new sector reforms
• A man fined for throwing coffee at a Victorian Council CEO
• Geelong council under fire for considering the closure of leisure centre creches
• A new report places council’s insurance claims processes under the microscope
• A Council cyber attack heads to court, but will the perpetrators face justice?
• A community gift turns into a legal investigation for a NSW Council
• Councils unite to push for high speed rail
• A new councillor for Cessnock, and a new deputy mayor in the Whitsundays
• and calls for a Tasmanian council to placed under administration

Plus as we mark five years of the Local Government News Roundup, I’m joined by some special guests to talk about how we got here, and where we’re going next.

And we introduce a new Roundup Flashback segment – highlighting some of the stories making local government news in years gone by.

Victorian Report

Hepburn Shire Council announced on Friday that a community member who threw coffee at its chief executive has pleaded guilty to unlawful assault in the Ballarat Magistrates Court … receiving a fine and a good behaviour bond.

The Council says the outcome shows authorities are taking abusive behaviour seriously … and it wants stronger protections for councils.

It is urging the Victorian Government to include local government in Workplace Protection Orders … and is calling on the Federal Government to boost the eSafety Commissioner’s powers … to respond to coordinated online abuse.

In Greater Geelong … the council is considering closing creches at four leisure centres … a move unions say could affect 26 jobs … and leave families without a key support.

The ASU is warning that permanent childcare roles could be folded into generic positions, according to the Geelong Advertiser… and Local MPs Ella George, Christine Couzens and Alison Marchant want the service kept.

They say it supports health and wellbeing … especially for women. The Council says each visit is subsidised by about 35 dollars … and it is reviewing the most effective way to support community health and participation.

Bass Coast Shire Council has voted to start removing deteriorating dust suppression seals from 30 roads … affecting more than 570 properties.

The South Gippsland Sentinel Times reported that the council has endorsed a draft removal policy for consultation … open until April fifteenth … after a previous attempt was shelved amid public backlash.

An independent audit found the seals … trialled between 2005 and 2007 … are now at end of life and cannot be maintained.

Under the draft plan … removals would begin in 2027 … with owners able to keep a sealed surface only if every household agrees and pays a one-off four thousand dollars.

Mansfield Shire Council says a Victorian parliamentary inquiry has found the State Government’s public engagement framework has not been applied consistently … and that some recent consultations have fallen short of best practice.

The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee made sixty four findings and twenty eight recommendations … including calls for genuine opportunities to participate … and for non-disclosure agreements to be used only when there is a real need.

Mansfield Mayor Steve Rabie says consultation cannot be tokenistic … and argues there was no meaningful engagement on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Levy or statewide planning reforms.

A Victorian Ombudsman investigation into the outsourcing of “under-excess” small claims has revealed systemic issues in how these matters are managed across Victorian councils.

The report highlights that more than half of the state’s 79 councils use third-party contractors for this function.

Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath says the characterisation of contractors as independent is problematic:

“Saying that they’re independent leads some people to believe that the decision on the claim was impartial by someone whose commercial interests sort of didn’t align with whether the council thought they were doing a good job. And it means that when the claimant would get the decision, they may not view it with sufficient skepticism. They may have thought, well, this is an independent body. That’s OK. The claim must be the decision must be really fairly handled.”

The Ombudsman also found that many councils don’t record denied claims or dissatisfied claimants as ‘formal complaints.”

“It denies procedural finesse and review rights. The central protection in the Local Government Act is that decisions must be made fairly and on the merits and with the affected person being given an opportunity to be heard in that process. We documented multiple cases where claimants were either clearly distressed or dissatisfied, that councils had failed to acknowledge that this was a complaint in part and that no review option was explained or offered.”

There are four recommendations in the report that the Ombudsman says all councils should consider in relation to their claims management practices.

The report was tabled in Parliament last week, and is available to download on the Ombudsman’s website. And you can watch the full interview with Marlo Baragwanath on this week’s episode of VLGA Connect.

Victorian Briefs

Frankston is turning its waterfront into an open air gallery … with more than four hundred tonnes of sand set to become an enchanted realm of castles, dragons and mythical creatures.

The Australian Sand Sculpting Championships will run from March twenty eight to April twenty six. Frankston Mayor Cr Sue Baker says the refreshed format should boost visitation … support local traders … and showcase the city at its best.

