Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Casey’s mayor to step down to contest the state election
• The Victorian opposition says it will force weekly rubbish collections on Councils
• The Mayor of Shoalhaven takes leave after a serious health diagnosis
• A Sydney council looking to make English signage compulsory in local businesses
• A leaked report uncovers decades of water and sewerage neglect at Redland Council
• The death of a serving councillor in Tasmania
• A controversial Burnside councillor resigns ahead of a damning report finding
• and concerns that remuneration caps have caused a mass CEO exodus in South Australia

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.

Listen to this episode now:

Stories in episode #627:

Victoria

Casey City Council will elect a new mayor next week, after Cr Stefan Koomen confirmed he’ll step down from the role to contest the Victorian state election.

Cr Koomen will remain a councillor for Waratah Ward while campaigning for the state seat of Narre Warren South.

He will step aside as mayor from 4 pm next Tuesday, with a special council meeting set to elect his successor the same day.

The Victorian Coalition says it will force all local councils to return to weekly general rubbish collections if it wins November’s state election.

Opposition Leader Jess Wilson labelled current fortnightly red-bin schedules “disgusting,” pointing to overflowing bins in suburbs that have made the switch.

Thirty-three councils currently collect general waste fortnightly to encourage food and organic recycling. But Ms Wilson says weekly rubbish pickup is an essential service, promising the Opposition will cap waste fees so ratepayers won’t swallow the cost.

Labor says shifting food waste away from landfill reduces pollution and saves council rates in the long run.

Wyndham City Council has officially terminated its development agreement with the Western Melbourne Group for the Wyndham Stadium Precinct following unresolved contractual defaults and insolvency issues.

The decision by council comes immediately after the Australian Professional Leagues cancelled Western United’s club participation agreement.

The Council confirmed that all land earmarked for the precinct remains under council ownership as future options for the site remain under consideration.

Baw Baw Shire Council has appointed two new Directors as part of a major organisational restructure under new CEO Tilla Buden.

The new structure took effect earlier this month, reducing the Executive Leadership Team from five Directors to three, across new directorates covering Infrastructure and Environment Services, Customer and Corporate Services, and Community and Planning Services.

Nathan Kearsley has been named Director of Customer and Corporate Services, joining from Latrobe City Council. Jill Colson will lead Infrastructure and Environment Services, after most recently serving at Bayside City Council.

Recruitment is still underway for the Director of Community and Planning Services role.

From the press this week:

The Knox Leader reports that Knox City Council has endorsed a draft public toilet policy proposing a $10.2 million overhaul over 10 years to address community complaints about poor hygiene, vandalism, and broken facilities.

The plan includes phasing out high-maintenance automated Exeloo units in favour of traditional toilet blocks and rolling out electronic door-locking systems across manually locked sites.

The Ballarat Courier reports on concerns raised by City of Ballarat councillors about an increase in hostile calls and online abuse, warning that targeted harassment is threatening workplace safety and public accessibility.

Mayor Tracey Hargreaves has highlighted the impact of gendered hostility on women in leadership, echoing broader research about rising workplace pressure on local representatives state-wide.

And from The Age, a report that Manningham Council in Melbourne’s north-east is considering compulsorily acquiring and demolishing up to seven homes in Doncaster, Doncaster East and Bulleen to create new “pocket parks” or extend existing reserves.

Some residents say they were blindsided, claiming they received only a brief letter in May, and have since seen property values on their rates notices fall.

The council says no final decision has been made, and a councillor vote has been delayed until later this year to allow more information and feedback.

A City of Greater Geelong senior executive has warned a Senate inquiry that Commonwealth aged care reforms and a $492,000 funding clawback are placing immense pressure on local community care delivery.

Writing in the Geelong Advertiser, executive director Anthony Basford highlighted reassessment delays of up to 12 months for vulnerable residents transitioning to the new Support at Home model.

The council is calling on the federal government to establish a clear transition roadmap and restore block funding to maintain entry-level aged care viability across local government.

