Sandon in court, resignations, elections, and another councillor suspended

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• Baw Baw Shire appoints a new CEO
• A surprise councillor resignation on the Surf Coast
• Operation Sandon finally reaches a courtroom
• CEO appointment news from NSW
• A controversial flouride decision in Queensland
• A South Australian mayor resigns after months of turmoil
• A Tasmanian councillor suspended for code of conduct breaches
• and tensions flare in Perth’s Lord Mayoral contest
• Plus European cities under pressure from overtourism, and provincial intervention raises concerns in Canada.

Victorian Local Governance Association
The VLGA is an independent organisation supporting councils and councillors in good governance.

Chapters

• 2:23 Victorian Report
• 10:30 NSW Report
• 15:33 QLD Report
• 17:07 TAS/SA/WA/NT Report
• 21:33 Global Report

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

The new permanent CEO of Baw Baw Shire Council has been revealed, after three interim CEOs and some ten months since Mark Dupe resigned the position in November last year.

Tilla Buden, a senior executive with experience at Greater Dandenong, Yarra Ranges and Bayside Councils, will take up the role on 17th November.

Ms Buden is currently the Director of Community and Customer Experience at Bayside, a role she has held since August 2022.

Mayor Danny Goss said Tilla’s leadership skills, strategic vision and genuine commitment to community will be invaluable in helping shape a strong and vibrant future for Baw Baw.

He also thanked John Bennie for his support and dedication as interim CEO since March this year.

Martin Hopley and Cohen Van der Velde also spent time in the interim role after Mr Dupe's departure late last year.

Surf Coast Shire councillor Rebecca Bourke has resigned effective immediately.

Council CEO Robyn Seymour issued a statement yesterday afternoon, announcing the resignation, and advising that the Victorian Electoral Commission will conduct a countback process from the 2024 local government election to determine a new councillor for the Torquay Ward.

Mayor Mike Bodsworth thanked Ms Bourke for her work as a councillor, and acknowledged her commitment to improved health and wellbeing outcomes for young people during her time on Council.

Surf Coast Shire Council has reaffirmed its position not to participate in Australia Day celebrations on January 26th, a stance it has maintained since 2021. The Council will continue to fly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at half-mast on the day.

Mayor Mike Bodsworth says the decision reflects the Council's view that supporting celebrations on a day of sadness for First Nations people is inconsistent with their commitment to reconciliation.

The Council made the decision after receiving a report on the impacts to the First Nations community and considering both positive and negative outcomes of reinstating Australia Day celebrations.

While acknowledging differing views in the community, Mayor Bodsworth emphasised that the Council is not preventing other organisations or individuals from holding their own Australia Day events.

Additionally, the Council has resolved to advocate to the federal government for changing the date of Australia Day to the last weekend in January.

Operation Sandon finally reached a courtroom this week, with former City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz and property developer John Woodman at the centre of allegations involving $1.2 million in alleged corrupt payments.

9News reported that the pair faced Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday via video link, on charges that come seven years after IBAC began its investigations.

Aziz faces five charges including receiving secret commissions and misconduct in public office, while Woodman is charged with giving secret commissions.

The investigation led to the entire Casey council being dismissed by state parliament in February 2020.

The two men are scheduled to reappear in court on February 2nd for a committal mention.

Ballarat City Council is fighting to protect a crucial freight rail connection to Melbourne's port that's threatened by the Sunshine Superhub development.

There are fears that the removal of the Sunshine rail crossoverwould force costly detours via Geelong.

The Council is advocating for a new short rail link between Brooklyn and Tottenham to safeguard the viability of the $42.2 million Ballarat West Employment Zone Intermodal Freight Hub, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

Kingston Council has been forced to reissue more than 3,000 rates notices after undercharging property owners, according to a report from the Frankston Times.

The problem has arisen due to a miscalculation of the new state government Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

The error primarily affects Commercial, Industrial, Vacant Land, and Primary Production properties.

The Council said it is working with affected ratepayers on payment arrangements due to the delay.

Mansfield Shire Council has rung alarm bells about secretive planning reforms proposed by the Victorian Government, which it fears could significantly reduce local community input on development decisions.

Mayor Steve Rabie is concerned that there has been no consultation with local councils, and about an inability to access information about these changes which are scheduled for October.