In Moyne Shire … council is turning empty rooms into working studios … with a new Creative Residencies pilot for local artists.

It will offer no cost, non residential space across four council sites.

Mayor Councillor Jordan Lockett says community consultation found affordable workspace was a major barrier … and this program is a practical way to remove it … while keeping venues available for community use.

Roundup Flashback – 8th March 2021, episode #1

Guest Interview: Kathryn Arndt, Victorian Local Governance Association

NSW Report

A cyber attack on Fairfield City Council is in the courts … after hackers allegedly stole sensitive files and demanded a payout.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the council’s servers were encrypted with ransomware … and the stolen material includes personal and financial details of ratepayers … plus information about councillors and staff.

The breach happened last October … the council refused to pay the ransom, and has since won a Supreme Court injunction … banning the unknown attackers from publishing or using the data. The court also allowed council to serve legal documents by posting a secure link into the ransom chatroom. The big question now … is how enforcement can be carried out… with the hackers believed to be overseas.

In Muswellbrook … a dispute over a community gift is now turning into a legal investigation.

Power FM reported that Muswellbrook Shire Council is looking into the sale of land and facilities that were gifted to the Richard Gill School … after the school merged with Melos Education Group.

The council says parents asked the school to return the land … or sign an agreement setting out what would happen if the venture failed … but the school declined.

The land was intended to support music and STEM education … tied to Richard Gill’s legacy. Council says it has written to Melos seeking assurances … and has hired an independent law firm to examine the sale.

Meanwhile, Muswellbrook Council is seeking feedback via SurveyMonkey on a proposed half-day public holiday to coincide with the Muswellbrook Mayor’s Cup on 3rd November.

It says the holiday would support local business, and ensure the community can come together to celebrate.

The push for high-speed rail in NSW is shifting from vision … to lobbying, according to Coast Community News.

Central Coast Council has teamed up with Lake Macquarie Council … to take a joint motion to the National General Assembly of Local Government in June … urging Canberra to progress the Newcastle-to-Sydney high-speed rail route.

Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna says the councils are backing the same motion … so their message is harder to ignore.

McKinna says a first stage linking Newcastle and Sydney … via Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast … could change how people commute … and open up jobs, housing, education and tourism … while helping manage population growth.

A new councillor is joining Cessnock City Council … after a countback of votes from the 2024 election.

Fatmata Bangura has been sworn in to represent Ward B … filling the vacancy left by Chris Madden’s resignation in January.

Cessnock City Mayor Daniel Watton welcomed Councillor Bangura … and thanked Mr Madden for his service.

In Deniliquin, Edward River Council has acknowledged community frustration after a major rain event earlier this month.

On March 18th, a short but intense downpour triggered flash flooding across parts of the town.

Mayor Councillor Ashley Hall says unofficial reports show some areas received far more rain than Bureau of Meteorology readings captured.

Council crews were on the ground through the night … managing road closures and monitoring high-risk areas, and CEO Jack Bond says the event has highlighted where improvement is needed.

Council is progressing a detailed Overland Flood Flow Study … and is inviting residents to share their experiences at a drop-in session on next week.

Food waste is about to get a new bin in Newcastle and Port Stephens … with the councils teaming up early to cut costs and keep organics out of landfill.

They have issued a joint tender for a private facility to process food and garden organics … ahead of a planned kerbside FOGO rollout in mid twenty twenty seven.

Albury City Council has prepared a new Urban Forest Strategy… with a target of 30 per cent tree canopy cover by 2050.

Under the plan, it would lift annual plantings from about two thousand trees to more than six thousand a year over the next decade.

The plan drew 31 public submissions … most in support … and council will now set up an implementation working group to map costs and next steps.

In the Bega Valley … a tiny insect is being put to work against a prickly problem.

Council biosecurity staff say early releases of cochineal … a sap-feeding insect … are weakening infestations of Tiger Pear cactus … a high-risk weed that forms dense thickets and can injure people, pets and livestock.

The Council’s Biosecurity and Invasive Species Coordinator Jamie Dixon-Keay says insects raised in council’s glasshouse … and first released on a Millingandi property last year … have already spread through the patch … and helped drive a significant decline.

The council hopes to expand the colony to nearby sites … and is urging residents to call for identification and advice.

NSW Briefs:

Goulburn Mulwaree Council has launched a brochure called Our Heritage – Our Shared Responsibility … setting out what owners and industry professionals need to know about caring for heritage properties.