Frankston City Council has installed Flyway, a wind-, water- and light-responsive public sculpture by Yu‑Fang Chi, on the iconic Frankston Pier. It’s the latest addition to the $4 million Frankston Regional Arts Trail.

The City of Casey has secured a $900,000 Commonwealth grant to trial three Victoria Police–operated mobile CCTV trailers over three years. Deakin University will independently evaluate their effectiveness to guide future community safety investment decisions.

Stonnington Council has endorsed a draft Civic Recognition Policy for public consultation to set a clear, inclusive framework for recognising significant events and causes—including a proposed civic recognition garden in Malvern costing $10,000–$15,000.

Councils in Melbourne’s inner north and the city’s south-east have launched a new national toolkit to help schools and local governments create safer, friendlier streets outside school gates.

Merri–bek and Kingston City Councils say the School Open Streets Guide and Toolkit for Australian Local Governments draws on five years of experience running temporary car-free zones during school drop-off and pick-up times.

They say trials around the country have led to more families walking and riding, with most reporting the streets feel safer — and many wanting the events held more often.

The toolkit outlines two models: a council-led approach for new programs, and a school-led option designed to be run regularly by parent volunteers.

New South Wales

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Patricia White is taking a temporary leave of absence following a serious health diagnosis.

CEO Andrew Constance said Deputy Mayor Peter Wilkins will step in to perform all official Mayoral duties, including chairing the August ordinary council meeting and the Finance and Infrastructure Review Panel.

The council has requested privacy for Mayor White and her family, while wishing her a full and speedy recovery.

Strathfield Council in Sydney’s inner west has passed a motion to make English compulsory on local business signage.

According to a report by Sydney Morning Herald, the policy requires all commercial displays to feature English text alongside any other language, aiming to ensure accessible communication across the local government area.

Neighbouring mayors in Liverpool and Fairfield have supported the cultural objective, according to news.com.au, but they question whether councils have the authority to enforce sign standards without state government planning guidance.

The Strathfield motion passed without the support of its own mayor, Benjamin Cai and one other councillor.

Muswellbrook Shire Council has pushed back against Newcastle City Council‘s call for a federal Climate Pollution Levy on fossil fuel exporters, arguing the proposal threatens regional economic stability.

Mayor Jeff Drayton warned that imposing additional financial burdens on the mining sector would harm communities and workers across the Hunter region who rely on the industry’s economic output.

While Newcastle and several non-mining councils want the levy to fund a National Climate Compensation Fund, Muswellbrook’s position is that regional energy-producing LGAs should not shoulder the economic risk of broader climate policies.

North Sydney Council has voted 6–3 to endorse a revised concept design for the $6.8 million Neutral Bay to Mosman cycleway project.

According to the North Sydney Sun, councillors rejected calls to defer the decision for updated traffic modelling and safety audits despite extensive resident opposition regarding parking losses and vehicle access.

The Council maintains that expanding active transport infrastructure is vital to meet state-mandated housing density targets. The 1.5-kilometre route will now proceed to detailed design and traffic committee review.

The City of Sydney has released initial designs for its $150 million Town Hall Square project, proposing a 4,500-square-metre civic space surrounded by native trees opposite Sydney Town Hall.

ABC News reported that demolition of seven council-acquired properties, including the Woolworths building block, is slated to begin in 2028 ahead of a planned 2031 completion date.

The development application will be open for public feedback in the coming months.

From the Border Mail: Albury City Council has approved a motion to investigate increasing developer contribution fees to a capped $30,000 per block, a move that could cut general fund debt by approximately $22 million over a ten-year period.

Greens councillor Geoff Hudson put forward the proposal as the council explores options to address its operational deficit alongside a potential special rate variation.

However, council executives cautioned that further review is required, including resolving state government classifications on whether key growth areas meet the required greenfield definitions.

Kiama Council is asking residents to report improper e-bike use after riders caused damage to local sports fields, cricket pitches, and athletics tracks by skidding and riding at high speeds.

