Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• A calculation error forces a Melbourne council to reissue its rates notices
• Victorian councils make pitches for election commitments
• This year’s Mary Rogers Awards winners announced
• Albury City appoints its new CEO
• Mayoral elections begin in NSW, as a long standing mayor bows out
• The Parramatta ICAC hearings officially end
• Confusion over who has been leading the City of Hobart

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

Hobsons Bay City Council has reissued rates notices to more than ninety per cent of ratepayers, after identifying a calculation error in the Emergency Services and Volunteer Levy.

Council says the levy was undercharged on notices sent in early August. No ratepayer was overcharged.

Corrected notices are being reissued from Tuesday the second of September, with property valuations and general rates unaffected.

Council has apologised for the error and confirmed FlexiPay access will resume from Monday the seventh of September.

Victorian Greens candidate Alysia Regan has denied allegations of being intoxicated while interrupting a First Nations reconciliation debate at Kingston City Council, according to a report by the Herald Sun.

Ms Regan, who was nominated for the municipality’s woman of the year award in 2024, resigned from her position as a council child care team leader immediately following the April meeting.

The party has backed its candidate for the state seat of Euroa, maintaining her reaction was a response to offensive commentary surrounding the local government’s reconciliation strategy.

The City of Ballarat has welcomed the Victorian Government’s Unlocking Strategic Sites program, which will rezone underused land in the municipality to support new housing, jobs and investment.

Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the announcement reflects collaborative work between council, state departments and other stakeholders, and aligns with the Ballarat Housing Strategy twenty-forty-one and the draft Ballarat Industrial Land Strategy.

The Mayor said the change would help meet the city’s infill housing targets under the state’s Plan for Victoria.

Melton City Council has welcomed the Victorian Liberal-National pledge to spend $1.7 billion on 25 new hybrid electric trains for the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines, but says it wants clearer detail on delivery and operations.

The council has however warned that the hybrid plan must support, and not delay, full duplication and electrification of the Melton line by 2030, which it says is needed to boost public transport use, cut congestion and deliver faster, more frequent services.

The City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire are calling for bipartisan state and federal backing for new, sustainable travel links between Geelong and Torquay.

The councils want $12.5 million for detailed planning and design work on a staged rapid transit corridor—initially linking Marshall Station with Armstrong Creek Town Centre, and potentially extending toward Torquay along the Surf Coast Highway.

Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj says with land already reserved for part of the route, there is potential to explore a trackless tram or light rail solution.

Surf Coast Mayor Libby Stapleton says transport infrastructure is needed to keep pace with growth and support the region long-term.

The councils are also pushing for a safe off-road cycling link between Geelong and Torquay.

Brimbank City Council has joined other north-west Melbourne councils in urging the Victorian Government to establish a regional police training academy to help address local police shortages by attracting and retaining officers with strong community connections.

The campaign sits alongside Council’s broader safety measures, including safety assessments in Sunshine and St Albans, removal of anti-social behaviour hotspots, and ongoing work with the Government on community safety programs and patrols.

Councillor Melina Sehr from Stonnington City Council has been named the 2026 winner of the Mary Rogers Award for women in local government.

The Victorian Local Governance Association, in partnership with the Victorian Government, made the announcement at a ceremony at Parliament House yesterday.

It’s the second year the awards have been presented, aiming to encourage more women into civic leadership.

Cr Rayane Hawli from Hobsons Bay City Council took out the Emerging Woman Leader Award, while Brimbank City Council and Mildura Rural City Council shared the Gender Equality Council Champion Awards.

VLGA President Cr Jane Karslake says the awards recognise women councillors’ leadership and commitment, and the association will continue running the awards annually.

Buloke Shire councillors have endorsed a motion calling on the Minister for Energy and Resources, Jaclyn Symes, to address farmer concerns over property access.

The motion seeks the withdrawal of fines issued to twelve farmers, better training for authorised officers, timely engagement with landholders, and biosecurity plans provided seven days before farm visits.

Councillors said it was fundamentally about fairness and respect, noting landholders run operating businesses where access can affect livestock, crops and machinery.

Murrindindi Shire Council has issued an open letter urging Health Minister Mary-Anne Stitt and Shadow Minister Georgie Crozier to provide clear assurances about the proposed merger of Alexandra District Health with Eastern Health ahead of the November state election.

The Mayor, Damien Gallagher, warns regional hospital mergers can erode local services and decision-making, and is calling for guarantees that funding, governance, acute beds, surgery and other key services will be protected.

Campaspe Shire Council has begun recruiting its next Chief Executive Officer, with executive search firm Future Leadership engaged to run the campaign.

Mayor Daniel Mackrell says the council expects to consider a preferred candidate for appointment at its November 2026 meeting.

City of Greater Geelong has extended its vape recycling service following a successful trial that diverted more than 250 kilograms of hazardous e-waste from landfill.

