Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Hepburn Shire confirms its Interim CEO arrangements
• A Murrindindi Shire councillor resigns, as a former mayor is set to return to Wyndham Council
• The Hills Shire rejects a transparency push amid ICAC scrutiny
• The mayor refusing to apologise for “gutless” rate-rise critics comment
• Redland Council targets its own mayor in a conduct submission
• While Logan’s Mayor comes out strong against a “pokie palace” plan
• Plus a new Council CEO appointment in South Australia
• and a push to ban data centres fails in Perth

plus more local government news from around Australia and beyond.

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.

News in this episode:

Victoria

Hepburn Shire Council has formally appointed Janet Dore as its Interim CEO, effectively transitioning her from the Acting CEO appointment made during the Council’s recent governance crisis.

That appointment was limited due to legislative constraints, meaning the ongoing appointment was an urgent priority for the council once councillors were reinstated.

The Council says a process to recruit a permanent CEO will commence in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, more of the details leading to the withdrawal of charges against five Hepburn Shire councillors and the council’s former CEO have been revealed.

The Ballarat Courier reported that the Director of Public Prosecutions determined that the private prosecution charges brought by businessman David Penman had “no reasonable prospect of conviction.”

A spokesperson told the paper that the volume of material provided by Mr Penman did not establish elements of any of the charged offences.

Mr Penman reportedly “wholly disagrees” with the conclusion reached on the charges related to the Council’s budget adoption process.

A state government spokesperson described the outcome as a win for democracy and the Hepburn community, confirming that plans to appoint an administrator to the Council had been withdrawn.

Murrindindi Shire Council has confirmed the resignation of Kinglake Ward Councillor Jodi Adams, effective the 12th August.

Cr Adams was elected in October 2024 and held the Community Wellbeing portfolio.

She had been on personal leave prior to her resignation.

As Kinglake is a single-councillor ward, the vacancy will be filled by a by-election run by the VEC, with details for that election pending.

Meanwhile, former two-time Wyndham City Council mayor Kim McAliney is set to return as a councillor securing more than 50 per cent of first-preference votes in the Heathdale Ward by-election.

The vote was triggered following the resignation of former councillor Jennie Barrera earlier this year.

McAliney previously served 11 years on council, from 2005 to 2012, and again in the four year term from 2016.

Hume City Council has unanimously called on the Victorian Government to introduce a moratorium on approvals for new and expanded data centres until a parliamentary inquiry is completed.

The Star Weekly reports that the decision follows growing community concern over proposed developments like the former Ford site in Campbellfield.

Councillors expressed concern over the cumulative local impacts on Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, highlighting the need for translated community consultation and evidence-based planning frameworks.

The council is requesting a joint state and local government taskforce to develop clear planning and environmental policies for future facility siting.

Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have voted unanimously to defer reinstating parking fines following a major administrative error.

The Herald Sun reports that enforcement was paused after more than 1,500 tickets were issued at an incorrect default rate, requiring over $162,000 in refunds and waivers.

Council deferred the decision to await an updated officer report ensuring any future resolution is legally sound and financially understood.

Meanwhile, the Council has voted to seek state approval to significantly cut the number of properties covered by interim landslide planning controls.

Under a Planning Scheme Amendment, updated geotechnical mapping will reduce the scope of the Erosion Management Overlay from thirty-three thousand properties to approximately six thousand.

The amendment will also streamline permit pathways for minor works while a comprehensive shire-wide assessment is completed.

The City of Yarra has unanimously voted to halt plans for an affordable housing project at Collingwood Town Hall, citing severe funding constraints and unviable market conditions.

ABC News reports the proposed eight-storey development would have provided at least 50 discounted rental apartments for local workers, but council confirmed it will not use ratepayer funds to bridge the gap without external state or federal support.

UDIA CEO Linda Allison said the example highlights a growing feasibility gap for local government-led housing projects across Victoria.

Wellington and South Gippsland Shire Councils have launched a major planning project to help the region prepare for the renewable energy transition.