Walgett Shire Council has secured $1 million through the state government’s Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to transform one of its busiest thoroughfares.

The project will deliver infrastructure upgrades along the Fox Street corridor to improve safety and accessibility, particularly for women, girls, and gender-diverse residents.

Blue Mountains City Council has also received a $1 million NSW Government grant through the Safer Cities: Her Way 2 program to upgrade lighting, signage, accessible paths, and public spaces around the Katoomba transport precinct.

Waverley Council General Manager Emily Scott has taken out the inaugural Sydney Mayor’s Cook-Off at Our Big Kitchen in Bondi, out-cooking other local civic leaders in a friendly culinary challenge.

The MasterChef-style competition brought together mayors and representatives from Waverley, Bayside, Georges River, and Burwood to raise awareness for community food relief efforts.

Competitors prepared dozens of portions of spaghetti for distribution to Sydneysiders in need.

Queensland

A leaked report has found Redland City Council neglected its water and sewerage network for up to two decades while diverting millions in dividends from its council-owned provider, City Water – reports the Brisbane Times.

The report says spending was based on past budgets, not actual need, with capital works repeatedly deferred. It estimates at least $35 million a year is needed for wastewater treatment plants, plus another $10 million annually to bring the network up to standard.

City Water reportedly spent just $14 million of a $27 million upkeep budget in 2024–25, while the council took up to 80 per cent of profits in dividends.

The Brisbane Times reported on a backlog of over 7,000 approved citizenship applicants at Brisbane City Council, which is leaving families facing long delays for compulsory citizenship ceremonies.

Some have been forced to choose between postponing urgent overseas travel or paying expensive resident return visa fees. The waitlist is the longest in Australia, according to the Home Affairs website.

South Burnett accommodation providers are calling on the region’s Mayor to “put locals first”, amid concerns over a proposed 424-person wind farm workforce camp at Kingaroy Airport.

The group says the Council’s engagement with the proposal — including providing landowner consent and authorising lease negotiations — has created the impression the decision was effectively made before meaningful community consultation.

Spokesperson Colin Buckley says they’re not opposed to renewable energy, but want projects of this scale to proceed only with genuine local support and minimal impact on existing businesses and residents.

Logan City Council has rejected Football Queensland’s seventy-five million dollar proposal for an elite soccer hub in Slacks Creek, reports MyCity Logan.

Mayor Jon Raven has questioned the tenure request, expressing concerns over under-utilised fields and restricted community access under existing arrangements.

The Council voted seven to five against the fifty-year lease extension and ordered an immediate performance audit into the peak body’s site compliance.

Rockhampton Regional Council says it has diverted nearly half of the region’s collected waste from landfill over the last year, recovering over 55,000 tonnes of material through its key recycling, recovery, and reuse initiatives.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council is trialling a polymer additive on half a road in Plainland to assess its ability to improve gravel road durability, suppress dust, and lower long-term maintenance costs.

Norfolk Island Regional Council has appointed its current Acting Deputy General Manager, Nicholas Mostardo, as Acting General Manager from the first of this month.

The Council says the move comes as it streamlines its Executive Leadership Team, with the Acting Deputy GM position being absorbed into the top role.

Outgoing Acting General Manager Scott Hackney, who took the position in August last year, returns to his substantive role as Manager Infrastructure Services , in line with legislation limiting acting appointments to 12 months.

Council estimates the leadership restructure will deliver savings of around 121-thousand dollars in the 2026–27 financial year.

Tasmania

Another council is coming to terms with the loss of a serving councillor.

Long serving Waratah-Wynyard Councillor and former Mayor, Kevin Hyland, has passed away.

Cr Hyland dedicated over two decades of public service to the North-West community, serving on council from 1999 to 2012, returning in 2014, and holding the role of Mayor between 2005 and 2010.

Council representatives expressed deep sadness this week, paying tribute to Cr Hyland’s extensive local knowledge, experience, and commitment to the region.

