Project pushback, alliance pullback, and a cheeky council campaign

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• A new operating model for G21 as councils withdraw funding
• An Acting CEO becomes interim as a Council recruitment moves ahead
• Councils pushing back on housing and infrastructure projects
• A NSW Council’s CEO appointment moves to final steps
• A new guideline released on free speech in local government
• A cheeky campaign to bring a major retailer to a rural shire, and
• A mayor survives a leadership challenge

Chris is joined today by Narrabri Shire Mayor Darrell Tiemens to talk about the push to get a major retailer back in the town, and much more.

Chapters

• 2:10 Victorian Roundup
• 8:48 NSW Roundup
• 12:48 National Roundup
• 18:55 Global Roundup
• 22:29 Interview: Cr Darrell Tiemans, Mayor Narrabri Shire Council

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

A major shift in the advocacy landscape in the Greater Geelong region this week.

The G21 Alliance, largely funded by five member councils, has confirmed it is pursuing a new operating model, with its chief executive and two staff members to be made redundant.

That’s according to a report from the Geelong Advertiser, which says major funding allocations from Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Councils are expected to be withdrawn from their draft budgets.

That follows the Borough of Queenscliffe withdrawing its commitment earlier in the year.

The alliance has cash reserves which are expected to be used on advocacy projects in the short term.

It’s understood the existing board will remain in place, with a subcommittee to be formed to consider how the alliance will function in future.

The news comes as Greater Geelong Council announces new alliance agreements with the City of Wyndham to its east, and Devonport City Council in Tasmania.

The Devonport agreement seeks to leverage opportunities from the Spirit of Tasmania, which connects to the two cities.

Both councils are said to be keen to capitalise on those opportunities, and showcase the best that the two cities have to offer visitors.

Meanwhile, Geelong and Wyndham have signed a 5 year MOU and are working on an Avalon Corridor Strategy as a priority.

They will work together on advocacy projects and facilitate jobs growth across the two municipalities among other aims from the partnership.

Colac Otway Shire Council has extended the tenure of its Acting CEO, Andrew Tenni, announcing that he will continue as Interim CEO until the appointment of a permanent CEO.

Mr Tenni has been in the Acting CEO position since the resignation of Anne Howard, who is taking up the CEO position at Darebin City Council next month.

While the recruitment process for a permanent CEO is underway, Mayor Jason Schram said Mr Tenni’s experience and steady guidance will support the organisation efficiently.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece is asking the state government to consult on implementing a 30km/h speed limit across East Melbourne, according to a report from The Age.

It’s thought the speed reduction would improve safety and prevent motorists from using the suburb's small streets as shortcuts to the MCG or city.

30km/h zones are already in place on local streets in nearby Fitzroy and Collingwood.

A similar zone in East Melbourne would be the first in the Melbourne LGA, and the Lord Mayor is on board if there is community support for the idea.

Monash Council has rejected a proposal to rezone a former quarry and landfill site in Oakleigh South for housing, holding serious concerns about contamination management and geotechnical issues.

The Council's submission to the Minister for Planning outlines multiple objections, including insufficient detail for contamination management, lack of clarity in planning controls, and concerns about public space contributions and planning permit responsibilities.

Mayor Paul Klisaris said he hoped the council could work with the Minister for Planning to address its concerns about the proposal.

The Age has reported on the Victorian Government’s approval of a controversial 17-storey community housing tower in Greensborough, overriding the objections of Banyule Council about building height, parking, and apartment mix.

The decision is part of the government’s fast track Development Facilitation Program, with 11 major residential projects approved already this year.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s use of her power to bypass councils is not sitting well with local councils and opposition MPs who are arguing that community needs and consultation are being sidelined.

Northern Grampians Shire Council is the latest to reject the VNI West transmission line project, which proposes to construct 500kV power lines through prime agricultural land from Bulgana to north of St Arnaud.

The council is calling on the State Government to develop an alternative proposal due to its concerns about food security, mental health impacts, and violation of the Paris Agreement's protection of farming land.

East Gippsland Shire Council has secured New Zealand disaster recovery expert Lucy Kaiser as keynote speaker for its 2025 Rising Strong Forum on Friday.

Ms Kaiser heads a diverse lineup of experts who will discuss community resilience and recovery five years after the Black Summer bushfires.

The forum, which will be both in-person and livestreamed, aims to reflect on the region's recovery journey while exploring strategies for future preparedness through topics including mental health, economic resilience, and Indigenous community resilience.

Victorian Briefs:

Greater Shepparton City Council has been selected by the University of Canberra to develop a regional wellbeing framework aimed at placing community wellbeing at the centre of local decision-making, as part of a national project funded by the Gardiner Foundation.

The initiative includes a free Implementing Wellbeing Leadership Program for local leaders and advocates, with applications closing on June 13, 2025.

The iconic Castlemaine Art Museum building will undergo a $6 million redevelopment led by Mount Alexander Shire Council in partnership with the Museum and the Victorian Government.

The redevelopment will focus on improving accessibility and preserving heritage elements.