The Council wants community members to contact their local MPS if they are concerned about losing their voice through the reforms that it says may permanently damage councils' ability to plan for specific community needs.

The lifting of travel warnings in parts of northeast Victoria affected by the recent Police shootings at Porepunkah has been welcomed by local leaders.

But Indigo Shire Mayor Sophie Price says it will take more for the region to return to normal, as the search for the alleged shooter is ongoing.

Cr Price will join me on this week’s episode of VLGA Connect, and will provide an update on the fight for better hospital and health services across the region.

Look out for that interview, as well as update from Tony Raunic of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers on legal and governance issues on VLGA Connect. New episode coming your way later today on YouTube and podcast.

Victorian Briefs:

Moyne Shire Council has formally objected to the proposed Swansons Lane Wind Farm due to concerns about its proximity to Garvoc township, impacts on productive dairy land, inadequate community engagement, and incomplete technical assessments.

The council, along with Corangamite Shire, has called for stronger standards and clearer policy direction for renewable energy projects in south-west Victoria.

Murrindindi Shire Council is serving as host for the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance, which has launched a new four-year partnership bringing together 15 councils and agencies to deliver joint climate action projects with proven cost-effectiveness.

The collaboration has already delivered significant value, enabling the council to switch to 100% zero-carbon electricity with annual savings of $12,000.

Voting closes next Friday in the by-election for Lake Hume ward in Wodonga City Council.

Voters have until 6pm to get their completed ballot packs in the mail, or risk a fine.

National Roundup:

NSW:

Experienced senior executive Terry Dodds PSM is returning to regional NSW, to take up the top job at Balranald Shire Council.

Mr Dodds recently announced his decision to leave the CEO position at Livingstone Shire Council in Queensland after less than 12 months. He previously spent more than three years each at Murray River Shire and Tenterfield Shire councils as CEO.

Balranald Mayor Louie Zaffina announced Mr Dodds’ appointment this week, citing his track record of shaping successful organisations by building a positive staff culture.

He takes up his new role on 27th October.

Wollondilly Shire Council's Ben Taylor will be with the council for another five years, after leading the organisation to exceed key performance targets for the 2024/25 financial year, the fifth year running.

Mayor Matt Gould said that Ben Taylor had continued to show outstanding leadership during a time of significant growth for the Wollondilly Shire and has the support of the elected Council to lead the organisation for the next five years.

Eurobodalla Council has deferred consideration of changes to local pet laws that would limit the number of animals in certain circumstances, following public outcry and 40 submissions against the proposed reforms.

The Council has emphasised that the restrictions would only apply in cases of legitimate issues such as noise disturbances or animal welfare concerns, not as general limitations on pet ownership.

PowerFM reported that the deferral was blamed on media pot stirring, inciting social media hype.

Lake Macquarie City Council has voted against a proposal to shift the bulk of Australia Day celebrations to January 26.

The Newcastle Herald reported that the council has opted to maintain its current four-day Lake Mac Festival scheduled around the holiday weekend.

Councillor Anthony Swinsburg brought the motion, arguing unsuccessfully for more emphasis on national celebrations on Australia Day itself.

Councillors have re-elected Councillor Georgie Davies as Deputy Mayor of the City of Wagga for the next 12 months.

Last year, the Council resolved to shorten the term of the Deputy Mayor to a one-year term.

Cr MaryAnn Beregi has been chosen by North Sydney Council to be Deputy Mayor for 12 months. The 13 year council veteran has been deputy mayor for one term previously.

Blacktown City Council has elected Carol Israel as its new deputy mayor, succeeding Bob Fitzgerald who held the role for the past year.

Councillor Peter Wilkins has been re-elected as Deputy Mayor and Councillor Selena Clancy appointed as Assistant Deputy Mayor at Shoalhaven City Council.

Greens Councillor Clare Willington has been elected as Randwick Council's new deputy mayor, replacing Marea Wilson for a 12-month term.

Councillor Betty Green has been elected Deputy Mayor of Liverpool City Council for a 12-month term.

Shellharbour Council is taking the next step toward a two-year trial of mobile tiny homes, aiming to give locals more affordable rental options.

The small, moveable dwellings are built on trailers and can be registered like a vehicle under the Road Transport Act 2013.

