Landslide inquiry report, a nonsensical decision, and AI manipulation

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• The McCrae Landslide Board of Inquiry report has been submitted to government - what are the likely implications for the local government sector?
• Moorabool continues to challenge the EPA over transparency concerns
• CEO level appointments in Victoria and NSW, and a contract extension in Queensland
• A controversial shark net trial up in the air in NSW, but the affected councils want it to proceed
• Industrial action looms for another Queensland council
• Nominations are in for WA council elections
• and the UK has a new local government minister

Plus more 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

• 0:54 Victorian Report
• 8:23 NSW Report
• 10:03 QLD Report
• 12:07 WA Report
• 14:12 Global Report

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

The Board of Inquiry into the McCrae landslide on the Mornington Penisula has submitted its final report, one day before the 10th September deadline.

The landslide in January this year destroyed one house, and damaged three others, and a Mornington Pensiula Shire Council officer was seriously injured.

19 properties were evacuated, with many residents unable to return to their homes for months.

The inquiry was established in March, commenced public hearings in May, and was required to provide its final report by today, a deadline that was extended in June.

The Inquiry announced yesterday that it had completed its report, which is now with the government.

Speaking to me on VLGA Connect, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council CEO Mark Stoermer said he expects the report will have broad implications for the local government sector.

MS: I do think the whole sector should watch this, because I do think there will be some important takeaways from this.

CE: And is that based on your observation of the information that was shared, and the discussions that happened during the inquiry?

MS: Yeah

CE: Give us your two cents, what do you think other CEOs should be looking for?

MS: I think one of the things that will come out of this will the role of erosion management overlays, and some councils have already started releasing that kind of information. And I think the other thing that I hope to see is some clarity on the role of Municipal Building Surveyor because that’s been a challenge in this as well. I think there might be some lessons in that space.

Moorabool Shire Council is not backing away from its dispute with the EPA over toxic waste on public land, and plans to take its concerns to the Victorian Information Commissioner.

Its FOI requests to the EPA have been denied three times, and the Council is warning other agencies that manage public land about its concerns.

The issue escalated recently when the council was forced to pay $500K to clean up trailers of toxic waste material originating from a property that it says was under surveillance by the EPA for at least a year.

Mayor Paul Tatchell said the EPA won’t be transparent about how the situation evolved, and won’t share the relevant information with the Council.

The Herald Sun reported that childcare workers in Knox have staged a protest outside the council meeting to demand the council apply for a federal government grant that would provide a 15% pay rise above award wages.

Knox City Council is one of 27 councils eligible but yet to apply for the grant, and says it is "committed to further investigating" while maintaining they already pay educators above the award under their Enterprise Agreement.

Cardinia Shire Council has appointed James Collins as its new CEO for a five-year term following an extensive recruitment process.

Mr Collins brings over 15 years of executive experience, including his current role as Director of City Planning and Infrastructure at the City of Casey.

He has also worked at Monash, Yarra Ranges and Banyule councils.

He will begin his role on October 13, replacing Interim CEO Peter Benazic who stepped in after former CEO Carol Jeffs resigned earlier this year.

Wellington Shire Mayor Scott Rossetti is calling on state and federal governments to rethink how local government is funded.

He says there is a need for a model that reflects the real cost of delivering services in rural and regional areas.

With rising costs, rate capping limitations, and increasing cost-shifting from other levels of government, the council is facing significant challenges in maintaining infrastructure and funding essential local services across its large geographical area.

It is encouraging residents to write to MPs and engage in conversation on the issue with neighbours.

Yarriambiack Shire Council has endorsed the transfer of kindergarten services in Minyip, Rupanyup, and Warracknabeal to Emerge Early Years Services after successful community consultation and a positive partnership since October 2024.

The transition will occur in stages, with Rupanyup and Minyip transferring first, aiming to complete all transitions by the end of 2025.

Corangamite Shire Council is urging dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead when visiting Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Reserves to protect wildlife and prevent potential confrontations with kangaroos.

The Council says it had received reports of off-leash dogs chasing wildlife.

Local Laws Officers are patrolling the areas and can issue penalties for unleashed dogs and uncollected droppings.

The new Keysborough Community Hub officially opened on the weekend, with over 1,500 residents attending the celebration to explore facilities including a library, maternal and child health services, and community spaces.

