Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Councils lining up to introduce bans on smart glasses
• A four week suspension handed to a Stonnington councillor
• A new mayor in Greater Shepparton
• An integrity body’s lack of funding exposed
• Questions about a councillor’s access to funding for legal defence costs
• New and returning mayors announced at NSW councils
• Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s dramatic exit from a press conference
• and a new inquiry launched into the City of Perth

All of that and more just ahead on Australia’s number one local government podcast.

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

Stonnington Councillor Tom Humphries has been suspended for four weeks following a conduct panel finding of misconduct over comments made during a council debate.

An arbiter has ruled that Cr Humphries used language intended to intimidate colleagues while pushing to install a menorah at Malvern Town Hall last December. The arbiter found that Cr Humphries did not take reasonable steps to avoid actions that may diminish public trust and confidence in the integrity of local government, and that he did not perform his role effectively and responsibly.

In addition to the four week suspension, Cr Humphries is not eligible to hold the office of Mayor or Deputy Mayor for six months, and must issue a formal apology to fellow councillors at his first Council meeting back from suspension.

Cr Geoff Akers has been elected the new mayor of Greater Shepparton City Council.

The election was required after Cr Shane Sali stepped down from the mayoralty, and took a leave of absence from council to focus on campaigning for election to State Parliament in November.

Cr Akers was the deputy, and for the past week, the acting Mayor.

Cr Rod Schubert was elected to the role of deputy mayor.

City of Melbourne councillors have voted to pressure the state government to immediately reverse Victoria Police’s decision to close public front desks at four inner-city stations.

The council argues the plan to shutter counters in Southbank and North Melbourne, alongside two sites in neighbouring City of Yarra, leaves vulnerable residents high and dry despite government promises of extra police numbers. The Herald Sun has details.

Victoria’s Local Government Inspectorate is operating with less than half its required staff due to severe funding constraints, according to a report by the Herald Sun.

The agency, responsible for oversight across all seventy-nine local government areas currently has personnel in six of its fourteen full-time positions.

The most recent investigation report released publicly was in 2019, with only two media releases issued in the past three years.

Parliamentary findings indicate the budget cuts leave the oversight watchdog unable to routinely monitor sector compliance or pursue lesser integrity breaches.

Claims by Campaspe Shire’s interim chief executive Craig Niemann that local communities are better prepared for potential flooding down the Campaspe River have faced pushback from some Rochester residents, according to the Riverine Herald.

While the Council says its emergency teams are well prepared, locals remain concerned about high water levels at Lake Eppalock, noting that major infrastructure updates and flood mitigation studies remain incomplete.

One resident told the Riv that the issue had split the town of Rochester in two, and become toxic.

Community members have called for greater certainty and clearer long-term planning.

Moorabool Shire Council has expressed strong disappointment over the Minister for Planning’s assessment of the Western Renewables Link, criticising the decision to push forward with the project despite noted concerns about the cumulative impacts on the local Darley community.

The Council has also raised serious questions over unresolved basic servicing and emergency management plans for a proposed 350-worker accommodation facility in Ballan.

CEO Derek Madden said the council will continue to press AusNet and the government to finalise those matters well ahead of construction.

Meanwhile, Premier Ben Carroll has ordered an independent assessment of Western Renewables Link costs, saying updated, transparent costings are owed to Victorian consumers a decade after the project was first planned.

He confirmed that no compulsory acquisitions will occur while the assessment proceeds, with findings due to be made public by year’s end.

Moonee Valley City Council is being urged by local community groups to scrap its purple glass recycling bins in favour of expanding the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme.

A joint letter presented to the latest Council meeting argues that the bins are costly, infrequent, and space-consuming. They want the council to lobby for higher container refunds and better local collection access. The matter has been referred to CEO Helen Sui for assessment. (Source: Herald Sun)

Brimbank City Council has welcomed commitments from both major political parties to boost officer numbers, whilst maintaining that a dedicated western suburbs training academy remains essential to solving long-term recruitment shortages.

Local government leaders across Melbourne’s north-west argue that a local facility is vital to address a regional police vacancy rate of twenty per cent and rising crime rates.

The council is calling on whoever wins November’s state election to deliver the facility, ensuring local communities receive the sustained policing resources they require.

A fire broke out at the Frankston City Council Visitor Information Centre on Pier Promenade on Sunday. Emergency services successfully brought the blaze under control with no injuries reported.

The building has been secured while investigations continue, and residents have been advised to avoid the immediate area.

Yarriambiack Shire Council has formally noted new research from Federation University examining the severe mental health and community impacts of major mining and renewable energy projects on regional farmers.

