Punching down, a suspension, and an imminent dissolution

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• Turmoil in Perth as a councillor exodus triggers a council’s dismissal
• A council challenges the EPA at VCAT
• A suspension for a veteran Merri-bek councillor
• A mayor’s anger over anti-semitic attacks in Melbourne
• CEO resignations and appointments, and a failed recruitment
• A mayor’s relief as a high profile murder trial concludes
• A Queensland council’s 25 per cent rate increase
• and more local government news from across Australia and beyond.

Learn more about SmartGlue at www.symphony3.com

On Tuesday, 22 July the VLGA and LGIU will host the next in its series of Global Executive Live Panels for 2025.

This webinar will explore the topic of Building the Local Economy and will be held online from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Panellists include:

• Dr Angela Jackson, Commissioner (Social Policy), Australian Productivity Commission
• David Marlow, Chief Executive, Third Life Economics 
• Merryn Tinkler, Manager Economy & Culture, Mount

Chapters

• 1:47 Victorian Report
• 9:53 NSW Report
• 15:39 City of Nedlands to be dismissed
• 21:23 Global Report

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

A battle over who should foot the bill for cleaning up illegally dumped industrial waste is heading to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal today.

Moorabool Shire Council is challenging an order from the Environment Protection Authority that would force local ratepayers to pay an estimated half-million dollars to safely dispose of abandoned containers of harmful industrial waste.

The waste was dumped on a Crown road reserve managed by the Council. Mayor Paul Tatchell claims the EPA had been monitoring the situation since late last year but failed to take appropriate action against those responsible.

In a strongly worded statement, Mayor Tatchell described the situation as "patently unfair" and accused the EPA of "punching down" onto councils and cost-shifting from state to local government.

The Mayor has also warned other Victorian councils to pay close attention to the case, suggesting it could set a concerning precedent where those under EPA scrutiny could avoid cleanup costs by moving waste to council-managed land.

The preliminary hearing begins at VCAT at 10am today.

Veteran Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz will be suspended over his social media activity. The suspension comes after he liked Facebook comments that were critical of fellow councillors and the council itself.

The Herald Sun reported that the incident began when Yildiz stormed out of a December council meeting and subsequently made a post to his 5,000 Facebook followers, and then liked numerous comments that targeted other councillors.

Councillor Jay Iwasaki filed the misconduct complaint, claiming the actions damaged his reputation and created community division.

Independent arbiter Noel Harvey OAM ruled that Yildiz's conduct fell "below the standard expected of a councillor" and determined that liking the comments amounted to endorsing their content.

As part of the sanctions, Yildiz is banned from posting about council matters on social media until he completes training on appropriate social media use.

The suspension takes effect on Thursday, following the expected tabling of the arbiter's report at a Council meeting tonight.

Kingston Council has confirmed the return of Cr Jane Agirtan, with immediate effect.

This follows the conclusion of outstanding legal proceedings that led to her being stood down earlier in the year.

Cr Agirtan said she was pleased the matters had been resolved, and that she was thrilled to be back at work representing Chiquita Ward on the council.

Buloke Shire Council CEO Wayne O’Toole has resigned after 3 and half years in the role.

He is leaving to take up a role in the not-for-profit sector.

Mr O’Toole was formerly the Council’s Director of Works and Technical Services before becoming CEO in January 2022, and has been with Buloke Shire for eight years.

Mayor Alan Getley acknowledged Mr O’Toole’s “immense contribution” and thanked him for his “unwavering commitment to our region.”

An interim CEO will be appointed soon, and preparations are under way to commence recruitment for a permanent appointment.

Cam Arullanantham has been appointed as Frankston City Council's Interim CEO for six months following Phil Cantillon's resignation.

Cam has been the council’s Director Infrastructure and Operations since 2020, and brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience across local government and infrastructure sectors.

The permanent CEO recruitment process will commence in the next month, with Cam stepping into the interim role from July 19.

South Gippsland Shire Mayor John Schelling has expressed relief at the conclusion of the high-profile Erin Patterson trial that brought international attention to the small communities of Korumburra and Leongatha.

Mayor Schelling said that now the trial is over, there was a need for healing and closure for everyone affected, noting that the individuals involved in the case are local community members and not just names in the headlines.