The project features environmentally sustainable design with a 5-Star Green Star rating and will serve as a central gathering place for one of Greater Dandenong's fastest-growing communities.

It was supported by the Victorian Government, with $4M contributed, while the council invested $22M.

Victorian Briefs:

Casey City Council is urging the Victorian Government to address growing graffiti vandalism on State-owned infrastructure, offering to manage removal if proper funding is provided.

The Council's comprehensive Graffiti Management Program handles over 50,000 square metres of graffiti annually, but State contracts only allow removal near rail platforms leaving many visible areas untouched and undermining local clean-up efforts.

Latrobe City Council has launched an investment campaign highlighting the region as a strategic hub for business growth, showcasing its affordable land, skilled workforce, and strong infrastructure just 90 minutes from Melbourne.

The campaign features stories from local businesses and emphasises key advantages including the Gippsland Logistics and Manufacturing Precinct and the Latrobe Regional Airport's transformation into an aerospace innovation centre.

Bass Coast Shire Council has taken out the 2025 AustStab Award for Excellence in Recycling Pavements for its innovative Paver Laid In-Situ Recycling process that reuses existing road materials on-site.

The project achieved an 85% reduction in greenhouse emissions and 80% fewer truck movements while creating durable roads with less community disruption.

VLGA Message:

As part of the VLGA’s ongoing commitment to support councillors on their journey to be successful community representatives, the Victorian Councillor Census is back again in 2025. All Councillors in Victoria will be emailed the Census on October 6 and will have until the end of the month to complete. Now in its second year, the VLGA’s annual Census captures and tracks councillor demographics, attitudes, and the key challenges to local governance over time.

You do not need to be a member of the VLGA to participate and at no stage will the VLGA have access to an individual’s responses. The findings of the Census will be used to inform, influence and lead conversations across local government and other tiers of Government. This is your chance to have your voice heard as a councillor. All responses to the Census will be fully confidential.

National Roundup:

NSW:

Three local councils still support a controversial shark net removal trial at select beaches despite a fatal shark attack at Dee Why Beach, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Premier Chris Minns has paused the trial pending an investigation into the incident.

The trial was set to remove nets from three beaches in the Central Coast, Waverley and Northern Beaches council areas and replace them with alternative shark mitigation measures, but specific locations were yet to be finalised.

Narrandera Shire Council has appointed Timothy Coote as its new General Manager effective October 27.

The appointment follows the retirement of Mr. George Cowan who served in the role for over eight years.

Mr. Coote brings leadership experience from his previous role as CEO of the District Council of Ceduna in South Australia.

Camden Council has launched an anti-domestic violence campaign by displaying prevention messages on its parks vehicles.

The messaging is focussed on challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting community awareness, and aims to serve as a visible reminder of the council's commitment to creating a safer community where domestic violence has no place.

A Hills Shire Council petition has gathered over 20,000 signatures supporting infrastructure improvements, and will now be debated in NSW Parliament.

The campaign has already secured several commitments including road upgrades, school funding, and additional parking.

But Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne said there's still a long way to go to meet the area's infrastructure needs amid rapid population growth.

QLD:

Staff at Southern Downs Regional Council will reportedly walk off the job tomorrow, as enterprise bargaining negotiations reach a stalemate.

Warwick Today reported that members of four unions have confirmed a two hour stoppage on Thursday.

Unions are seeking a 14 per cent pay rise over three years, while the Council has offered four per cent.

The council told the paper it is disappointed an agreement hasn’t been reached, and it has contingency plans to ensure service delivery continuity.

Cook Shire Council has voted to extend the contract of Chief Executive Officer Brian Joiner for an additional two years. The extension will see Mr. Joiner continue in his role until August 2028, beyond the current contract that was set to expire in August 2026.

The extension means Mr Joiner will remain with the elected Council through their current term.

Mr. Joiner confirmed he would accept the extension offer, and despite being eligible for a pay increase, has declined any offer of a pay rise for this period.

Rockhampton has established itself as Central Queensland's sporting tourism hub, as the council releases new data demonstrating the benefits flowing from recent events.

The 2025 Queensland Touch Junior State Cup alone brought 14,000 attendees and generated an $8.9 million economic boost to the region.

The city is continuing to attract major sporting events as part of its Economic Development Strategy, with plans to host more competitions in the future, including serving as the rowing venue for the 2032 Olympic Games.