West Wimmera Shire Council is exploring the potential transition of its Maternal and Child Health Services to West Wimmera Health Service.

It is holding community meetings this month across Edenhope, Goroke, and Kaniva to discuss the changes and gather feedback.

The proposed transition aims to ensure long-term service sustainability and enhance wraparound care for local families.

National Roundup:

NSW:

An announcement of the appointment of a new General Manager for Goulburn Mulwaree Council is imminent after an extra ordinary council meeting yesterday.

The Council says it has progressed to the final stages of the process, with Mayor Nina Dillon having been authorised to negotiate and finalise the terms of the appointment with the preferred candidate.

The name of the successful candidate has not yet been revealed, and the Council said if that person declines the offer, the second-ranked applicant will be offered the position under the same terms.

In March, the council re-advertised the position after a first round of interviews failed to produce a preferred candidate.

The Office of Local Government NSW has issued a comprehensive guideline on free speech in local government that councils and officials must consider when exercising their functions.

It covers aspects such as political communication, councillor engagement, and media policies.

The guideline provides practical direction on how councils should balance free speech with regulatory requirements while ensuring councillors can effectively engage with their communities.

The Free Speech Guideline is also to be considered by conduct reviewers when dealing with code of conduct matters that have been referred to them.

Wollongong City Council has unanimously voted to formally oppose job cuts at the University of Wollongong, over concerns about the potential negative impact on the region's economy and culture.

As the region's second-largest employer after Bluescope, the university is seen as crucial to local innovation and education.

Region Illawarra reported that the resolution called for the council to write to the University, asking them to stop the job cuts and engage with staff about other potential financial savings.

Three councillors including the Lord Mayor absented themselves from the debate after declaring conflicts of interest.

It’s a busy time for officers at Bayside Council acting on some of the Council’s latest resolutions.

Work will be getting underway on a number of issues resolved by the Council, from the appearance of construction sites to e-bike safety and more.

The Council will explore ways to improve construction site hoardings through public art and creative designs, following a Notice of Motion seeking to enhance streetscape aesthetics and to deter graffiti and vandalism.

The Council will also investigate solutions to address community concerns about safety and amenity issues due to the growth of e-bike operators in the area.

And publicly accessible rooftop recreational areas could be included in new commercial and industrial developments.

That’s the focus of an investigation aiming to expand outdoor recreation space by looking at creative uses for rooftops, particularly in high density areas like Mascot.

The outcome of all of that work will form reports to be considered at future meetings of the Council.

The Manly Daily has reported on a change in policy by Northern Beaches Council on memorial benches on beaches and headlands.

A new policy will limit the benches, with over 700 existing memorials and more than 70 annual requests meaning many locations have reached capacity.

The council is encouraging tree planting as an alternative memorial option and will only consider new benches in locations with an identified need.

Existing memorials will not be affected by the new policy.

Narrabri Shire Council has launched a creative campaign called #BringBackSocksAndJocks to highlight how residents of Australia's cotton capital paradoxically cannot buy basic cotton clothing items in their own town, despite the region producing 11.6% of the nation's cotton.

The campaign aims to attract major retailers to the area while sparking a broader conversation about retail inequality between regional and metropolitan areas.

For more on this unique campaign, I’m joined a little later in this episode by Narrabri Shire Mayor Darrell Teimens.

QLD:

Ipswich City Council has adopted a new planning scheme that will enable the construction of 100,000 homes over the next 20 years, aiming to address housing affordability and accommodate a population expected to double to over half a million by 2046.

The Ipswich City Plan 2025, which comes into effect on July 1, promotes building up rather than out with reduced regulations for secondary dwellings, while also protecting established suburbs and incorporating strict flood mitigation requirements.

Channel 9's Today Show will broadcast live from the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo in August, with the City Council and the Rodeo each contributing $25,000 to bring the production team to the city.

The national television coverage is seen as an invaluable opportunity to promote Mount Isa's attractions and lifestyle to a wider audience, potentially attracting tourists and new residents to the region.

Central Highlands Regional Council is launching a free Landscape-Scale Feral Pig Integrated Control Program targeting four key areas to combat the significant damage caused by feral pigs to water quality, agricultural lands, and ecosystems.

The 11-month initiative will employ innovative techniques including drone monitoring, pig collaring, skill-building workshops, and targeted control methods, with interested landholders encouraged to register now.

National Briefs:

Cairns Regional Council has endorsed its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2025-2027, which builds on 16 years of reconciliation work and focuses on strengthening relationships with First Peoples through four key pillars: relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance.

The City of Adelaide is hosting a massive free music festival called Make Music Day on June 21st, featuring over 220 performers across 40 venues from 9am to midnight, celebrating Adelaide's 10th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Music.

The event is inspired by France's 'Fête de la Musique', and will showcase diverse performances in traditional and unexpected venues, including markets, stations, and public squares.

And work has commenced on Tweed Shire Council’s new $33 million depot in South Murwillumbah's Industry Central precinct.

The new depot will replace the flood-prone Buchanan Street facility, and is scheduled for completion in June next year.