Work is now underway on the Renewable Energy Land and Infrastructure Plan backed by a $4.7 million Commonwealth Government grant.

The plan will look at what’s needed to support future growth, including housing supply, worker accommodation, land for industrial and commercial development, and upgrades to roads and other infrastructure.

Banyule and Nillumbik Councils have united to demand Victorian Government funding for the Civic Drive roundabout, which was recently ranked among Melbourne’s most dangerous intersections in an RACV survey.

Managing over 25,000 vehicles daily, the location at the top of the Greensborough Bypass suffers from severe congestion and safety hazards, which local leaders warn will worsen when the North East Link opens in 2028.

Melbourne’s west has recorded the highest demand for homelessness services of any region in Australia.

New analysis commissioned by LeadWest shows over fifteen thousand people sought homelessness assistance in the region in 2024-2025, with a homelessness rate fifty per cent above the national average.

LeadWest Chair Cr Susan Yengi of Maribyrnong City Council says councils are increasingly acting as frontline responders without funding or formal mandate, and is urging the State Government to invest in public housing, outreach services, and improved local data.

Queenscliffe Council is responding to apparent deliberate vandalism of protected coastal vegetation on the Queenscliff foreshore. It is notifying nearby residents, installing signage, and reporting the incident to DEECA regulators and Victoria Police while urging anyone with information to come forward.

The City of Greater Geelong has launched free, improved graffiti removal kits, available at select Customer Service Centres for private property and business owners, to help residents quickly clean public-facing graffiti from fences, walls, and shopfronts.

Maribyrnong City Council has welcomed the State Government’s announcement to deploy additional Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to shopping strips in Footscray following advocacy by local leaders for increased visible policing and community safety resources.

New South Wales

The Hills Shire Council has voted down a proposal to increase transparency around secret meetings with lobbyists and property developers, despite being at the centre of an ongoing Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the motion, put forward by Labor and Greens councillors, called for an open diary policy and a mandatory lobbying register.

However, the Liberal-majority council rejected the plan ten votes to three, arguing the extra measures were impractical and would create unnecessary administrative burden.

Albury Mayor Kevin Mack has refused to apologise to complainant Charlie Mitchell after calling critics of a proposed 42 per cent rate rise “gutless”, according to a report in The Border Mail.

Mayor Mack says the formal code of conduct complaint is a confidential matter under governance rules and should not have been made public.

Meanwhile, the Albury Ratepayers Association has launched a petition aimed at lobbying the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal as community consultation on the special rate variation continues.

Temora Shire councillor Anthony Irvine is weighing Supreme Court action after losing a tribunal bid to unseal a former general manager’s payout details.

The Daily Advertiser reported that the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that individual privacy rights outweighed public transparency considerations under government access laws.

Councillor Irvine maintains the mayor lacked authority to approve the twenty-five month leave arrangement, while council awaits three further tribunal decisions on related matters.

The matter is unrelated to Cr Irvine’s 28 day suspension, which has been stayed pending an appeal ruling expected in November.

Hawkesbury City Council has a new permanent General Manager.

Mayor Cr Les Sheather announced this week that Will Barton has been appointed to the role, following an overwhelming endorsement at an Extraordinary Meeting last Friday.

Mr Barton has served as Acting General Manager since April this year, and was previously Director of Infrastructure Services.

Mayor Sheather praised his role in guiding the Hawkesbury’s recovery from the 2020-2024 flood events. The appointment is effective immediately.

Inner West Council has warned developer PERIFA against scaling back the approved West Tigers leagues club within the 285 million dollar Rozelle Village project.

Mayor Darcy Byrne says any attempt to reduce the 2,800 square metre floor space or replace the operator, Wests Ashfield Leagues, would breach state planning approval conditions.

The Council is prepared to legally oppose any modifications to the agreement, maintaining that the long-promised community hub remains a mandatory requirement of the development.