Launceston City Council has voted to accept more than $230,000 in Tasmanian Government grant funding towards a $298,000 dedicated commercial organic waste collection truck.

According to The Examiner, the service aims to help the council meet state and federal waste diversion targets while improving its bottom line by approximately $90,000 annually through reduced processing costs and carbon credits.

The motion passed despite opposition from Councillor Joe Pentridge, who cautioned that the project’s municipal co-contribution could lead to ongoing financial burdens for local ratepayers.

South Australia

City of Burnside Councillor Jane Davey has resigned, effective immediately, following a Behavioural Standards Panel finding that she engaged in a sustained pattern of misbehaviour over several years.

The Panel had ordered a public apology, a three-month suspension, and a complaint to South Australia’s Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Ratepayers have footed more than ninety-four thousand dollars managing the issue.

Despite the resignation, the Council will still consider the Panel’s report at its meeting on the eighteenth of August.

There are growing concerns across South Australia’s local government sector over chief executive resignations. The Messenger reported that industry bodies are pointing the finger at strict remuneration caps set by the Remuneration Tribunal.

According to a submission by the Local Government Association, salary caps have played a significant role in the exodus of 17 council chief executives over the past 18 months. LGA President Dr Heather Holmes-Ross warned that attracting and retaining experienced professionals to manage essential community infrastructure requires market-competitive pay.

While recent tribunal changes boosted salary limits by four per cent alongside an inflation adjustment, allowing Adelaide City Council’s top role to potentially reach $495,000, other regional and metropolitan councils face compulsory salary reductions of up to $90,000 by late 2027.

The LGA has threatened judicial review if existing contracts aren’t grandfathered. Tribunal officials maintain there is no direct evidence linking recent resignations to the revised pay frameworks.

Construction has officially begun on the 25 million dollar Marion Basketball Stadium, representing the largest sporting infrastructure investment in the City of Marion’s history.

Delivered in partnership with the Australian Government, and the South Adelaide Basketball Club, the four-court development will replace the municipality’s ageing Norfolk Road facility.

Construction is expected to be completed by late 2027, with full site tenancy set for early 2028.

Northern Territory

The City of Darwin has postponed its annual city-wide outdoor hard rubbish collection until May 2027 to prioritise ongoing municipal restoration works following Cyclone Fina

General verge collection is suspended to allow council resources to focus on essential restoration works.

To assist vulnerable community members ahead of the upcoming wet season, the council is providing a targeted pick-up service for eligible residents with mobility or accessibility limitations.

Western Australia

Perth’s City of Stirling was last night expected to consider a notice of motion to reclassify data centres as a prohibited land use under its local planning policy.

Councillor Suzanne Migdale put forward the motion, citing environmental risks, noise concerns, and heavy demand on power and water infrastructure as key threats to residential amenity.

According to WAtoday, if the council requests a formal report and proceeds with the amendment, Stirling could become the first local government in the nation to outright ban data centre developments.

The City of Fremantle has issued a community update addressing local concerns over tree removal required for the new Hilton Park junior oval.

Council confirmed that while 26 trees must be removed, 61 new native trees will be planted, resulting in a net increase to 718 trees across the precinct.

Ground remediation work to safely clear asbestos-containing material will also take place prior to construction commencing.

Western Australia Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn has defended updated Waste Authority guidelines that exclude items like pizza boxes and tea bags from green FOGO bins to tackle contamination.

ABC News reported the changes have drawn criticism from local councils over communication concerns and outdated bin signage, with the minister confirming responsibility for updating advice lies with local government.

The Shire of Boyup Brook has voted to wind down operations and lease out Rylington Park, a 596-hectare community farm donated for local agricultural research 41 years ago.

The council made the decision to manage financial risks and limit the ratepayer burden, opting to sell off livestock and machinery by early 2027 while retaining research trial commitments.

In light of some public backlash about the decision, the Shire has published a statement from David Farleigh, the grandson of the original donor, Eric Farleigh, in which he says he is satisfied the new management model will retain the original intent of the gift.

