Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Proposed changes to Victoria’s rate capping framework off the table
• The council calling for a rethink on backpacker visa caps
• Yet another Council General Manager dismissed
• More turmoil at Liverpool
• Gold Coast workers reject the council’s latest pay offer
• A Hobart councillor ordered to undergo media training
• WA councils move on smart glasses
• and the council making it illegal to insult its officers

Plus Philip Joseph, Head of Digital Solutions at Symphony3, tells us about a new whitepaper, “Governing in the Age of Disruption”, a must-read for every Council CEO.

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.

Featured in today’s episode:

Victoria

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has reportedly abandoned plans to overhaul the local government rate-capping framework, shelving proposed changes that would have created exemptions for council staff wages, according to the Herald Sun.

The decision effectively keeps the cap set strictly at 2.75 per cent for the 2026–27 financial year to prevent cost-of-living increases for households.

While the policy provides certainty for ratepayers, sector leaders warn that maintaining the current cap continues to place severe operational pressure on municipal budgets statewide.

Corangamite Shire Council is urging the Federal Government to rethink proposed caps on backpacker visas, warning that reducing working holiday makers will hit local agriculture and tourism businesses during peak seasonal demand.

With regional unemployment at just 1.4%, Mayor Kate Makin says these workers are critical to filling vacancies and injecting hundreds of thousands of dollars directly into small town economies.

Bass Coast Shire Council is making an urgent plea to the Victorian State Government to introduce interim planning controls and protect the Western Port Woodlands from potential sand mining.

The region’s largest patch of remnant native vegetation remains exposed, even after the council committed $500,000 toward long-term biodiversity studies to safeguard threatened local species.

A joint council meeting will take place on October 7 as City of Whittlesea, Hume City Council, and Mitchell Shire Council unite to advocate for key regional development goals in Cloverton.

Local leaders are pressing state and federal governments to fund vital infrastructure for the booming northern growth corridor, including a dedicated community hospital and a $2.6 million federal grant-backed planning framework.

Mornington Peninsula Shire is calling on the Victorian State Government for a permanent, long-term solution to restore Portsea Front Beach, where temporary sandbag works currently restrict public access.

The demand gains urgency as the local community rallies behind saving the iconic coastal asset ahead of the upcoming November state election.

Are you a Mayor or Deputy Mayor?The VLGA’s 2026 Mayoral Leadership Program is happening Friday, December 4 – andplaces are filling fast.Hear from leading facilitators, strengthen your leadership skills and connect with Mayors andDeputy Mayors from across Victoria.Places are limited, so book now through the VLGA website.

New South Wales

Glen Innes Severn Council has terminated the contract of General Manager Bernard Smith, following a confidential session at its September Ordinary Meeting.

Riarna Sheridan has been appointed as Acting General Manager while the Council recruits an Interim G-M.

The decision comes as Council finalises its response to a threatened Performance Improvement Order from the Minister for Local Government.

Councillors have also re-elected Mayor Cr Margot Davis and Deputy Mayor Cr Carol Sparks.

There’s further turmoil at LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL after Deputy Mayor Peter Harle called for the suspension of Mayor Ned Mannoun and fellow councillor Peter Ristevski to save the local authority from administration.

The latest development comes amid ongoing infighting and allegations of misconduct, while Cr Ristevski also faces a court date over driving charges that carry a maximum fine of $5,500.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that an extraordinary meeting last week descended into chaos, with a number of councillors walking out in protest, before the election of deputy mayor could be conducted.

Bega Valley Shire Council has reportedly admitted to miscalculating an outstanding Land Use bill for the new Bega Police Station.

Power FM reported that the admission came in a briefing to councillors, revealing that the bill was reduced from an original 1-million dollars down to 368,000 dollars. The amended bill has now been paid in full by NSW Police.

Shoalhaven City Council has voted to pause plans to introduce paid parking for tourists in coastal hotspots like Mollymook Beach, Huskisson, and Hyams Beach.

Councillors have decided to push ahead with community consultation first, citing the need to gather feedback and fully understand costs before moving forward with any proposal.

Gunnedah Shire Council has re-elected Colleen Fuller as mayor and chosen Rob Hooke as deputy mayor for two-year term. The election was held by a show-of-hands vote, instead of a secret ballot, to accommodate an online-attending councillor.

Cr Jane Hunter has made history as the first female Mayor of Lockhart Shire Council after being elected by ordinary ballot at Monday’s meeting.

She will serve a two-year term alongside re-elected Deputy Mayor Cr Gail Driscoll, taking over leadership following Cr Peter Sharp’s two years in the top role.

Queensland

Gold Coast City Council workers have overwhelmingly rejected a revised 10.5 per cent wage offer, pushing instead for a 13.5 per cent pay rise over nearly three years as tensions grow over cost-of-living pressures and plans to privatise local pool management.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that unions have warned industrial action could follow once the current enterprise agreement expires next month.

The council maintains its revised offer delivers fair value for ratepayers and a pay increase starting next month.

Ipswich City Council has voted to scrap its multi-member division model and return to a system featuring 10 single-councillor divisions ahead of the 2028 elections.

