Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Greater Shepparton’s Shane Sali relinquishes the mayoralty
• A push to ban smart glasses from a Melbourne councillor
• A call for stronger benefit sharing from data centres
• Blacktown confirmed as a creditor of a collapsed housing developer
• Glen Innes Severn to respond to a proposed PIO
• Mayoral elections continue in NSW
• Brisbane City challenged over a $30M rates bill
• and the reaction after a major shake-up of UK councils put on hold

and more local government news from across Australia and beyond.

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 today’s episode:

Victoria

Now to Victoria, where a mayor has stepped aside ahead of the state election, questions are being asked about mayoral leave entitlements, and councils are pushing back on state planning powers.

Greater Shepparton City Council‘s Cr Shane Sali has stepped down as Mayor, effective Monday, after four consecutive terms in the role since June twenty twenty-two.

Cr Sali says he will seek a leave of absence from Council, to apply until the results of November’s state election are declared.

Cr Sali won preselection for the Nationals in the seat of Shepparton on the weekend.

Deputy Mayor Cr Geoff Akers will carry out mayoral duties in the interim, with council required to hold a mayoral election within thirty days.

In Manningham, Mayor Cr Jim Grivas is continuing to receive his full mayoral allowance while on thirty-eight days’ leave to attend a family wedding, according to a report from Manningham Life.

Council has confirmed the leave — approved unanimously in July — runs until the twentieth of September, and that under the Local Government Act 2020, an approved leave of absence does not vacate the office of Mayor, so the allowance continues.

Deputy Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante is acting in the role, without additional allowance.

Yarra City Council could soon ban smart glasses from a range of public facilities amid concerns they may be used to secretly record children.

The council was last night set to consider a proposal from Cr Sophie Wade to stop people wearing smart glasses from entering council-owned leisure centres — including gyms and pools — as well as council-run childcare centres and playgrounds. Exemptions would apply for people using the technology as a disability aid.

The push comes as the Federal Government rejected calls for an import ban, leaving regulation largely to local councils.

If endorsed, Yarra would become the second municipality in Australia to introduce such a ban, after Brisbane City Council voted last week to outlaw smart glasses at public swimming pools.

Mansfield Shire Council has voted to formally oppose the state government’s Development Facilitation Program, which allows planning applications worth more than five million dollars to bypass council assessment and go directly to the Minister for Planning.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the pathway sidelines community consultation, and noted decisions made under the program cannot be appealed through V-CAT.

Council says the program shifts assessment costs onto ratepayers while removing local government’s role in major development decisions.

The Municipal Association of Victoria, with the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment, has urged stronger sustainability standards and community benefit-sharing arrangements for data centres, in a joint submission to the Senate Inquiry into Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres.

M-A-V President Cr Jennifer Anderson said councils want a more balanced approach to hosting the sector’s rapidly growing infrastructure footprint, given its water, energy and amenity impacts on host communities.

In Hume, red-lid bin collections may be disrupted this week as members of the Australian Services Union take protected industrial action from Wednesday to Friday.

According to the Northern Star Weekly, council has asked residents to leave bins out as usual, with catch-up collections completed by Sunday the thirteenth of September.

Greater Geelong Council will revoke 220 parking fines after a software error caused duplicate infringement numbers to be assigned, even though the fines were otherwise correctly issued.

The Geelong Advertiser reported that the Council has investigated the issue, put measures in place to prevent it happening again, and will contact affected drivers directly.

The City of Casey has released results of a four-month community engagement process feeding into its state election advocacy, with residents ranking the Clyde Rail Link, housing affordability, and the Clyde Road corridor upgrade as top priorities.

Mayor Cr Michelle Crowther said the feedback would underpin Council’s case for funding as election commitments are finalised.

Former Yarriambiack CEO Jessie Holmes has returned to Buloke Shire Council, where she previously spent nine years. Ms Holmes is the council’s new Executive Lead for Regional Growth and Strategic Advocacy, looking to drive investment, partnerships and stronger advocacy for key regional priorities.

New South Wales

Blacktown City Council has confirmed it registered as a creditor of collapsed developer Bathla, after the Girraween-based housing giant entered voluntary administration a fortnight ago, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Administrator Teneo has stood down two hundred and thirteen staff and suspended most construction projects. The council says infrastructure contributions are generally paid only once a development begins, but several works-in-kind projects, including a play space in Marsden Park, remain incomplete because ownership was never transferred back to council.