Waverley Council has removed a book strongly critical of Israel from the shelves of Waverley Library, pending a review, after a survivor of the Bondi Beach massacre said its prominent display was deeply insensitive.

In a Facebook post, the survivor said the title How to Sell a Genocide: The Media’s Complicity in the Destruction of Gaza was placed face‑out on the library’s “New Release / Hot Item” shelf, in a community still living with the trauma of the 14 December 2025 attack.

The council says it outsources book purchasing and curation, and that staff did not directly select the title. In a statement to J Wire, a spokesperson said the book has now been removed while processes are reviewed, with the council considering “closer oversight of book selection.”

New research reveals an alarming level of online abuse targeting women in public life across Australia.

A survey by Women for Election found that 89 percent of women holding public office or running for election have experienced online abuse linked to their roles.

Three-quarters of respondents said the harassment has worsened over the past two years, with half admitting they’ve considered stepping down as a result.

LGNSW Director, and Blue Mountains Deputy Mayor, Romola Hollywood warned the abuse poses a direct threat to local democracy, calling on governments and social media companies to strengthen protections and support for female leaders.

Liverpool City Council has backed the creation of a new suburb centred on the Western Sydney International Airport precinct, in a move aimed at simplifying boundaries and giving the area a clear identity from day one.

The proposed suburb would be called Wianamatta—a name the Council says reflects a strong cultural connection to Country. The proposal goes next to the Geographical Names Board.

Edward River Council has issued a statement after SunRice confirmed redundancies in Deniliquin, with 68 local employees set to lose their jobs as part of wider operational changes affecting 71 workers.

Acting Mayor Kellie Crossley says it’s a “deeply disappointing day” for the community, warning the impact will be felt well beyond the mill.

David Hughes has begun a four-year tenure as the new CEO of Lake Macquarie City Council this week, focusing on financial sustainability and driving the city’s economic transformation beyond coal mining and power generation.

Queensland

Moreton Bay City Council has announced a new free camping site at Wyllie Park in Petrie to support locals experiencing homelessness.

The site features toilet facilities, waste bins, CCTV, and regular security patrols.

Mayor Peter Flannery says while crisis accommodation remains a State Government responsibility, the council is stepping in to offer a safe, voluntary alternative for those unable to stay in other public spaces.

Support groups have welcomed the initiative, saying it gives vulnerable residents much-needed stability close to key support services.

Redland City Council has taken aim at its own mayor in a submission to a Queensland parliamentary inquiry, recommending any councillor on extended leave should face a misconduct investigation, according to the Brisbane Times.

Mayor Jos Mitchell has been on medical leave since May, and the council says she won’t return until at least the end of October, with Deputy Mayor Julie Talty acting in the role.

In its submission, the council argues the definition of misconduct should be broadened to cover serious breaches and “non-performance”, warning some councillors can “avoid accountability” by simply being absent.

The inquiry is examining the state’s councillor conduct framework and is due to report back to parliament in November.

Logan’s mayor is criticising plans for the North Queensland Cowboys to build a new leagues club south of Brisbane, labelling it a “pokie palace”, according to the Brisbane Times.

Mayor Jon Raven says the proposed venue at Holmview would include around 100 poker machines and could pull more than 13 million dollars a year out of the Logan community, while returning what he calls an inadequate amount to local groups.

The Cowboys’ chief executive, Tim Follett, says the proposal is still in its early stages, but argues the club could provide jobs, community facilities and a place for the team’s south-east Queensland supporters to gather.

Proposed changes to the Cairns Regional Council’s Community Grants Policy would maintain up to $1 million in total annual discretionary funding while introducing stricter oversight measures.

Under the revised framework, Mayor Amy Eden and nine councillors, who each receive $100,000 annually, must formally declare conflicts of interest and adhere to third-party procurement rules, according to reporting by the Cairns Post.

The policy update also introduces an annual grant application deadline of March 31 and mandates acquittal reports for any funding grants exceeding $2,000.