To allow the trial to proceed, Council will prepare a Planning Proposal to change the Shellharbour Local Environmental Plan 2013.

NSW Briefs:

Gunnedah Shire Council has resolved to write to the Premier’s Department requesting a Rural and Regional Summit in Gunnedah to include the themes of health, roads, crime, and disaster preparedness.

Council will also allocate a budget of $10,000 to cover the scoping of any expenses associated with facilitating the summit should the request be granted.

Former Gunnedah Shire mayor Jamie Chaffey has been awarded the Emeritus Mayor Service Award by Local Government NSW in recognition of his eight years of service from 2016 to 2024.

The Gunnedah Times reported that current mayor Colleen Fuller presented the award at a recent citizenship ceremony, where Chaffey said his mayoral experience has prepared him well for his current role as a federal member.

Lane Cove Council has resolved to become a Supporter Council of the Mayoral and Councillor Taskforce Supporting People Seeking Asylum.

The Taskforce coordinates the Back Your Neighbour campaign—a coalition of more than 40 local governments, supported by community organisations and individuals, advocating for fairness and basic support for people seeking asylum.

QLD:

Mount Isa residents will soon be rewarded for helping control the region's feral animal population, with the City Council voting this week to introduce a bounty program.

Under the 12-month trial, residents can claim $25 for each feral cat and $50 for each wild dog captured within the Mount Isa Local Government Area.

The decision comes after an increase in feral animal sightings across the North West region this year.

The program aligns with similar successful initiatives in neighbouring shires including Cloncurry, Etheridge, and Boulia.

Gympie Regional Council has made the controversial decision to remove fluoride from its water supply, becoming the second Queensland region to do so in less than a year.

ABC News reported that the council voted five to three to end water fluoridation after 15 years, with Mayor Glen Hartwig citing annual savings of $255,000 for ratepayers.

The decision has sparked strong reactions from health experts, with University of Queensland dental specialist Michael Foley calling water fluoridation "one of the no-brainers in public health."

Dr. Foley warned that regional Queenslanders already suffer from "the poorest dental health in Australia" and that this decision could worsen the situation.

State Opposition leader Steven Miles has blamed Premier David Crisafulli, who was local government minister when the decision-making power was handed to councils in 2012.

He has urged the council to reconsider its decision.

TAS:

A councillor at Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council has been suspended for seven days after a code of conduct investigation.

The Local Government Code of Conduct Panel determined that Cr Michael Symons had breached parts of the code, but dismissed one part of the complaint brought by Cr Carole McQueeney.

The complaint included allegations that Cr Symons had breached the code by taking employment with an organisation contracted to the Council and failed to inform the Council of this; failed to declare a pecuniary interest; and brought the council and the office of councillor into disrepute.

The panel imposed sanctions including a formal reprimand, a requirement to attend training with an appropriate training provider, and suspension of seven days from the tabling of the decision this week.

It’s the second suspension of a Glamorgan-Spring Bay councillor this year, after its Mayor Cheryl Arnol was suspended for one month and required to undergo training in relation to a Workers Compensation claim from the council’s general manager (The Examiner, 18th July 2025)

Northern Midlands Council has officially endorsed the Lift the Tone campaign to combat abuse and intimidation experienced by local government representatives.

Nearly 80% of elected officials have reported incidents in the past two years.

The Council has committed to several supportive actions including public endorsement, education initiatives, mental health support, and policy reinforcement to foster respectful public discourse within the community.

SA:

Jan-Claire Wisdom has stepped down as mayor of Adelaide Hills Council amid ongoing controversy.

Ms Wisdom, who had been mayor since 2018, resigned late yesterday afternoon before the Council schedule ordinary meeting.

The resignation follows months of turbulence at the council, with three councillors having already quit in May this year, and SafeWork SA investigating claims of a "psychological nature."

Mayor Wisdom had been on leave for nine months, since a Council vote to force her resignation, and apologise after an investigation into alleged breaches of standards.

Deputy Mayor Nathan Daniell acknowledged the chamber's difficulties, referencing "breaches of the behavioural standards by the Mayor," but also thanked Ms Wisdom for her service, particularly praising her response to the Cuddlee Creek bushfire.

