Sweeping meeting changes, a censure overturned, and an un-resignation

Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Another council raises concerns about a surprise renewable energy zone proposal
• An urgent call for animal foster carers in Gippsland
• Sweeping changes announced for council meetings in NSW
• A censured Parramatta councillor’s court win
• A Council GM un-resigns and gets a new five year deal
• Councils rejecting
• phone tower proposals
• The toll mounts from a stubborn algal bloom in South Australia
• and the city looking to limit resident’s smartphone use

Plus more of the latest local government news from across Australia and beyond

To ensure all councils can comply with mandatory requirements, no matter their size or location, the VLGA is offering a special Councillor Professional Development (CPD) Intensives series.

Partner with three other councils and save more than 50% off the minimum cost of completing all 13 modules in Year 1.

Chapters

• 0:52 Victorian Report
• 6:23 NSW Report
• 10:00 QLD Report
• 12:21 TAS/SA/WA Report
• 15:04 Global Report

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

Greater Shepparton City Council has called for an urgent review of a newly proposed renewable energy zone between Shepparton East and Benalla.

The zone was unexpectedly included in the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan announced recently.

The Shepparton News reported that the council will prepare a submission to VicGrid on its concerns about potential impacts on high value agricultural land.

A six-week feedback period starts mid-September.

Animal Aid in Bairnsdale is urgently seeking foster carers to temporarily house dogs due to an unprecedented influx of animals that has overwhelmed their shelter capacity.

East Gippsland Shire Mayor John White has encouraged the community to step up and support the services by becoming foster carers, and has highlighted the importance of responsible pet ownership.

Animal Aid will provide necessary supplies and support while foster families offer safe environments and care for animals in need.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Councillor Danny Goss has led a historic repatriation of 37 cultural artifacts to the Lardil People of Mornington Island.

The council said the trip to far north Queensland marks a significant step toward reconciliation.

The items, which include bark paintings, jewellery, and wood carvings, were originally brought to Warragul in 1982 and will now be stored in the Mornington Island community's cultural keeping place for future generations.

The Mayor personally funded his own return airfares to Mornington Island.

Wodonga Council has voted against an officer recommendation to approve a planning permit for a telecommunications tower Bandiana.

The Border Mail (August 30, 2025) reported that the Telstra tower was proposed to be built on crown land, 40 metres from existing properties.

The matter was brought before the council as the number of objections exceeded a threshold of five objections.

It was unanimously rejected and will potentially now be taken to VCAT for review.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has decided to close the customer service function at the Woodend Community Centre, due to declining attendance and potential annual savings of nearly $38,000.

The service which sees an average of 8 customers per day will close at the end of the year.

The closure only affects the customer service desk, while other services including the Woodend Library will continue to operate normally.

Wyndham City Council has engaged former Victorian State Minister Justin Madden to review the development agreement and governance frameworks for the Wyndham Stadium Precinct following recent developments with the Western Melbourne Group.

The independent review aims to ensure the best outcome for the community while protecting ratepayer interests in this Council-owned land project.

Victorian Briefs:

Alpine Shire Council reopened services in Bright on Friday, after shutting down earlier in the week while a Police manhunt continued in the Porepunkah area.

The Porepunkah Transfer Station will remain closed until further notice.

The City of Greater Geelong and the Australia India Business Council have signed a strategic MOU to advance bilateral trade and investment between the Geelong region and India.

The collaboration will include various initiatives including information exchange and investment promotion to create sustainable growth and prosperity for businesses in both regions.

A $4M upgrade to the much-loved Rokeby to Noojee Trail has been officially opened with a celebration attended by Baw Baw Shire councillors and MP Harriet Shing.

The 15-kilometre section from Rokeby to Neerim South now has an improved trail surface, redeveloped carparks, new signage, and upgraded amenities.

VLGA Message:

Places are filling fast for the VLGA’s Mayoral Leadership Program.  Book now to secure your place.

The program, now in its second year, is designed to equip mayors and deputy mayors with the knowledge they need to lead their council effectively and with good governance at their foundation.

It is now mandatory for Mayors and Deputy Mayors to undertake training at the commencement of each mayoral term. Under the new Victorian Government reforms this training must be completed by 31 December 2025.

The VLGA Mayoral Leadership Program will be held on Friday, 28 November from 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Monash Conference Centre, 30 Collins St, Melbourne.

The full-day program will cover the roles and responsibilities of a mayor, the mayor-CEO relationship, how to chair a council meeting, managing difficult conversations, dispute resolution and effective communications and media training and directly aligns with the state governments mandatory professional development requirements.

National Roundup:

NSW:

The NSW Government has announced sweeping changes to how local council meetings will operate across the state, with “a new era of transparency” set to begin from January next year.

Under the Minns Labor Government's reforms, council meetings will face stricter rules designed to boost public confidence in local government. The new Model Code of Meeting Practice will prohibit private councillor briefings on matters that should be discussed publicly and will require councils to live stream all meetings.

Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig says the changes aim to restore dignity to council chambers and ensure decisions are made in full view of the communities they represent.

"The council chamber should be a place of dignity, where debate and decision making takes place in full view of the community," Minister Hoenig said.

Mayors will also gain expanded powers to remove disorderly councillors and disruptive members of the public from meetings.

Significant misconduct cases will in future go to the Land and Environment Court, rather than the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, a move that the Sunday Telegraph reported would speed up the process of dealing with such matters.

All NSW councils must adopt the new meeting practices by December 31st, 2025, with the changes taking effect from January 1st, 2026.

The New South Wales Supreme Court has quashed the censure of Parramatta City Councillor Kellie Darley, who was punished for speaking out against a partnership deal with the Parramatta Eels rugby league club.

ABC News reported that Acting Justice Monika Schmidt found that Councillor Darley was denied procedural fairness and was a victim of bias during the conduct review process that led to her censure in July last year.

The court ordered both the censure and the conduct review be invalidated, ruling that the independent reviewer had not acted impartially.

Councillor Darley had been censured after posting on social media about details of the council's $1.1 million partnership with the Eels, which was approved in January 2024 in a split vote.

The City of Parramatta says it is reviewing the court's decision.

Lithgow Mayor Cassandra Coleman is urging state and federal governments to jointly acquire the Pacific National Rail Yard Site to transform the region's economy as it transitions away from coal dependency.

The acquisition would help offset the anticipated loss of approximately 1,100 local jobs in the coal mining and power industry over the next decade by creating new economic opportunities.

Mayor Coleman said Government ownership of the site would demonstrate a commitment to NSW’s economic transformation and developing a skilled workforce.

Eurobodalla Shire Council has officially abandoned controversial plans that would have allowed camping in popular coastal reserves near Batemans Bay.

About Regional reported that the proposal faced significant community opposition with more than 400 residents signing a petition against the move.

Local business owners expressed concerns that the camping plan would create issues with noise and waste management, while potentially undermining existing accommodation providers in the area.

The council has now approved an amended Plan of Management that significantly restricts camping, allowing it only during special events with 24-hour security present.

The revised plan also clarifies that emergency-related camping would be permitted only during natural disasters when the site is designated as an evacuation centre.

Armidale Regional Council General Manager James Roncon has been reappointed to a new five year deal, after advising nearly 12 months ago that he would be moving on.

Mr Roncon was due to leave his position at the end of his last contract, but agreed to stay on while the council arranged a transition process.

But last week in a closed session, the Council resolved to offer Mr Roncon a new five year contract, commencing this month, and congratulated him on his performance to date.

QLD:

Sunshine Coast News reports that telecommunications provider Waveconn is taking Sunshine Coast Council to court after their plans for a 31-metre phone tower were rejected last month.

The council voted 10 to 1 against the proposal, citing concerns about the tower's impact on the area's rural character and visual amenity.

The proposed tower on Campbell Street faced significant community opposition, with over 440 submissions and six petitions containing 253 signatures lodged against the development.

Waveconn argues the infrastructure is necessary to provide reliable 5G services to Woombye residents and businesses. Their appeal, filed on August 22nd in the Planning and Environment Court, claims the development would not unacceptably impact the character of the area.

A former Cook Shire Council manager, Ellana Habermann, has been awarded $2.36 million in damages after suffering psychiatric injury when the council failed to clarify that a racist email circulated in her name was fabricated.

The fake email, which falsely portrayed her as racist toward an Aboriginal corporation during a rates dispute, was eventually tabled in parliament.

The Cairns Post reported that damages awarded include amounts for future and past economic loss. A costs hearing has been set for later this month.

National Briefs:

Pollution signage has been removed from all impacted beaches in Central Coast, with the mysterious debris balls no longer present. The Council advised on Friday that analysis of the debris is still underway.

Hawkesbury City Council's new Aboriginal teaching garden, Ngarra Ngurang/Place of Learning, will open to the public on September 14th with a community event featuring Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, and dance performances.

The garden celebrates Aboriginal knowledge and local plant use, created in partnership with Dharug and Aboriginal community organisations.

Cairns Regional Council is hosting its first-ever Careers Fair this week, offering job seekers the opportunity to explore diverse employment opportunities in local government.

The event will showcase various career pathways from apprenticeships to professional roles, allowing attendees to meet hiring managers, learn about employee benefits, and gain insights into Council's workplace culture.

TAS:

The City of Hobart is trialing AI software to identify unauthorised short-term rental properties.

ABC News reported that the software has already flagged four potential violators who may be avoiding higher council rates imposed on such accommodations.

The software is being tested for 12 months after which a decision will be made on whether its effectiveness and cost benefits warrant permanent adoption.