The study, initiated following advocacy by the Council, highlighted growing pressures on local agricultural businesses and personal wellbeing as the Wimmera Southern Mallee region navigates rapid industrial development.

Swan Hill Rural City Council is calling on local businesses to share their thoughts on installing electric vehicle charging stations within their car parks. The survey aims to assess commercial interest while highlighting potential financial gains through usage rates or site lease fees.

Ballot packs are in the mail for voters in by-elections to fill vacancies on Banyule, Greater Bendigo and Mornington Peninsula councils.

And the VEC has issued a reminder for voters to ensure they are enrolled in Murrindindi Shire ahead of a by-election later in the year for that council’s Kinglake Ward.

The VLGA and the L-G-I-U present a Global Executive Live Panel: Councillor Conduct Models — Lessons from Across the Globe. Thursday, September the twenty-fourth, five-thirty to seven pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Panellists from Australia, Canada and the U-K will compare codes of conduct, enforcement and independent oversight across jurisdictions.

Book now at vlga.org.au.

New South Wales

Questions are being raised in New South Wales over how a Snowy Monaro Regional councillor allegedly accessed the council’s insurer directly to fund legal defence costs that could total more than one million dollars.

Cr Andrew Thaler has faced eight separate legal claims since his election in twenty twenty-four.

Council policy requires a councillor resolution before insurer-funded legal costs are incurred — but Cr Thaler says that policy is, quote, “irrelevant”.

According to About Regional, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has said he will have the matter pursued after being asked by a local MP.

Text messages obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald reveal Ku-ring-gai Council General Manager Mr David Marshall and Office of Local Government Deputy Secretary Mr Brett Whitworth privately coordinated a response that avoided a formal capital expenditure review into the council’s Norman Griffiths Oval synthetic turf project, after costs blew out from three million to twenty-four million dollars.

That’s despite internal O-L-G advice recommending a review.

Mr Whitworth has rejected allegations that he acted unlawfully. Greens M-P Amanda Cohn has called on the minister to intervene.

Canterbury-Bankstown council in Sydney has joined several other Australian councils in banning AI smart glasses at public swimming pools amid fears they could be used for covert filming and other privacy-invasive surveillance.

The Guardian reported that digital rights advocates have praised the move and are urging broader state and federal action.

Port Stephens Council is set to consider a proposal to ban camera-enabled smart glasses across all its community facilities, including public pools and libraries, following growing privacy concerns from local residents.

2HD reported that the motion is being put forward by Councillor Giacomo Arnott, in the wake of Brisbane and Yarra looking to implement similar restrictions. And I have news coming up of a similar move in South Australia.

Orange City Council was last night expected to consider a proposal for a 230-home gated manufactured estate at Lone Pine Avenue and Brabham Way.

CEO Scott Maunder and staff recommended councillors reject the application, over concerns about public access restrictions, design controls, and poor integration with the adjacent Redleaf housing project.

The Central Western Daily reported that if rejected, the developer may seek a rezoning review with the Western Region Planning Panel.

Hawkesbury City Council is appealing for information after a brand-new welcome sign on Putty Road was destroyed in an act of vandalism.

Police are investigating the incident, in which the sign was torn from its base and dragged for several hundred metres behind an unidentified vehicle.

Northern Beaches Council was last night expected to vote on whether to extend a controversial off-leash dog trial at the southern end of Mona Vale Beach for another 12 months.

The proposal follows strong community support and staff recommendations to allow dogs on the sand until October 2027, despite ongoing environmental concerns from local conservation groups. (Report: Daily Telegraph)

Lismore City Council has adopted a landmark Strategic Planning Framework aimed at reversing decades of negative growth and shaping the region’s future housing, job creation, and environmental resilience.

The ambitious master suite of five key strategies will establish a long-term roadmap to boost local investment and guide sustainable development across the local government area.

Now for the latest mayoral election results:

Liverpool Plains Shire Council has elected first term Councillor Charlie Simkin as its new Mayor, alongside Councillor Jason Allan, who will serve as Deputy Mayor for the remainder of the council term through to September 2028.

Councillor Simkin thanked outgoing mayor Ken Cudmore and deputy Donna Lawason and said his primary focus will be on working collaboratively with councillors and council staff to deliver key infrastructure, housing, and financial sustainability projects.

Sutherland Shire Council has elected Councillor Carmelo Pesce as its new Mayor, with immediate past Mayor Councillor Jack Boyd stepping into the role of Deputy Mayor following a council meeting on Monday evening.

Pledging to work collaboratively across the chamber, Mayor Pesce announced that his leadership team will focus on managing local growth, investing in key community infrastructure, and protecting the region’s natural environment.