TAS:

A recount for a position on Latrobe Council has resulted in the election of Lucy Gorniak, from a field of four candidates.

The recount was triggered by the resignation of Cr Sommer Metske last month.

Ms Gorniak, a family mediation worker, was elected with 384 votes, ahead of country music performer Gina Timms with 277 votes.

A decision by Circular Head Council to close its office for 10 days during Easter and Anzac Day has come in for criticism and a push to avoid a similar occurrence in future.

A councillor motion to ensure the office remains open every weekday, except public holidays, has met pushback from staff, according to the Advocate.

There are fears of what of it would mean for the Christmas New Year break, which is embedded in a staff enterprise agreement.

The matter has been referred to a council workshop for further discussion.

SA:

A restaurant in Adelaide had its outdoor dining parklet removed by the city council after accumulating $34,000 in unpaid permit fees.

InDaily reported that the owner of Jack & Jill’s on Pirie Street has been protesting about fee disparities between different types of outdoor dining.

The parklet took up three paid parking spaces, which would have generated $60K per annum in revenue if not being used for outdoor dining.

Council CEO Michael Sedgman said the matter had been going on for some time without resolution, and removal of the parklet was the council’s only remaining option.

Thirteen South Australian councils will share $1.45 million in grant funding through the SA Climate Ready Coasts program to develop strategies protecting the state's coastline from severe weather events and climate change impacts.

The funding will support various projects including real-time monitoring, coastal hazard adaptation planning, and nature-based solutions.

Funded councils include the cities of Onkaparinga and Port Lincoln, and Kingston and Robe District Councils.

The Local Government Association has called for additional federal support through a national climate adaptation fund.

WA/NT:

Litchfield Council Mayor Doug Barden has faced an attempted leadership challenge from his deputy mayor Mark Sidey.

The NT News reported that Cr Sidey put forward a motion for a vote of "no confidence" based on claims that the Mayor no longer lived in the Litchfield area.

Cr Barden strongly refuted the claims as "baseless," describing the situation as “really disappointing.”

After being tabled, the motion was moved into a confidential session.

He has suggested the attempted coup was driven by Cr Sidey's personal ambition to become mayor in the upcoming local government elections.

Those elections are less than three months away.

The City of Melville has received $2.8 million in Lotterywest funding to enhance two significant community spaces: $2.35 million for the Goolugatup Heathcote Lowerlands Renewal Project and $465,000 for the Esplanade Park.

The Goolugatup project, co-designed with Traditional Owners, will transform a waterfront site into a cultural and recreational space incorporating First Nations knowledge and ecological improvements.

The Esplanade Park development will feature community gathering spaces, native plantings, and a children's playground celebrating First Nations culture.

Global Roundup:

UK:

Reform UK has announced the creation of a 'Doge' unit - a team of software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors modeled after Elon Musk's US Department of Government Efficiency - which will begin reviewing council spending and efficiency.

Reform gained control of ten local councils in recent elections, and the waste and efficiency program is set to start with Kent Council, according to the Telegraph.

The party has promised to tackle waste and inefficiency in local government spending while improving services.

The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into an alleged multi-million-pound fraud against Thurrock Council, which invested £655m in Rockfire Capital's solar farm bond scheme between 2016 and 2020.

The Essex-based Council, declared bankrupt in December 2022, is pursuing civil claims against Rockfire and its owner while multiple regulatory bodies investigate the case, according to reporting from Yahoo Finance.

Thurrock Council said it would fully support the investigation, which it had been calling for as a vital step toward securing justice and ensuring accountability for its communities.

UK Councils are warning about the potentially life-threatening dangers of stockpiling disposable vapes, as a ban comes into force this month.

From the 1st June, it is now illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes, and there concerns as research shows 82% of users intended to stockpile devices ahead of the ban.

The ban followed advocacy from the Local Government Association, warning of environmental hazards and fire risks from lithium batteries, as well as the risks of nicotine addiction.

USA:

Georgia’s Columbus City Council voted 7-3 to terminate the employment of City Manager Isaiah Hugley, the city's longest-serving and first Black city manager, just seven months before his planned retirement.

Mr Hugley has served in the role for two decades, having started with the city in 1984, working his way up from an assistant director position to becoming city manager in 2005.

WRBL reported that the termination comes amid controversies including a legal dispute between Mr Hugley and six councillors, and investigations into the city’s finance and animal control departments.

CANADA:

A watchdog organisation is calling for an end to the practice of municipal governments receiving free tickets to events at public venues, following a CBC News investigation that revealed cities in British Columbia have received hundreds of complimentary tickets worth thousands of dollars.

The investigation has raised concerns about ethical implications, particularly in cases like Kamloops where city councillors received valuable Memorial Cup tickets after approving facility upgrades.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has released a comprehensive report highlighting the untapped potential of rural Canada and calling for a bold federal-municipal partnership to address key challenges such as infrastructure, digital connectivity, and public safety.

The report, the first of its kind in seven years, emphasises that rural communities are essential to national prosperity and recommends specific actions through a National Prosperity Partnership to ensure equitable support and sustainable growth across all communities.