He said he hoped that the focus on the region would now ease, allowing the healing process for everyone affected to begin.

The Mayor of Port Phillip, Louise Crawford, has joined the chorus of condemnation of recent anti-semitic attacks in Melbourne, including the targeting of a synagogue and an Israeli restaurant.

Cr Crawford told me she is angry about these latest incidents...

Cr Crawford said she has reached out to Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and extended an offer of support - I asked her what that support would entail....

And Cr Crawford has welcomed the announcement by the Premier of an anti-hate taskforce, and hopes to be part of that process.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement is holding a summit for mayors on how councils can address ethnic and religiously motivated intolerance in their communities.

The summit will be held on the Gold Coast in September.

Victorian Briefs:

Tickets are on sale for the MAV’s Annual Conference, themed "The Future is Local," and to be held at the Park Hyatt Melbourne on 9th October.

The program will break from traditional formats, offering delegates a “choose their own adventure” experience before coming together at key points.

The Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre is relocating to East Gippsland Shire Council's Corporate Centre later this year.

The service will transition to weekday-only hours while introducing a new mobile visitor information service, as part of creating a more cost-effective and flexible visitor servicing model.

Baw Baw Shire Council has secured $1.4 million in Victorian Government funding to build a new pavilion at Western Park Oval 2 and a pump track at Burke Street Park in Warragul.

The projects aim to create inclusive spaces that promote physical activity, community engagement, and wellbeing for residents of all ages and abilities.

And Latrobe City Council has endorsed a new advocacy strategy to guide engagement with the state government.

A central feature is a planned delegation to State Parliament this month to advocate for critical local initiatives.

National Roundup:

NSW:

The search for a new CEO at Orange City Council has hit a roadblock. Despite attracting over 50 candidates, the council has been unable to secure a replacement for outgoing CEO David Waddell.

According to the Central Western Daily, shortlisted candidates presented to councillors late last month.

But Mayor Tony Mileto has confirmed that the recruitment attempt was unsuccessful, without providing specific reasons for the failure.

In a statement, Mayor Mileto emphasised the importance of making the right appointment, and said the council “will use the additional time we now have to make sure we get the best possible outcome for the Orange community."

Current CEO David Waddell is set to depart in early August after announcing in March he would not seek a contract extension.

The council will meet this Friday to discuss appointing an interim CEO and a recommencement of the recruitment process.

Former Baw Baw CEO Mark Dupe is heading back to work, announced this week as interim CEO for Berrigan Shire Council in NSW.

CEO Karina Ewer announced her resignation last month from the council, and is headed to northern Queensland as CEO of Charters Towers Regional Council.

Mr Dupe retired from Baw Baw late last year after more than two decades in the local government sector.

Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean welcomed Mark to the team, expressing confidence that he would keep things running while the process to recruit a permanent CEO gets underway.

An announcement on who will be Lismore Council’s next General Manager is close, after the council reportedly made a unanimous decision on the appointment this week.

The Lismore App reported that Mayor Steve Krieg got the go-ahead from the Council to negotiate contract terms with the successful applicant.

The position became vacant in March when Jon Gibbons resigned for family reasons after two years at the council.

In other Lismore news this week, the council has successfully completed a $2.78 million sewer relining program that upgraded over 5 kilometres of sewer mains and 1.4 kilometres of laterals across four key locations.

The project used innovative trenchless technology where possible to minimise disruption.

Mayor Steve Krieg said the project represents a long-term investment in the city's infrastructure, providing safer and stronger sewers with a 50-year service life while reducing blockages, emergency callouts, and environmental risks from overflows.

Parramatta City Council has given the green light to move ahead with the detailed design and tender process for a $276.8 million Riverside Theatres redevelopment project.

Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter says its a landmark cultural project, for which it will seek additional funding from the Australian Government, philanthropists, and investors to fully realise the vision.

The reimagined theatres will feature expanded performance spaces, cutting-edge technology, and improved accessibility, positioning it to attract major Australian and international productions.

The project, jointly funded by the City of Parramatta and the NSW Government's Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, aims to bolster Western Sydney's 24-hour economy and create new jobs and opportunities.

The Western Advocate (8th July, p.5) reports on Bathurst Council’s repeated pleas for the state’s health minister to come and see first hand a parking problem as construction looms on a $200M redevelopment of the city’s public hospital.