Councillors at Federation Council have re-elected Cr Cheryl Cook as Mayor and appointed Cr David Bott as Deputy Mayor for a two-year term.

The newly elected leadership team announced plans to focus on financial sustainability, strengthening local infrastructure, and supporting regional businesses.

Queensland

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has stormed out of a press conference after being questioned about a controversial trip to Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.

An ABC News report details how Mayor Tate swore at a journalist following questions regarding a claimed dinner with Donald Trump, which a Trump Organisation spokesperson described as a complete fabrication.

The incident has raised further questions about transparency and expenditure at City of Gold Coast.

Brisbane City Council has reported a loss of $306 million for the 2025/26 financial year, marking a drop of over half a billion dollars compared to the previous year’s surplus.

The dramatic financial downturn has been largely attributed to massive budget overruns on major infrastructure projects, including spending on the Brisbane Metro system. More from the Courier Mail.

Sunshine Coast Council is set to consider an officer recommendation to continue an annual inspection program for 137 regulated dogs across the region.

The Sunshine Coast News reports that the program would run from November 2026 to November 2027 and allow authorised officers to conduct property compliance checks.

Funded on a full cost-recovery basis through registration fees, the initiative aims to proactively monitor declared dogs and assist owners in meeting statutory containment standards.

Rockhampton is experiencing a twelve-year high in residential construction after housing approvals surged by sixty-two per cent in the last financial year.

Rockhampton Regional Council confirmed the record growth saw three hundred and twenty-nine new homes approved, alongside over four hundred and twenty-nine million dollars’ worth of total buildings approved.

Townsville Council is pushing for continued funding to fight Yellow Crazy Ants, one of the world’s most invasive pest species.

Mayor Nick Dametto has secured unanimous council support to lobby State and Federal governments for a four-year, $24 million funding extension from 2027, split evenly between the two tiers of government.

The current $12.8 million program has identified 57 infestation sites across 14 suburbs since 2023, up from just 14 previously known.

Council says 83 per cent of sites are now in post-treatment monitoring, but Mayor Dametto warns that the gains could be reversed without ongoing investment.

Noosa Shire Council is celebrating triple recognition at the 2026 IPWEA-QNT Excellence Awards, with two staff members and a major infrastructure project shortlisted as state finalists.

Disaster Reconstruction Coordinator Julie Calvert and Principal Infrastructure Planner Melissa Shepherd earned individual nominations, while the Schreibers Road Bridge rebuild secured a spot in the Disaster Recovery Project of the Year category ahead of the October winners’ ceremony.

Cook Shire Council has been nominated for two prestigious industry awards following its locally led disaster recovery program across Cape York.

The annual $60 million reconstruction program saw the council restore essential roads, drainage structures, and floodways following severe flooding during the recent wet season.

The Roundup is supported by Symphony3, whose new whitepaper, “Governing in the Age of Disruption,” is out now.

Produced with L-G-Pro and supported by A-W-S, the paper is aimed squarely at council C-E-Os. It examines six forces reshaping the sector — political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal — and sets out what’s likely to change by twenty-thirty-six, and what won’t.

It draws on L-G-Pro’s first sector-wide baseline of A-I adoption, surveying two-thousand-five-hundred staff across twenty-two Victorian councils, alongside research from Deloitte, K-P-M-G, and the World Economic Forum. There’s a C-E-O playbook, fourteen “what if” scenarios, and contributions from L-G-Pro C-E-O Jill Brown and Professor Ronan McDonald from the University of Melbourne.

Download it now at https://www.symphony3.com/insights/whitepaper-governing-age-disruption.

Tasmania

Tasmania’s Acting Director of Local Government has shut down a formal investigation into Hobart Deputy Mayor Zelinda Sherlock over a high-profile snack-taking incident, according to a report by The Mercury.

In a letter to elected members, Luke Gregory confirmed, after reviewing CCTV footage, that the allegations fall outside his office’s statutory jurisdiction.

Mr Gregory urged the Council to resolve its recent internal conflicts, noting that establishing a Board of Inquiry would be a costly and disproportionate response for an allegation involving a single councillor.

The Deputy Mayor of Clarence City Council, Allison Ritchie, has launched a petition to prevent Bellerive Oval from being handed over to Stadiums Tasmania.

Cr Ritchie insists the landmark venue must remain under the ownership of Clarence City Council.

She is warning ratepayers that transferring the title could strip the council of long-term control over the historic community asset, according to the Mercury.

Tasman Council has publicly condemned Parks Minister Nick Duigan, accusing the Tasmanian Government of systematically stripping essential services and infrastructure from the municipality.