Dedicated disposal bins will remain permanently at local resource recovery centres and youth hubs to reduce environmental pollution and prevent dangerous fires in rubbish trucks.

New South Wales

AlburyCity has appointed Jason Gordon as its new Chief Executive Officer, commencing September 8th.

Mayor Cr Kevin Mack said the appointment followed an extensive national recruitment process.

Mr Gordon, a proud Barkindji man, brings more than three decades of public sector experience, most recently as Executive Director Operations at the N-S-W Environment Protection Authority.

He previously served as CEO of Wingecarribee Shire Council and held senior roles at Transport for N-S-W and Water Infrastructure N-S-W.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption public hearing into Parramatta City Council has officially concluded, following the rejection of senior executive Roxanne Thornton’s application to be recalled to the witness box. That’s according a report from the Parramatta Advertiser.

Operation Navarra has been examining allegations of misconduct against sacked chief executive Gail Connolly, including the misuse of public funds and the subversion of recruitment processes to favour friends.

Initial legal submissions from counsel assisting are due by September 9, with final findings expected to be delivered next year.

Upper Hunter Shire Council has raised concerns over access to specialist and surgical care, and the future of maternity services at Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone.

Councillors resolved to write to the New South Wales Minister for Regional Health seeking urgent action to retain and restore obstetric services, including antenatal, birthing and postnatal care.

The motion also calls for more reliable specialist appointments, and for the State Government to redirect firearm buyback funding towards regional health and roads.

The Office of Local Government has opened consultation on a new Model Code of Conduct for council staff, delegates and committee members.

It’s a companion to the councillor conduct code released earlier this year, splitting ethical standards for elected members from those for staff and other designated persons.

The draft largely retains existing provisions in simplified form, with updated rules on disclosing personal interests.

Submissions close at five p-m on the twelfth of October. Both codes are expected to be prescribed together.

Wagga Wagga City Council has endorsed a draft Community Benefit Sharing Policy for public exhibition.

It aims to ensure host communities benefit proportionally from major energy, infrastructure and technology projects.

Submissions are open until 9th October.

Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry has announced she will step down from the leadership role after six turbulent years marked by natural disasters and the pandemic.

She will however remain as a councillor, according to the Tweed Daily News.

Cr Cherry has thrown her support behind five-time Deputy Mayor Reece Byrnes to take over the top position when elections take place later this month.

Councillor Elise Borg has been unanimously re-elected unopposed as mayor of Georges River Council for a two-year term.

She will lead the council alongside newly elected deputy mayor Oliver Dimoski, who also stood uncontested.

Councillor Darcy Lound has also been re-elected unopposed as Mayor of Campbelltown City Council, extending his leadership through to the next local government elections in September 2028.

Councillor Masood Chowdhury was elected to serve as Deputy Mayor for the first time since joining the Council in 2016.

Queensland

Toowoomba Regional Council has initiated a review of its regulations governing temporary homes, caravans, and tiny houses on wheels in response to growing housing affordability challenges across the region.

Under current rules, occupation of a temporary dwelling is limited to 112 days while constructing a permanent home, with any potential changes needing to balance community need against wastewater, safety, and land-use standards.

The council expects a comprehensive report detailing potential amendments and recommendations to be presented for consideration at the December 2026 Ordinary Meeting.

Police in Townsville have gained direct, real-time access to Townsville City Council’s 600-camera CCTV network to help tackle crime and speed up frontline response times.

Linked directly to officers at the Kirwan Police Facility, the expanded surveillance network aims to improve coordination during emergencies and enhance safety in public spaces across the city.

Gympie Regional Council has adopted a Renewable Energy Community Benefit Agreement Policy to guide how it negotiates and manages community benefits agreements for eligible wind, solar, and battery projects, ensuring funding is directed back into affected local communities.

The policy links benefit funding to required social impact assessments and applies to current and future proposals, with Council restricting spending to locally driven initiatives.

Brisbane City Council has launched a 5.6 million dollar wellbeing initiative, titled ‘Move Well Brisbane’, designed to deliver the largest boost to free and affordable activities in the city’s history.

Building upon existing health programmes, the scheme will offer thousands of extra sessions ranging from cardio tennis to cooking classes in an effort to enhance whole-body wellness for local residents.

Tasmania

Confusion over who was leading Hobart City Council has ended, with Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds reversing her decision to step down.

Ms Reynolds had been due to resign on the ninth of August to take up a role with the Global Solar Council, but continued acting as lord mayor for three weeks, leaving elected members and even her own deputy unable to confirm who was in charge.

She now says she’s changed her mind and will stay on, though she has confirmed she won’t re-contest at October’s council election, according to Pulse Tasmania.

An Office of Local Government report reveals Tasmanian ratepayers have funded $433,000 in code of conduct process costs over the past four years, representing a 55 per cent increase driven primarily by internal disputes between elected members and staff.