Randwick Council is reportedly set to have a Greens mayor later this month under a power-sharing arrangement with Labor, despite criticism from political opponents and a lobby group.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Greens councillor Clare Willington is expected to take over from Labor mayor Dylan Parker when councillors vote at the September 29 meeting — midway through the council’s four-year term. Labor holds six of the 15 seats, while the Greens hold three.

Liberal councillor Christie Hamilton says the deal is “predictable” and claims the Liberals were locked out of negotiations.

A petition backed by the group Randwick Voices Matter is calling for more transparency, arguing the agreement gives a minority party “outsized control”.

Glen Innes Severn Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday the tenth of September to respond to a proposed Performance Improvement Order from the New South Wales Government. The order relates to financial management and governance issues dating back to twenty twenty-two. Mayor Cr Margot Davis says the council remains focused on improving long-term financial sustainability and will provide a factual, evidence-based response ahead of the meeting.

Wagga Wagga Council has re-elected Cr Dallas Tout as mayor for a fourth term, defeating Cr Amelia Parkins six votes to three, according to the Daily Advertiser. Cr Georgie Davies was re-elected deputy mayor. Cr Tout, first elected mayor in twenty twenty-two, will have served six years as Wagga’s civic leader by the end of this two-year term.

Kiama Municipal Council has a new councillor, with Stan Jarrett elected in a tight contest, defeating fellow candidate Michael Bowden by two hundred and two votes after postal votes were finalised. Councillor-elect Jarrett has been sworn-in, ahead of a vote on mayor and deputy mayor for the remainder of the term. Mayor Cameron McDonald praised both candidates for a respectful campaign.

Shoalhaven City Council will hand over three sites in Milton, Ulladulla and Mollymook to allow the nine hundred and forty million dollar Milton-Ulladulla Bypass to proceed, according to Region Illawarra. The New South Wales Government will compulsorily acquire the land under transport legislation, as community land cannot otherwise be sold. Two sites are operational land and one a public reserve. The council will independently value the land and be reimbursed for legal and valuation costs, with private property acquisitions also expected.

Temora Shire Council has partnered with agricultural research group FarmLink to launch Yellow Bloom Road, a dedicated public walking trail designed to showcase the region’s flowering canola crops safely. The initiative allows visitors to experience the vibrant fields along Lake Centenary while protecting local agricultural land from trespassing and biosecurity risks.

City of Coffs Harbour Council has waived more than one hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars in developer charges to support a Legacy housing project in Albany Street, delivering twelve units of crisis and transitional accommodation for veteran families, due for completion in late twenty twenty-seven.

City of Wollongong Council is progressing a Microbat Management Plan for West Dapto Road, as planning continues on infrastructure works in the area.

Dungog Shire Council has adopted a new corporate brand, replacing a crest-style logo used since nineteen fifty-eight. Mayor Digby Rayward says the design reflects the shire’s rivers, hills and communities while positioning it as forward-focused. The rebrand will roll out gradually to limit costs.

Queensland

Now to Queensland, where a major ratepayer dispute over Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct, a state-wide crackdown on illegal dumping, and a light rail parking stoush on the Gold Coast .

The developers behind Brisbane’s three-point-six-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct have taken Brisbane City Council, the Queensland Valuer-General and the Department of Natural Resources to the Supreme Court, disputing more than thirty million dollars in rates.

Destination Brisbane Consortium argues it’s being charged the highest rates of any property in Queensland, including retrospective charges for years when the site was still under development on state-owned land. A company spokesman called the charges “unfair and unreasonable.”

Brisbane City Council deputy mayor Fiona Cunningham defended the rating structure, saying it “reflects the high service levels applicable in the location.”

A hearing has been listed for December to decide whether the consortium can proceed with a judicial review, ahead of any final hearing.

(Source: The Courier Mail)

The Queensland Government has announced thirteen-point-seven million dollars for a new Fighting Illegal Dumping Partnership Program, after councils cleaned up more than thirteen thousand tonnes of illegally dumped waste last financial year — the equivalent of twelve hundred garbage truck loads.

Ten councils will share the funding, including Toowoomba, Cairns, Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Somerset regional councils. Most will use the money to fund dedicated illegal dumping officers and expand night-time surveillance in known hotspots.