The Mercury reported that the Council released correspondence highlighting ongoing disputes over public toilet removals, the planned demolition of a community house, and the licensing of a food van operating at popular tourist attraction, the Blow Hole.

In response, the State Government says it is continuing to invest in the region and has instructed agencies to work with local operators to secure viable outcomes.

Firmus Technologies has appealed to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over restrictions placed on backup generators at its proposed Bell Bay AI data centre, ABC News reports.

The developer claims conditions imposed by George Town Council limiting generator operation to emergencies and testing are unreasonable, arguing the system is needed to support grid reliability during energy market stress.

However, local residents have also lodged appeals against the approval, raising concerns regarding potential noise, light, and air pollution from the site.

South Australia

Adelaide City Councillor Phillip Martin is set to move a motion banning smart glasses across council-owned properties, following rising privacy concerns and reports of covert recording in key CBD precincts. He told InDailySA that community members have been telling him about misuse of the technology, including aggressive behaviour in search of social media likes.

It follows similar moves at the City of Yarra and Brisbane City Council, aiming to curb the misuse of wearable technology in public spaces like libraries, sporting facilities, and local markets.

Reported harassment incidents against City of Onkaparinga staff have surged by 18 per cent, prompting the council to urge respectful engagement from the community ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

To safeguard its workforce from ongoing threats and abuse, the council is employing body-worn cameras and security personnel while encouraging residents to verify information before sharing local issues online.

Mount Gambier Council is considering a proposal to prohibit new personal memorials and plaques across public reserves, parks, and streetscapes.

According to The Advertiser, the policy aims to ease long term asset maintenance burdens and preserve open spaces for future master planning, directing future dedications to designated cemetery sites.

Existing tributes will remain in place, but the council would not replace or renew them once they reach the end of their useful life.

Western Australia

Western Australia’s Local Government Inspector has launched an inquiry into the City of Perth following persistent governance issues and fractured working relationships within council.

According to ABC News, Inspector Tony Brown has confirmed a three month probe will cost around $120,000 and address 25 complaints received since the start of the year.

The investigation marks the first conducted under the state’s new local government oversight regime, with findings and potential recommendations for suspension or dismissal to be made public.

Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds has welcomed the decision to commence an Inspector’s Inquiry, framing it as an opportunity for independent oversight to strengthen the council’s governance, relationships, and culture.

He committed to full cooperation with the process, aiming to establish clear pathways for action while maintaining the community’s confidence.

That news comes after it was revealed that the city commissioned a confidential legal risk assessment following a controversial special meeting that led to the suspension of its chief executive.

The council continues to withhold details regarding the specific meeting evaluated or the costs incurred, according to PerthNow.

City of Cockburn’s leisure facility, Cockburn ARC, has been named the 2026 Leisure Centre of the Year at the national AUSactive awards in Sydney.

The prestigious honour recognises the centre’s outstanding community engagement, inclusive sports programmes, and ongoing sustainability achievements following a recent major expansion.

International

NZ:

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has reportedly threatened to pull out of the regional Auckland Deal after central government moved to strip voting rights from non-elected members on local committees.

The proposed national changes would affect members of Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board, prompting the mayor to warn Ministers to stop meddling in local democratic processes. (Source: NZ Herald)

Local Government New Zealand has joined growing calls for a review of the national fast-track housing system, warning that out-of-sequence developments are placing enormous strain on local infrastructure.

The peak sector body released a four-point plan advocating for a pause on ministerial referrals, enhanced consideration of cumulative environmental impacts, and a review of development contributions.

Supported by major metropolitan bodies including Auckland Council, the group argues fast-tracked applications should not bypass local planning decisions, particularly where local authorities have already declined projects due to infrastructure deficits. (Source: The Post)

USA:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has officially launched his re-election bid for 2027, kicking off what is expected to be a competitive campaign.

Reporting by Axios Chicago highlights key friction points ahead for the administration, particularly in navigating legislative challenges with the Chicago City Council.

Facing a wide field of challengers, the incumbent mayor pointed to historic low homicide numbers and progressive policy achievements as central pillars of his platform.

UK:

Officials at Dumfries and Galloway Council estimate that replacing a deteriorating bridge that cut a town in two for 100 days could cost upwards of 43 million pounds.

Kirkcudbright Bridge was closed in March 2025 following extensive structural concerns, and recently reopened to light vehicles only.

According to the BBC, councillors will vote next week on allocating an initial six million pounds to fund preliminary site investigations and detailed design work.

If approved, the preliminary phase will inform a final business case before the local authority commits to full construction.