SA:

The Guardian has reported on how workers from the City of Charles Sturt in South Australia are collecting up to 200kg of dead marine life daily from beaches affected by a stubborn algal bloom.

The bloom has killed animals from 480 different species and caused significant ecological damage.

It is causing collective trauma and ecoanxiety in the community as the bloom, likely caused by climate change-induced marine heatwaves, continues to "pulsate" with no end in sight.

Salisbury Council has revealed an ambitious 25-year economic strategy that includes RM Williams expanding its Adelaide operations and plans to create over 37,000 jobs in a new industrial precinct west of Port Wakefield Road.

The comprehensive plan also involves developing 1600 homes on council land and unlocking more than 1000 hectares of industrial and commercial land through partnerships with the state government.

The Advertiser reported that the plan was unveiled at a special event this week attended by the deputy premier and RM Williams’ chief operating officer.

WA:

The City of South Perth has adopted a new planning policy to help assess how new developments exceeding typical height limits might impact views from neighbouring buildings.

The policy directs the City to consider the likely impact of developments that propose a non-standard building height, and ensures a balanced approach between preserving significant views and allowing reasonable development.

The Town of Port Hedland is mourning one of its most beloved community figures, Arnold Carter, whose 60-year legacy shaped the region. After arriving in 1962, he helped establish Port Hedland as a key iron ore export hub while working with Mt Goldsworthy Mining Associates.

Mr Arnold served 34 years on Council, including as Shire President from 1979-1985).

He survived 29 cyclones and owned 26 local businesses, and his legacy lives on through local infrastructure and community groups.

Global Roundup:

UK:

UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is reportedly planning to introduce tougher sanctions on English councils that block housing developments.

The Guardian reported that the move will potentially force Councils to approve new developments or risk handing planning control to Whitehall.

The government aims to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of parliament, though planning bodies argue that developers already have sufficient approvals and are reluctant to build due to economic factors.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the UK government's plan to merge councils in 21 English areas into single authorities has not been supported by independent cost analysis.

The BBC reported that initial analysis with savings estimates of £2.9bn has been revised, and the mergers will likely now cost money instead.

The County Council Network, whose initial analysis the government relied on, is warning that the proposed reorganisation will cost £850M over five years and deliver no new savings if 58 new councils are created existing two-tier areas.

Norwich City Council has abandoned a major IT project after years of delays and technical issues.

The BBC reported that the council has reached a confidential settlement with contractor Civica.

The cloud-based workflow management system, originally scheduled for completion in 2023, faced multiple setbacks, leading the council to retain its existing desktop-based system.

It is facing criticism for a lack of transparency regarding the compensation amount.

USA:

Patrick Braxton, the first Black mayor of Newbern, Alabama, has won reelection with 66 votes against 26 for his opponent, solidifying his position after previously being locked out of office by white residents who refused to let him serve.

The Telegraph reported that the election was held under a federal settlement following a lawsuit against the town's "hand-me-down governance" system.

The outcome represents a significant turning point for democratic representation in the small town where Black residents outnumber white residents 2-to-1.

In Connecticut, Bridgeport City Council member Alfredo Castillo is facing 10 additional charges related to absentee ballot tampering in the state’s largest city.

ABC News reported that the new counts have been added to previous charges from earlier this year.

The case is part of a broader investigation that led to a court-ordered election rerun and has contributed to concerns about election security in the United States.

CANADA:

Ottawa City Council has voted to reprimand one of its councillors for using memes and emojis that allegedly harassed residents during online debates about housing asylum seekers.

But CBC reported that the council rejected the integrity commissioner's recommendation to dock the pay of councillor Stephanie Plante, who has maintained that her social media posts did not constitute abuse or bullying.

She is said to be considering appealing the decision to Superior Court.

From Ontario, CTV News reports that multiple Essex County municipalities, including LaSalle and Leamington, are moving forward with discussions on implementing a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) on hotel stays and short-term rentals to generate additional revenue for tourism-related initiatives.

The tax would create a new funding source that doesn't burden local homeowners, with revenue being split between municipalities and tourism bodies to support tourism infrastructure and events.

NZ:

Auckland Council has welcomed the Government's significant strengthening of penalties for breaches of the Resource Management Act, with maximum fines increasing to $1 million for individuals and $10 million for companies, alongside new cost recovery provisions for councils.

The legislative changes represent the most substantial reform of RMA enforcement in decades and aim to deter environmental breaches by ensuring violators face appropriate consequences for their actions.

JAPAN:

The Japanese city of Toyoake has proposed an ordinance urging residents to restrict their smartphone use to two hours per day.

The non-binding measure would also recommend screen time be avoided completely during certain evening hours.

The Guardian reported that residents have not responded positively to the move, which they see as a infringement on personal freedom.

But the city’s mayor hopes it will encourage families to discuss their device usage habits, with the aim of dealing with physical and mental health issues caused by excessive use of devices.