Councillors are upset at a perceived snub from Health Minister Ryan Park, who seemingly ignored a previous invitation despite being in nearby Orange.

Cr Warren Aubin said it would be diabolical to proceed with the redevelopment without allowing for a substantial increase in parking.

The council wants to see significantly more additional parking spaces than the 70 allowed for in the redevelopment plans.

Bega Valley Shire Council is monitoring runoff from a Bermagui development site after heavy rain caused mud sludge to flow through the town.

2EC reported that the runoff has affected a golf course, mangroves, and the harbour.

The council says that during intense rainfall events like this, some runoff is unavoidable, and it has been working with the Sapphire Cove development to ensure compliance with approvals.

NSW Briefs:

Lake Macquarie City Council says it’s bucking a national trend downwards in development investment, confirming the approval of development applications worth a total of $1.02 billion in the last financial year.

The achievement maintains Lake Macquarie's position as one of the top Local Government Areas in the state for development approvals.

Ballina Shire Council has completed a new accessible beach access ramp and improved emergency vehicle access at Lighthouse Beach, East Ballina.

The project received $400,000 in joint funding from Australian and NSW Governments.

The NSW Government has called for nominations for the 2025 Ministers' Awards for Women in Local Government, which celebrate the achievements of women in councils across NSW with seven award categories spanning both metropolitan and rural/regional areas.

Nominations close on August 19, 2025, with awards to be presented during a ceremony at NSW Parliament House in October.

WA:

Western Perth council, the City of Nedlands, is in turmoil following the resignation of four councillors on the same day.

The mass exodus means the council cannot achieve a quorum, and local government minister Hannah Beazley will remove the remaining councillors and install a commissioner until elections in October.

The minister said in a statement to media that the council has long been plagued by dysfunction and disunity, and she has commenced immediate action on installing three commissioners to take over the running of the council.

The remaining four councillor seats, including the mayor, will be vacated once the commissioners are appointed.

Long-serving councillor Ben Hodson ended his two-decade tenure on Monday morning, citing a "consistently toxic" environment. Councillors Hengameh Amiry and Noel Youngman followed shortly after.

By the end of the day, councillor Fergus Bennett had submitted his resignation, signalling the inevitable intervention from the state government.

The Council confirmed the four resignations in a statement, and said it is working closely with the department and the minister for local government “to determine the appropriate next steps.”

This week’s four resignations followed the departure of Melanie Pollard earlier in the year, with seven months of the term remaining.

The city’s website has been updated, displaying just the Mayor Fiona Argyle and three councillors as currently serving the city.

Mr Hodsdon spoke to radio 6PR during the day, describing the council environment as toxic, and expressing frustration with the council's leadership.

He said dogmatic beliefs had prevented fair consideration of community opinions.

Meanwhile, Mayor Fiona Argyle spoke to ABC Perth Radio, and welcomed the string of resignations, describing as “a great day” and fantastic news for ratepayers.

In an extraordinary interview, Cr Argyle, who is believed to be overseas currently, accused other councillors of working actively against her, and called it a great opportunity.

Cr Argyle defended the council’s decisions, threatened to sue anyone who says anything bad about her, and suggested she might form a new political party and re-stand for election later in the year.

Last night, the deputy mayor Kerry Smyth issued a statement, advising that this week’s council meeting has been rescheduled to next week, because of the inability to achieve a required quorum of five councillors.

Cr Smyth said the Council is awaiting guidance from the minister, and expressed deep disappointment in what she says appears to be “a deliberate attempt to disrupt the effective functioning of our local government.”

She said several critical issues awaiting decisions have now been delayed.

And Cr Smyth said the claims of dysfunction in the council had been raised by individuals who have not actively participated in council proceedings.

She said she would continue to work closely with the administration and carry out her duties as deputy mayor until further direction is receive from the department of local government.

Rockingham Council has voted to overturn a controversial policy that allowed councillors to use ratepayer funds for defamation cases, according to the Sound Telegraph.

The policy, which had been in place since 2001, permitted council members to access city funding to sue individuals or organizations for making adverse personal comments that could lessen community confidence in the local government.