Mackay Regional Council is stepping up its crackdown on illegal dumping, launching a major clean-up and surveillance operation at Illawong Drive in the coming weeks, including the installation of night-vision cameras.

Council says heavy machinery will be brought in to remove large volumes of waste, after responding to more than 560 reports over the past year — clearing more than 545 kilolitres from the environment.

Mayor Greg Williamson says the scale is “alarming”, warning offenders face on-the-spot fines of up to three-thousand four-hundred and fifty-four dollars, with penalties for corporations up to twelve-thousand nine-hundred and fifty-two.

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig has welcomed the Queensland Government’s record $66M Residential Activation Fund investment to upgrade Gympie’s water treatment plant and infrastructure. He said the commitment provides vital funding the council could not otherwise afford to support the region’s growing community and economic future.

Ipswich City Council will continue hosting the South East Queensland Climate Resilient Alliance for a renewed three-year term, expanding regional collaboration to build council capacity. The alliance also shares resources like a Climate Knowledge Hub, and works to strengthen climate resilience across South East Queensland.

Tasmania

Northern Midlands councillor Andrew McCullagh was due to face court on Tuesday over allegations he published confidential council documents on Facebook.

However, The Mercury reported that the matter was adjourned until late November after the court heard he had not been served, and the magistrate recused himself.

The charge involves an alleged breach of section 338A of the Local Government Act regarding confidential information.

The City of Launceston is continuing to explore alternative workplace models, establishing a joint working group to assess the feasibility of a four-day work week.

As reported by The Mercury, council executive leadership remains committed to investigating the model despite withdrawing an earlier enterprise agreement proposal following public backlash.

The ongoing assessment comes as regional New South Wales municipality Murrumbidgee Council moves ahead with a fifteen-month trial of a compressed four-day schedule aimed at improving productivity and lowering operational costs.

The City of Hobart has appointed global micromobility operator Lime to run the city’s new shared e-bike service.

Under an initial 12-month permit, with an option to renew, Lime will roll out about 350 e-bikes across high-demand areas including the waterfront, Salamanca and the CBD, with operations expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds says the move marks “an exciting new chapter” for shared transport, following Council’s decision to shift to an e-bike-only model amid growing demand and concerns around e-scooter use.

South Australia

The City of Victor Harbor has appointed Chris White as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a Special Council Meeting on the seventh of August.

Mr White is currently C-E-O of the City of Prospect, a role he’s held since twenty twenty-one, and brings more than twenty years of local government experience.

Mayor Cr Moira Jenkins says Mr White’s leadership and strong connection to the Fleurieu Peninsula position him well to guide the City through its next chapter. Mr White commences on the nineteenth of October.

The City of Holdfast Bay is urging stronger rules and enforcement around e-bikes and e-scooters, citing a rise in community safety concerns.

Council has endorsed a letter from the Mayor to the State’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, responding to a government consultation on personal mobility devices.

The council says residents have reported dangerous riding, excessive speed, and illegal or modified devices — with the Coast Park shared path a particular hotspot for near misses and intimidating behaviour.

Northern Territory

The Chief Minister has criticised the City of Darwin following its decision to cancel this year’s pre-cyclone clean-up collection service, according to reporting by the NT Independent.

Lia Finocchiaro says the council has failed its constituency and possesses the necessary budget, while praising the neighbouring City of Palmerston for proceeding with its scheduled service.

In response, Darwin Mayor Peter Styles has defended the decision, citing ongoing recovery efforts from Cyclone Fina and plans to shift the collection service to next May.

Western Australia

The Shire of Mundaring says this year’s hard waste verge collection won’t proceed as planned, after the only contractor to respond to its tender was unable to deliver in time.

Chief Executive Officer Jason Whiteaker says the service isn’t cancelled, and a solution is being targeted for later this financial year.

Green waste collections remain on track, and every household will receive three extra Community Recycling Centre passes this year.

Councillors in Perth’s most populous local government area have voted down a proposal to investigate banning data centres in suburban neighbourhoods.