It covers development and maintenance responsibilities … and points people to support … including Council’s free Heritage Advisory Service.

Byron Shire Council has taken its first step in electrifying its workforce fleet … adding five new electric vehicles with help from a thirty one thousand dollar NSW Government Kickstart grant.

The Council says it marks the start of a planned phase out of petrol vehicles … aimed at cutting emissions and running costs.

And in Canberra, there’s a new electric bike and scooter provider. The ACT Government has chosen Lime to run its shared mobility scheme. They’ll take over from Neuron in April, under a three year permit.

Guest Interview: Jaymes Rath, Rath Engineering Development

Queensland Report

Whitsunday Regional Council has a new second-in-command following a leadership shakeup that laid bare internal divisions.

In a four-to-three vote, councillors appointed Division 6 representative and former council CEO John Finlay as Deputy Mayor.

The Courier Mail reported that the vote follows the shock resignation of Michelle Wright, who stepped down claiming she could no longer support the council’s current direction.

Accepting the role, Cr Finlay called for “unity” in the chamber. Cr Wright, meanwhile, says she will remain on the council to serve her constituents, but noted that integrity meant refusing to hold a title for “status” alone.

Redland City Council says an indoor sports facility is a step closer … with work now under way on a business case for a preferred site.

The location will stay confidential while investigations continue … and council decides whether to proceed.

Mayor Jos Mitchell says the business case will test viability … and explore funding options … including state and federal support … or a public private partnership.

Noosa Council is cutting its four meeting cycle down to two each month from May.

The smaller committee meetings will go … leaving a General Committee and an Ordinary Meeting … both with the full council present.

Mayor Frank Wilkie says the aim is to make debate easier for the public to follow … while reducing the time staff and councillors spend in the chamber.

The new format will be reviewed after 12 months.

Dog attacks are on the rise in Lockyer Valley, and the council says prevention is a shared responsibility.

Since January … it has responded to 13 significant attacks … with nine involving unregistered dogs.

Council warns breaches can bring on-the-spot fines … and in serious cases court action … with some dogs declared dangerous or menacing and placed under strict controls.

The Council has als refreshed its Disaster Dashboard … adding a dedicated page for flood cameras so residents and emergency services can check conditions in real time.

The chair of the Local Disaster Management Group … Mayor Tanya Milligan … says the aim is to help people make safer decisions … and to answer the question councils hear again and again during floods … are the roads closed?

The update also adds quicker links to local river height gauges … so users can reach live plots without scrolling.

Tasmania

The Tasmanian government is moving to trim the ranks of local councillors.

Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent announced on Friday that the number of councillors statewide will be cut by fifty.

Under the plan, large city councils will be capped at nine members, while smaller regional areas will drop to seven.

The move also includes a boost to councillor allowances—intended to reflect the growing complexity of the job without increasing the total cost to taxpayers.

The changes are set to take effect ahead of the October 2026 local elections.

A push is growing for West Coast Council to be put into administration.

The Australian Services Union says the council is unsafe and unstable … and has asked Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent to suspend councillors and appoint a commissioner, according to a report from The Advocate.

The ASU says an independent safety audit found legal non‑compliance … including risk management, emergency planning and asbestos controls.

Council general manager Scott Riley has rejected the allegations … saying issues raised in the audit were addressed last year and claims about excessive staff turnover aren’t true.

Minister Kerry Vincent said he would like to see the council to bring an independent adviser for support on governance and operations.

South Australia

On Kangaroo Island … ABC News reports that councillors are weighing a bold idea to protect native wildlife … banning any new cats from coming to the island.

Mayor Michael Pengilly calls it a “last cat policy” … and says existing pets would not be taken away overnight.

Supporters argue even a handful of unregistered, undesexed cats could undo years of work … as the island tries to wipe out feral cats that prey on more than fifty native species.

The District Council of Yankalilla has formally received the resignation of Light Ward Councillor Tim Moffat, who has served since 2022.

Mayor Darryl Houston acknowledged Mr Moffat’s contribution, and wished him well for the future.

As the vacancy has occurred within 12 months of the next periodic election, a supplementary election will not be required.

Western Australia

The City of South Perth is stepping back from a push to tighten who can speak at council meetings … after a state appointed monitor moved in to review how the council runs its business.