Councillor Kelly Middlecoat, who successfully moved the motion to amend the policy, called the change "critical to rebuilding trust with residents." She noted that the former policy had no financial limit on funds that could be requested and even extended to former councillors.

Despite being in place for over two decades, no councillor has ever applied to use the public funds for defamation proceedings.

QLD:

In a contentious council meeting, North Burnett Regional Council has narrowly passed its 2025/2026 budget with a 4 to 3 vote.

The Central and North Burnett Times reported that the budget includes a steep 25 percent increase on all rates and a 19 percent increase on water and wastewater levies. The council has also eliminated discounts for early or on-time payments.

CEO Craig Matheson said the council has some major long-term financial challenges, including operational costs rising at 10 percent annually while revenue grows at just 5 percent.

The budget meeting was marked by public interruptions and a divided council, with Mayor Les Hotz and three councillors voting in favour, while three councillors opposed the measures.

LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said the North Burnett decision exemplified the significant financial pressures facing Queensland councils, due to insufficient funding despite providing essential community services.

She said councils receive only three cents of every tax dollar while being expected to maintain services and infrastructure, resulting in a $360 million annual shortfall from cost-shifting where local governments must step in as providers of last resort.

The peak body is advocating for fairer funding distribution to ensure communities receive the liveability they deserve.

Global Roundup:

NZ:

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has thrown his support behind a controversial government proposal to cap council rates increases, according to a report from Radio New Zealand. The proposal, which will be considered by Cabinet later this year, has received mixed reactions across local government.

Mayor Mauger said he envisions a rates cap of around 5 percent, acknowledging that capping at inflation levels would be challenging for councils to manage.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has been vocal about what she describes as wasteful spending by councils, comparing local politicians to "kids in a candy store." Willis says the government wants councils to focus on basic services like rubbish collection, roads, and infrastructure.

The proposal has faced opposition from Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Local Government New Zealand president Sam Broughton, who warned that capping rates could be "disastrous for communities."

UK:

A breakthrough in pay negotiations for council workers in Scotland, where Unison members have voted to accept a two-year pay deal offering 4% this year and 3.5% next year, with 83% approval in the ballot according to Yahoo Finance.

The Scottish Finance Secretary welcomed the decision and urged members of Unite and GMB unions to also accept the offer, which aims to provide council workers with financial security as their pay will outpace inflation.

USA:

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, including the Mayor Karen Bass, over the city's sanctuary immigration policies.

ABC Los Angeles reported that the federal lawsuit claims the city’s policies violate the Constitution's Supremacy Clause by deliberately obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated the city is "picking and choosing which federal laws will be enforced," while council members are defending its policies.

In response, L.A. City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez defended the ordinance, saying "We refuse to stand by and let Donald Trump deport innocent families."

Legal expert have called the lawsuit "legally weak," noting cities aren't required to use their resources for federal immigration enforcement.

But the lawsuit could impact numerous other cities with similar sanctuary policies, including Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Ana.

A curious political drama is unfolding in the small California city of Palmdale.

Its Mayor Richard Loa has been stripped of his title amid mysterious circumstances.

Last week, the City Attorney asked the councillor to recuse himself from a meeting, citing "confidential allegations" and a conflict of interest. The council subsequently voted unanimously to remove him from all committee and city assignments pending an investigation.

Mr Loa told NBC Los Angeles that he was shocked at the decision, describing it as a sandbagging.

He says he has "no idea what they are investigating," and speculated that it may be related to recent changes in how the mayor of the city is elected.

Despite losing his title and assignments, Loa remains on the city council as an elected member.

Two Pittsburgh City Council members are calling for an investigation of their sergeant in arms after a heated public hearing where the officer called for back-up, which some councilmembers deemed unnecessary, according to CBS News.

The Department of Public Safety is conducting an internal review of the incident, which has been attributed by one council member to miscommunication rather than overreaction.

CANADA:

Vancouver is hitting the brakes on speeding through neighbourhood streets.

Global News reported that the city councils is set to consider reducing speed limits on minor streets from 50 kilometers per hour to 30.

It’s part of the globally recognised "Vision Zero" strategy, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries entirely.

The city plans to implement these changes gradually, starting with 25 neighbourhood slow zones at a cost of $350,000. The complete citywide rollout over three years comes with a price tag of approximately $14 million.

The council is due to vote on the proposal this week.