The City of Stirling Council rejected a notice of motion that would have asked the chief executive to report back on changes to local planning policy, after debate over the growing power and water demands of large-scale facilities.

WA Today reported that supporters argued data centres should be steered towards properly planned regional or industrial locations, rather than established residential communities.

But others warned the city could miss out on investment and revenue, saying demand for local data storage and computing power is only increasing with the rise of artificial intelligence.

The motion was defeated eight votes to four.

The Shire of Dowerin has announced that because no nominations were received for the vacant councillor position by the close of nominations on 11 August 2026, the planned postal extraordinary election on 24 September 2026 will not proceed.

The council vacancy therefore remains unfilled for now.

International

UK:

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered Westminster City Council to drop plans that would effectively block new pubs and bars opening in Soho and the West End.

The draft licensing policy, now under consultation, would have introduced tighter restrictions on newly licensed venues, including earlier last orders and limits on late-night opening.

It also proposed designating Soho and the West End as a “cumulative impact zone,” making new licences unlikely except in exceptional cases.

Khan is using new powers granted this year to intervene in licensing decisions, telling the council to scrap the proposed zones and remove its “core hours” policy, arguing the changes would damage London’s nightlife, economy and culture, according to The Guardian.

Councils across the south of England are warning that funding delays could cost local communities millions of dollars in revenue.

BBC News reported that local authority leaders are calling on the government to bring forward planned mayoral elections to secure essential long-term investment.

In response, government officials rejected the claims. They say election timelines were adjusted to ensure structural reorganisations finish before new mayors take office.

More than 500 GMB union members at Kirklees Council have filed equal pay claims alleging pay discrimination, highlighting disparities between refuse workers and female-dominated roles such as teaching assistants, catering staff, and care workers.

If successful, claimants could receive up to six years of back pay worth potentially millions. The council says it cannot comment in detail due to ongoing legal proceedings, according to LocalGov.

The MJ has exclusively reported that the Local Government Association has cut an identified £24m medium‑term funding gap by £16m, mainly through a pension contribution holiday worth £12m and additional government funding for new improvement programmes.

Despite this, it still expects to run an overall deficit of around £8m over the next four years.

CANADA:

CBC News reports that a councillor in southern Manitoba is suing her municipality for more than 48-thousand dollars in legal costs, after the council tried — and failed — to remove her from office.

Donna Cox, a councillor with the Rural Municipality of Thompson in the Pembina Valley, has filed a claim in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, arguing the municipality wrongly refused to cover her legal expenses while she defended her position as an elected official.

Cox was targeted after missing meetings in early 2023 — absences she says were tied to work commitments — but a judge later reinstated her, criticising the council’s actions and awarding her most of her court costs. A subsequent appeal was also dismissed.

Greater Sudbury city council has approved an $800,000 pilot project using artificial intelligence to help speed up building permits.

The AI would act as an early screening tool, checking applications submitted through the city’s Pronto portal for missing information and possible zoning or Building Code issues, with city staff still handling complex reviews and final decisions.

City officials say the goal is to give applicants faster feedback, helping fix problems sooner and cutting delays. Builders say they’re cautiously interested.

NZ:

RNZ News reports that Ngāi Tahu has put forward its own ambitious plan to reshape local government across the South Island, proposing to replace 24 existing councils with five larger regional authorities.

Ngāi Tahu is the principal Māori iwi—or tribe—whose traditional territory spans the vast majority of the South Island.

Under the proposal lodged with the government, the five new councils would be organised around major river catchments, supported by locally elected boards and a shared services entity across the island.

While the group wasn’t invited to submit to the government’s Head Start process, Ngai Tahu says its too important to sit on the sidelines of the conversation.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has criticised two ACT Party councillors for filing a governance motion originally drafted for another local authority, reports The Press.

The notice proposed mandatory reporting requirements on financial impacts and policy options, despite the council already incorporating most of those practices.

The motion was subsequently withdrawn after similar requirements were introduced in national legislation currently progressing through Parliament.