PerthNow reported that Councillor Tim Houweling has withdrawn his proposal … saying the monitor will now look at the city’s standing orders and meeting processes.

Mayor Greg Milner thanked residents who made submissions and deputations … after 17 were lodged … most about the motion.

The City of Cockburn is putting a planned trade delegation to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore on pause … with councillors demanding a clearer itinerary and budget before any flights are booked.

PerthNow reported that the vote was tied … until Mayor Logan Howlett used a casting vote to defer the trip.

Councillor Chontelle Stone said the lack of detail … and the wider security situation … made now the wrong time for international travel.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Council has extended the appointment of its acting CEO Mal Osborne until late July.

It follows advice from the council’s substantive CEO, Andrew Brien, that he is unlikely to return to work before 6th April at the earliest.

Northern Territory:

The Northern Territory has passed a new package of local government reforms … designed to tighten integrity and strengthen how councils handle complaints.

The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory says the changes are overdue … but warns key details still need to be spelled out … especially around conflicts of interest … and what fees councils may face under the new code of conduct system.

The Minister, Steve Edgington, said the reforms bring a modern, independent integrity framework, tighter procurement rules and updated financial governance so councils can better serve their communities.

A high-profile signing ceremony for the hundred-million-dollar Barkly Regional Deal was scrapped at the eleventh hour last week, after a key minister failed to show.

Minister Steve Edgington defended his absence during a heated Question Time, dismissing claims he “cancelled” the event, according to NT News.

Mr Edgington argues the ceremony was prematurely scheduled during a parliamentary sitting, and says his signature is already on the original ten-year deal.

Global Report

UK:

In Essex … a long-running plan to scrap the county’s two-tier council system is turning into an election issue, according to BBC News.

Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage says carving the county into three to five unitary councils … and adding a mayor … risks weakening a shared sense of what Essex is.

The government says the shake-up would simplify services and save money.

But Essex County Council’s deputy leader Louise McKinlay says stopping reform now would waste years of cross-party work … and make it harder to meet growing pressures like social care.

The Telegraph has reported on how Leeds City Council’s HR chief John Ebo has emailed colleagues ahead of a Nigel Farage rally … suggesting “safe space” conversations through wellbeing network chats … and urging staff to be vigilant in the city centre.

Farage called it “woke” … and said nobody should fear open debate. The council says the messages were internal … and not formal communications … and that the event has no direct impact on its workforce.

Scotland’s first men’s World Cup in 28 years was meant to come with a nationwide day off … but Edinburgh has opted out, according to BBC News.

First Minister John Swinney set June 15 as a national holiday … timed just after Scotland’s opening match against Haiti in Boston.

City of Edinburgh Council voted it down … citing an estimated £350,000 cost … plus disruption to schools, childcare and essential services.

The vote was cross-party … 35 councillors against and 26 in favour.

A handful of councils have backed the holiday … but most have not … leaving the day off to contract terms and individual employers.

USA:

Before you can sell a home in parts of Thurston County, which is in Washington state … you may soon need to show how efficiently it uses energy.

Thurston County commissioners have approved an ordinance requiring a Home Energy Score … a professional assessment of things like insulation, heating and cooling, and hot water systems … before a property can be listed.

The county says it is part of its climate mitigation plan … and does not force upgrades or change property taxes. It’s believed to the first county in the US to introduce the requirement.

Critics warn the report could cost up to three hundred and fifty dollars … and local realtors say there may not be enough assessors to do the work. KOMO News reported that the rule would start in a year.

CANADA:

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wants the city to draw a hard line ahead of the 2026 World Cup … asking council to oppose any role for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Toronto.

CTV News reported that a motion is going to council this week which would direct staff not to support ICE … and would urge federal and provincial ministers to reject any deployment.

Mayor Chow says even a limited ICE presence could create fear … and undermine a global event meant to welcome the world.

NZ:

Marlborough’s mayor is warning Parliament not to unravel a planning system the region has just spent years building.

Mayor Nadine Taylor has told the Environment Select Committee the district must stay its own planning region … and that the new Marlborough Environment Plan should be treated as fully operative until at least twenty thirty three.

Mayor Taylor says the plan cost about ten million dollars … and gives wine, aquaculture, forestry and tourism investors the certainty they need. She says forcing a rewrite now would hit ratepayers … and create duplication by splitting land use and environmental approvals.

Closing Reflections, with a special guest appearance from Diane Kalen-Sukra.