Townsville City Council will also receive a separate one-hundred-thousand-dollar pilot grant for increased patrols.

(Source: InDaily Qld; Townsville Bulletin)

Gold Coast councillors have voted down a bid to delay new three-hour parking restrictions along the light rail corridor between Mermaid Beach and Burleigh Heads, due to start next week.

Councillor Josh Martin, presenting a proposal from Councillor Nick Marshall, argued the restrictions were based on assumption rather than data. The motion was defeated three votes to four.

The restrictions, first flagged by Acting Mayor Mark Hammel in July to protect local amenity, will apply from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon, Monday to Friday.

(Source: Gold Coast Bulletin)

Banana Shire Council has launched a three-month trial of satellite-enabled monitoring technology to track flying fox roost activity, using thermal and acoustic sensors developed by Queensland company IoT Proprietary Limited.

No deterrent measures will be used during the initial phase, with Council instead focused on gathering data on roost behaviour and seasonal movement patterns. Mayor Councillor Nev Ferrier said any future response would depend on the evidence.

And Cairns Regional Council has topped the state for mobile phone recycling, with residents handing in almost two hundred and fifty-nine kilograms of old phones and accessories through MobileMuster in the past financial year — ahead of Moreton Bay and Rockhampton regional councils.

Over five years, Cairns residents have recycled more than a tonne of devices. With an estimated twenty-two million unused phones still sitting in Australian homes, Council is encouraging residents to drop off old devices at libraries and community facilities.

Tasmania

Turning to Tasmania this week, where a state-run planning portal has copped a unanimous vote of no confidence.

Tasmania’s flagship planning portal, PlanBuild, has come under renewed pressure after Hobart City Council voted unanimously to condemn the system as “unfit for purpose.”

ABC News reported that the council wants an indefinite waiver of its eighty-three-thousand-dollar annual fee until problems are resolved. Cr Louise Elliott, who moved the motion, said “everyone’s losing” under the current system.

The State Government says a remediation plan aims to resolve concerns by February twenty twenty-seven, with the project’s cost now sitting near twelve-point-eight million dollars — well above the original nine-point-seven million dollar budget.

To the state’s north-west, where Latrobe Council has unanimously asked the Planning Minister to declare a proposed A-I data centre at Wesley Vale a major project, arguing Tasmania’s planning scheme is too outdated to assess the technology.

Mayor Peter Freshney said the current approvals process was “not fit for purpose.” If declared a major project, the Firmus A-I proposal would bypass council assessment in favour of the State Planning Commission. The council has also asked for an E-P-A assessment of the site, according to The Mercury.

In Kingborough, the Mercury reports how Greens mayoral candidate Gideon Cordover has revived a long-debated push for an aquatic centre, calling next month’s council elections a “referendum” on the project.

The proposal has topped community consultation since twenty twenty-four, though a steering committee was paused in March after a grant application was rejected. Mr Cordover pointed to Glenorchy’s War Memorial Pool, due to reopen in October, as proof a facility could be viable.

And finally, the City of Clarence has hosted Tasmania’s Governor, Her Excellency Caroline Wells, and Doctor Rob Walters for an official visit, taking in Rosny Farm, the Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre and Seven Mile Beach Golf Club.

Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the visit showcased the “character, opportunities and community spirit” of Clarence.

City of Clarence Chief Executive Officer Ian Nelson with the Tasmanian Governor Her Excellency the Honourable Caroline Wells at Seven Mile Beach during a Vice-Regal visit to City of Clarence – Photo credit: Rosie Hastie Photography

South Australia

In Adelaide, a stoush has broken out over the City of Adelaide‘s community consultation on the state government’s MotoGP street circuit plans. Australian Hotels Association South Australia chief executive Anna Moeller has described the council’s survey as one-sided, saying it offers no opportunity for positive responses. Tourism Minister Emily Bourke echoed the criticism, calling it incredibly one-sided.

Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith has rejected the claims, saying the council has to balance the interests of hotels against retail, cafes, schools and emergency services. More from InDaily and Adelaide Now.

Also in Adelaide, the state government is pushing the City of Adelaide to loosen event rules at Adelaide Oval’s Village Green. Adelaide Now reports that Planning Minister Nick Champion has backed a request from Adelaide Oval management to lift the fifteen-thousand person attendance cap, allow multi-day events, and scrap the rule requiring sound equipment to face south towards the city.