Redland City Council has launched an interactive Koala Watch dashboard to help community members report and monitor local koala populations.

The new dashboard enhances an existing online platform, and allows users to filter koala sightings by various parameters and track ambassador koalas.

The tool is expected to provide valuable data for Council's conservation efforts and koala management strategies.

WA:

Nominations are in for WA local council elections, set to take place in October.

1,068 candidates have nominated for 553 vacancies, across 127 local governments.

While 397 of those vacancies will be contested, nearly 150 candidates have been already been elected unopposed.

One of those is Douglas McLarty, who has been re-elected unopposed as the President of the Shire of Murray.

On the Council since 2017, Mr McLarty has earned another two year term in the role he has held since March this year.

The WA electoral commission said 13 vacancies will remain unfilled, having failed to attract sufficient candidate nominations. That means 10 councils will need to hold extraordinary elections at a later date.

The Shire of Pingelly has become the second WA local government to challenge what officials are calling a "nonsensical" decision by a state government committee.

WA Today reported that the shire’s proposed "Save the Numbat Local Law" was rejected despite being identical to regulations already approved in neighbouring Narrogin in 2016.

Shire Chief Executive Andrew Dover has announced they will implement the laws anyway while awaiting a hearing in the upper house.

The City of Bayswater has taken similar action, with a decision on their case expected September 16th.

Of 26 local governments attempting to pass cat containment laws, only three have succeeded.

The City of Bayswater has approved a new tree retention policy that will protect mature trees on private land from being cleared for developments and subdivisions

The policy excludes properties with single houses, according to PerthNow.

It was passed by a narrow 5-4 vote, and represents a compromise position that aims to address significant tree canopy loss while balancing concerns about property rights.

Global Roundup:

UK:

In the UK, Steve Reed has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government following a cabinet reshuffle, triggered by the resignation of deputy PM Angela Rayner last week.

The County Councils Network has welcomed Mr Reed’s appointment, while emphasising the importance of sustainable funding, planning reforms, and careful evaluation of local government reorganisation proposals.

The Local Government Information Unit said Mr Reed’s extensive local government experience means he has a real understanding of the current pressures facing the sector.

CANADA:

In Clarington, Ontario, a city councillor has claimed that a threatening voicemail sent to a potential mayoral candidate was manipulated using artificial intelligence technology.

CTV News reported that Councillor Corinna Traill is denying responsibility for death threats made to Tom Dingwall, who is considering a run for mayor next year. The 39-second message, which allegedly threatened both Dingwall and his wife, is currently under investigation by Peterborough Police.

Police have yet to respond to Traill's claims about AI manipulation. The councillor has promised to "continue to fully cooperate with authorities" as the investigation proceeds.

Nearly four years after declaring a climate emergency, Calgary City Council is set to debate whether to rescind that declaration, according to CTV News.

A motion, brought forward by four councillors who are part of the Communities First municipal party, also calls for an audit of climate-related spending.

Councillor Sonya Sharp, who initially voted for the declaration in 2021 but now calls it a "misstep," is leading the charge.

But Mayor Jyoti Gondek has characterised the motion as "politicking" ahead of the municipal election.

According to city documents, Calgary's Climate and Environment department currently operates with a $26 million operating budget and a $22 million capital budget.

Council will debate the motion this week.

NZ:

Two New Zealand mayors will be elected unopposed in the upcoming local government elections, with Michael Ford in Manawatū and Marie Black in Hurunui both viewing this as a sign their districts desire consistency rather than change.

But local government expert Dr. Andy Asquith has told Radio New Zealand that the lack of candidates suggests disengagement rather than satisfaction, and he is calling for reforms to increase public participation in local politics.

A proposed restructure at Wellington City Council could eliminate up to 63 positions across libraries, parks, recreation, city safety, and digital services, according to a report from The Post.

The proposal has prompted criticism from the Public Service Association regarding the timing just weeks before local elections.

The union argues the restructure would remove specialist expertise and overburden remaining staff, while the council maintains many of the affected roles are at managerial levels.

USA:

The City of San Jose, California is implementing a $200,000 grant program to support AI startups addressing civic problems.

The move aims to also foster economic and workforce development in the region.

Four companies were selected from over 170 applications, with plans to improve Medicaid patient outreach, reduce food waste, compress AI models, and enhance satellite data processing.

Read more on the initiative at Route Fifty dot com