The Courier Mail reported that the change had the support of Mayor Teresa Harding and fellow councillors, who feel the current arrangement creates overlapping workloads and blurs accountability for the region’s rapidly growing population.

Townsville City Council has officially opened the new $20 million Sooning Street Bridge, restoring a vital crossing over Gustav Creek 18 months after flood damage isolated parts of Magnetic Island.

Jointly funded by state and federal disaster recovery arrangements, the 38-metre disaster-resilient structure features upgraded fishways and a modern composite pedestrian bridge to safely reconnect local residents and visitors.

Tasmania

City of Hobart councillor John Kelly has been reprimanded and ordered to undergo media training after criticising council CEO Michael Stretton during a broadcast interview. A panel found the comments to be embarrassing and offensive to the CEO.

Cr Kelly described the process as a reason for the “decline of local government”, according to the Mercury.

He says code of conduct rules are gagging free speech and driving skilled professionals away from local government.

Latrobe Council has issued a notice to halt works on a proposed AI data centre project in Wesley Vale following concerns that activity at the site had exceeded its approved forestry plan.

The Council confirmed that developer Firmus has complied with requests to cease operations while waiting on a decision regarding the major proposal from state planning authorities.

South Australia

Adelaide councillor Patrick Maher has faced sharp criticism on radio station FIVEaa after refusing to support the lowering of CBD parking rates despite falling city foot traffic – saying there are state and federal rules to be followed.

Adelaide Now reported that the Council has since clarified that while state and federal competitive rules apply, there is no prohibition stopping the council from cutting prices to help attract visitors.

FLINDERS RANGES COUNCIL has successfully sold off 17 disused council-owned properties, raising funds that will go directly towards restoring and maintaining the area’s aging public buildings and community infrastructure.

Among the notable sales was the former Hawker CWA hall, which fetched about $140,000 and is set to be converted into a new community laundromat to service local residents and visiting tourists.

Western Australia

Concerns over covert recording using camera-equipped eyewear have led the City of Wanneroo to pass a motion tightening privacy rules on unauthorised photography and filming across its staffed community facilities.

The move follows similar measures by the City of Vincent, which became the first in WA to consider a ban, as well as the City of Brisbane in Queensland, and the City of Yarra in Melbourne.

TOWN OF BASSENDEAN Mayor Kathryn Hamilton has secured unanimous support at the WALGA Annual General Meeting for a motion calling on the State Government to review and reform how underground power projects are funded and delivered across Western Australia.

The proposed reforms seek to ease the financial burden on local governments like the CITY OF ROCKINGHAM and TOWN OF BASSENDEAN, where cost blowouts—such as Bassendean North’s surge from $13.4 million to $25.7 million—force councils to act as upfront financiers for infrastructure they do not own.

International

NZ:

Canterbury Regional Council has voted unanimously to end its controversial nitrate emergency declaration, citing progress under its new Drinking Water Action Plan, reports RNZ News.

Despite the decision by Environment Canterbury, ongoing legal battles and high nitrate levels in local groundwater keep water safety concerns at the forefront for residents who face filtration costs of up to $5000.

CANADA:

B.C. Premier David Eby has sparked strong pushback from local leaders after calling a snap provincial election for October 24, just one week after civic elections take place across 189 local districts.

CBC News reported that Mayors representing cities like Delta, Vancouver, Victoria, and Surrey have voiced frustration over the overlapping campaigns, warning that the quick turnaround will strain municipal resources and confuse voters.

On Vancouver Island, a string of candidate withdrawals ahead of the September 18 deadline means several council positions have been filled automatically, including the full slate of councillors in Alert Bay and the mayoral seat in Zeballos.

Meanwhile, voters across various regional districts will see fewer choices on their ballots this fall as multiple electoral area seats have also been filled by acclamation, according to a report from Chek News.

A street sign for Trump Avenue in Ottawa has vanished just days after Ottawa City Council voted to rename the road. City officials are investigating the disappearance of the sign, while remaining signs along the street currently remain intact.

MONTREAL CITY COUNCIL has passed a controversial new bylaw making it illegal to insult police officers or municipal employees, with offenders facing fines ranging from $300 to $2,000.

While supporters argue the measure protects workers against rising abuse, opposition councillors and civil rights advocates warn that the lack of clear definitions could infringe on freedom of expression and lead to arbitrary enforcement.

UK:

Maidstone Borough Council has launched a new trial using recycled clothing to repair potholes in local parks, aiming to tackle fast fashion waste and reduce carbon emissions.

BBC News reported that the initiative uses experimental textile-based materials to fill road gaps. Public roads are not part of the trial at this stage.

ROUNDUP EXTRA:

Today we’re joined by Philip Joseph, Head of Digital Solutions at Symphony3, the local government technology and integration company behind a new whitepaper, “Governing in the Age of Disruption.”

Produced with L-G-Pro and supported by A-W-S, the paper sets out six forces reshaping councils and asks what CEOs should do about them.

Philip’s here to talk through the paper’s main themes, who it’s written for, and what Symphony3 hopes councils will take from it.

Access the whitepaper here