According to a report from The Examiner, internal complaints lodged by councillors and council personnel accounted for 73 per cent of all filings state-wide.

Northern Midlands Council recorded the highest number of complaints lodged at 26, generating approximately $61,000 in direct investigation and panel assessment costs, while Hobart City Council recorded 25 complaints.

South Australia

The City of Adelaide says it’s ready to properly assess the proposed design for a MotoGP event after new details were released.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith says Council has long supported major events, but wants to understand the impact on the city’s Park Lands, local businesses, residents and other users.

The Lord Mayor says the Premier’s office has agreed to make senior officials available to brief Council as soon as possible, with the city’s administration to conduct a detailed analysis before making representations to the State Government during the consultation process.

South Australian councils could soon be strictly restricted to core services like roads, rates, and rubbish under proposed new legislation introduced by One Nation.

The amendment bill aims to prevent councils from spending ratepayer money on ideologically-driven campaigns outside their core mandate.

The legislation was expected to be introduced by One Nation MP Carlos Quaremba this week, according to Adelaide Now.

Northern Territory

The City of Palmerston in the Northern Territory has appointed an interim Chief Executive Officer following the departure of CEO Andrew Walsh.

No details have been provided about the departure of Mr Walsh, who joined the city in March 2025 from West Arnhem Regional Council.

Deputy CEO Nadine Nilon steps into the role while council runs a recruitment process for a permanent appointment.

Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell thanked Mr Walsh for his contribution over the past eighteen months, and said Ms Nilon’s experience would ensure continuity of leadership during the transition. Details of the permanent recruitment process are expected in due course.

Western Australia

Seven Perth councils are racing to secure a new home for their waste, after regulators rejected plans to extend the life of the Tamala Park tip in Perth’s northern suburbs, according to the West Australian.

The Mindarie Regional Council facility could reach full capacity within six months to three years.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation knocked back a new landfill cell and evaporation ponds, over unresolved leachate problems.

The MRC is appealing, while several member councils have agreed to send household waste to a new waste-to-energy plant at Kwinana.

The City of Fremantle council has unanimously voted to reject plans for a 23-hectare urban development near Port Beach, accusing the state government of insufficient coastal planning and not doing enough to deliver public transport infrastructure.

The Council’s position is that residential building would be premature without relocating Port Beach Road and establishing proper sand dune protections for the foreshore.

The Shire of Northam has confirmed that an injured cygnet at the Northam Town Pool has died, shortly after the community also lost a well-known local swan named Nick.

The Shire thanked rangers, wildlife carers, veterinarians, volunteers and residents for their help, and said it is continuing to work with wildlife experts and agencies to protect the remaining swans.

International

NZ:

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been found to have harassed a media employee after referring to them as a “Muslim terrorist” during a visit to an RNZ office earlier this year.

RNZ News reported that an investigation by Conduct Commissioner Paul Collins concluded that the remark was a material breach of the Auckland Council code of conduct, though two prior apologies from the mayor were deemed sufficient censure.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says “large chunks” of a $435,000 Deloitte report into Wellington City Council staffing levels were written by AI, raising fresh questions about the report’s credibility, according to Stuff.

The future fit review, released last November, has already faced scrutiny over alleged data errors, including double-counting staff and using outdated employment data.

Mayor Little said the report contained some useful findings—particularly around poor contract management—but dismissed much of it as “a waste of time,” while Deloitte says its work is signed off by a human and stands by its conclusions.

UK:

Scotland’s public spending watchdog has warned that Glasgow City Council is at a critical juncture as it faces a budget deficit of nearly £110m over the next two years.

BBC News reports that rising costs associated with homelessness and an ongoing equal pay dispute are placing unprecedented pressure on the council’s declining cash reserves, prompting calls for urgent political leadership.

Warrington Borough Council has warned that up to 230 jobs are at risk as it seeks to make an extra £50m in savings to address its £1.8bn debt.

The cash-strapped local authority plans to make major cuts across adult social care, revenue services, and environmental teams following government intervention.

USA:

Outrage has erupted in California after the Goleta City Council permitted local retailer Goodland Guns to reopen directly adjacent to a preschool, following an urgent search for compliant premises.

USA Today reported that local officials have apologised for the oversight and are now reviewing zoning regulations to prevent future firearm shops from opening near facilities for children.

In New York state**, Rochester City Council** has unanimously voted to reject a federal executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” pledging to maintain the traditional name in all official local matters.

Describing the federal directive as an unwarranted distraction, the Council says that the lake’s name honours centuries of Indigenous heritage that cannot be erased by presidential decree.

CANADA:

Regina City Councillor David Froh has withdrawn an expected motion asking city administration to review making councillor positions full-time, according to CTV News.

He says after engaging with the administration, he now feels it would cost more than anticipated and take significant staff capacity.

He said he’ll look for a less expensive way to explore the idea with colleagues ahead of the 2028 municipal election.