Dean Phillips has been appointed to the Shire of Manjimup Council as a Rural Ward Councillor through statutory backfill provisions, filling a vacant seat to serve until the 2027 election.

The City of Wanneroo is hosting its inaugural 24-Hour Swimathon in October, inviting individuals and teams of up to four to swim laps and raise funds for Telethon, supporting sick, vulnerable and disadvantaged children across Western Australia.

City of Cockburn is preparing Turtle Tracker volunteers for the 2026–27 snake-necked turtle nesting season across 10 local lakes. The program had a record 2025–26 season with 96 volunteers logging 2,815 hours and protecting 358 nests.

International

UK:

Local councils in England are set to gain expanded planning powers to restrict new vape and betting shops.

Under reforms announced by PM Andy Burnham, e-cigarette retailers will require formal planning permission, and statutory limits on gambling refusals will be removed.

The policy aims to provide local authorities with greater governance over town centre commercial precincts and help revitalise local high streets.

While councils across England struggle with a surge in illegal waste dumping—where national figures show over 1.2 million fly-tipping incidents reported annually—one local authority is bucking the national trend according to BBC News.

Milton Keynes City Council says fly-tipping across the city has dropped by nearly 27 percent over the last five years. Local leaders attribute the fall to targeted enforcement, community involvement, and collecting better evidence for prosecutions.

The council has now refreshed its strategy, introducing higher fines for large-scale dumping and new powers to seize vehicles involved in waste crimes.

Cambridge City Council has defended introducing a £1 charge for its newly redeveloped public toilets on Silver Street bridge, which feature electronic payment towers and three squat-style flushing facilities, according to BBC News.

Council leader Katie Thornburrow said the electronic fee structure aims to support six-hour daily attendant coverage for maintenance and safety, noting that public conveniences remain a non-statutory service.

The council plans to review the tariff structure within six to twelve months following public concern regarding accessibility and pricing.

A coroner has ruled that former Huddersfield mayor Cahal Burke died by suicide following his arrest, BBC News reports.

Burke, who represented the Lindley ward for over a decade, was suspended from the Liberal Democrats in March amid an investigation into an online sexual offence.

The 48-year-old was found unresponsive at his home days later, with the coroner concluding his cause of death was drug toxicity.

USA:

Albuquerque City Council has voted to place a charter amendment on the November ballot to remove the mayor’s sole power to appoint and dismiss the city attorney and city clerk, according to reporting by The Paper.

The proposed measure would establish an even joint selection committee between executive and legislative appointees, requiring a two-thirds council majority to confirm appointments.

The aim of the reform is reportedly to protect key municipal roles from political pressure, but the mayor’s office warns it could increase governance costs.

NZ:

New Zealand’s local government minister Simon Watts says he’s “pretty impressed” with the response to the local councils Head Start program.

RNZ reported that around 44 councils have submitted voluntary amalgamation plans ahead of last week’s deadline, while fewer than 20 councils did not submit.

Minister Watts expects some decisions on the proposals to be made before Parliament rises later this month.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour confirmed the government will draft counter-proposals for non-participating councils to ensure structural reform is legislated ahead of the 2028 local elections.

Christchurch City Council has appointed interim head Bede Carran as its permanent Chief Executive for a four-year term, from a field of more than 120 applicants.

Mr Carran, who previously led both Waimate and Timaru district councils, takes over the role permanently from 12 August.

Mayor Phil Mauger noted that the former chief financial officer brings steady leadership to help navigate ongoing sector reforms and local financial pressures.

Wellington City Council has acknowledged the passing of serving Councillor Tony Randle.

Councillor Randle was first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2025, and was widely known for his strong interest in transport and a detailed, evidence-based approach to public policy.

Mayor Andrew Little says Randle was committed to public service and “focus[ed] on substance over rhetoric,” while Chief Executive Matt Prosser says he was respected for the care and attention he brought to his work.

Council has extended condolences to Randle’s family and community, and says further information on how it will acknowledge his service will be provided in due course.