Councillors voted the request down last November but was set to reconsider the matter, including whether to consult the public, at a meeting last night.

The City of Onkaparinga has responded to community concerns about erosion and construction debris along the cliff and shared-use path at Port Noarlunga South.

Council confirmed the erosion, near the Esplanade opposite Eliza Street, has stabilised and is not currently progressing towards the path.

A project is already underway to redesign stormwater discharge to reduce further erosion, and council says it is exploring options to remove the damaged pipe and other debris exposed by the washout.

Western Australia

The Shire of Harvey has become one of just two regional local governments in Western Australia, and one of nine councils statewide, to have a Reconciliation Action Plan endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. Shire President Michelle Campbell said the plan would increase engagement with Aboriginal suppliers and Noongar Elders, with a locally commissioned artwork giving the plan its identity. Temporary Chief Executive Officer Tony Nottle described the REFLECT RAP as the Shire’s first step in a longer reconciliation journey.

The City of Joondalup has unanimously endorsed a staged approach to the twenty-nine-point-four million dollar redevelopment of Heathridge Park, allowing detailed design to begin on the eighteen million dollar first stage. Only ten million dollars of the total project is currently funded, and council has directed staff to pursue additional funding sources. Mayor Daniel Kingston said the staged approach kept the project moving while managing costs. Construction on stage one is targeted for mid-twenty twenty-seven, with all four stages due for completion by late twenty-thirty.

The City of Canning‘s Leisureplex and Swim School teams have won seven awards across two aquatic industry programs in a single week, including Swim School of the Year at the twenty twenty-six W-A Aquatic and Recreation Industry Awards. Mayor Patrick Hall congratulated staff, saying the results reflected the team’s commitment to the Canning community.

International

Turning now to international local government news, starting in the United Kingdom, where a major shake-up of council structures has been put on hold.

The British government has withdrawn or paused local government reorganisation decisions across eighteen council areas — including Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk — after new legal advice raised concerns about the process. Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner told Parliament she needed to be satisfied the process was, quote, “robust,” and that it still matched the priorities of the new administration under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Reorganisation in Surrey, where new unitary council elections were already held in May, will proceed unaffected, and English local elections in May twenty twenty-seven will go ahead on existing council boundaries.

The pause follows judicial review challenges from Reform-U-K-led councils in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and from the Conservative-led Hampshire County Council. The Local Government Association said the reversal had caused, quote, “significant uncertainty,” after councils invested scarce money and time preparing for the change. Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, described the process as risking becoming a, quote, “colossal white elephant.” (Source: BBC; commentary via LGIU)

Meanwhile, the financial legacy of an earlier council collapse continues to play out. The British government has begun repaying five hundred million pounds of Woking Borough Council’s historic debt, ahead of the authority’s planned absorption into the new West Surrey Council in April twenty twenty-seven. Woking declared itself effectively bankrupt in twenty twenty-three. (Source: BBC)

And in Sussex, Brighton and Hove City Council is investigating why hundreds of newly planted trees died along the Hove seafront, as part of a thirteen-point-seven million pound beach park redevelopment. (Source: BBC)

Across the Tasman, Wellington City Council has cut forty-seven staff roles in a drive to save more than four million dollars. Acting chief executive Anna Calver confirmed one-hundred-and-forty-one roles have been disestablished, offset by ninety-four newly created positions, with cuts concentrated in the council’s creative capital, economic development, planning and property teams. The Public Service Association’s national secretary, Duane Leo, criticised the move, calling it, quote, “a sad waste to cut experienced staff.” He also flagged that a Deloitte staffing report used to help justify the changes was later found to contain outdated data and A-I generated content. (Source: RNZ)

Separately, Wellington City Council has launched a new public dashboard, Pōneke Travel Insights, giving residents and planners access to walking, cycling and vehicle movement data drawn from the city’s transport sensor network, as part of a broader push toward open data.

And in the United States, Las Vegas has opened a new bus rapid transit line along a seven-point-three mile corridor linking downtown, the medical district, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and Harry Reid International Airport. The three-hundred-and-seventy-eight million dollar project, delivered by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, uses sixty-foot zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell buses running every twelve minutes, with dedicated lanes expected to cut travel times by around twenty per cent. The corridor also includes widened footpaths and new street trees aimed at reducing urban heat, with the commission forecasting daily ridership will grow to thirteen thousand by twenty-forty. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)