A supplementary election for the position of mayor will be organised with the South Australian Electoral Commission.

Sources: Indaily; The Messenger

Adelaide City Council has elected two new deputy lord mayors to serve out the remainder of its term, according to Adelaide Now.

Councillor Keiran Snape will take on the deputy role until December 31st, despite opposition from some fellow councillors and concerns raised by Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith about using the position for political purposes.

Cr Snape is running as an independent for the state seat of Adelaide in next year's election, and has denied any inappropriate use of council resources.

Councillor Carmel Noon was nominated by Cr Snape to serve as deputy lord mayor from January 2026 until the end of the council's term in November next year.

The vote proceeded despite Lord Mayor Lomax-Smith's absence, and some councillors calling the move a break from tradition.

The leadership shuffle comes after four councillors, including the previous deputy, were removed following a District Court judgment on illegal voting earlier this year.

WA:

Tensions have flared at an East Perth "Meet the Candidate" event for the upcoming City of Perth council elections, where Lord Mayor candidate Viktor Ko defended questions about his attendance record, according to PerthNow.

When challenged by a resident about being "missing for five months," Ko strongly rejected the claim, stating he had missed only one ordinary council meeting this year.

The candidate, who works as a doctor at Royal Perth Hospital, explained his absences were related to his medical duties, caring for his four-month-old child, and personal circumstances.

The heated exchange has sparked debate among other candidates about respect in the campaign process, with Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds reminding everyone that "kindness goes a long way."

There are six candidates running for Lord Mayor at the October 18 elections.

West Arnhem Regional Council has elected James Woods as Mayor and Jacqueline Phillips as Deputy Mayor during the first meeting of the newly elected Council this week.

The Council also welcomed nine elected members across five wards who will guide the region for the next four years, with two vacant positions to be filled through upcoming supplementary elections.

Global Roundup:

NETHERLANDS:

From the Netherlands, residents in Amsterdam have launched legal action against the city council, wanting it do more to combat overtourism, according to EuroNews.

While the city has been trying to steer tourists away from pub crawls and sex tourism, the legal action contends that the current tourism management is ineffective.

The number of overnight stays last year was nearly 23 million despite a city by-law of 2021 capping that number at 20 million.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam City Council has voted to ban sports teams from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank from entering the city.

The ban also extends to fans accused of supporting what the council describes as "racist and extremist views" according a report from NewsArab dot com.

The decision specifically affects Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv, following violent clashes in Amsterdam last November when the club's supporters were accused of chanting anti-Arab slogans.

UK:

In Scotland, Argyll and Bute has become the fifth council to put the brakes on plans for a controversial "tourist tax" on overnight stays, according to BBC News.

Councillors voted to delay the introduction of a proposed 5% levy after a public consultation showed significant opposition, with 57% of respondents expressing concerns about potential negative impacts on the local economy.

The decision was welcomed by business groups, praising the council for listening to local concerns.

Argyll and Bute joins Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, and South Ayrshire in pausing implementation of the levy, which was made possible by legislation passed by MSPs last year.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have all approved similar charges on overnight stays, with Aberdeen setting the highest rate at 7%.

Sheffield City Council has reached a landmark £36 million settlement to address historical equal pay issues.

The Local Government Chronicle reported that more than 3,600 employees across 260 different roles will receive one-off payments following a comprehensive review conducted with Unison, GMB and Unite trade unions.

The settlement comes after claims last autumn that the council's job evaluation scheme discriminated against female-dominated roles such as cleaning and caring positions.

The council will fund the settlement from its reserves, ensuring no direct impact on residents' council tax. Officials confirmed the city is not at risk of issuing a section 114 notice.

USA:

A meeting of Norman City Council in Oklahoma took a dramatic turn this week, when representative Bree Montoya announced her immediate resignation.

KOCO 5 News reported that the decision came in the wake of controversial social media comments where Montoya reportedly suggested another person end their life during a heated political exchange several months ago.

Montoya made a brief resignation statement, and left the council chambers immediately after.

Prior to her resignation, Montoya had issued a public apology on social media Sunday night, calling her comments "awful, inappropriate, and unacceptable" and explaining that the exchange "got way out of hand" during a moment of personal distress.

City officials have confirmed that Montoya's resignation was voluntary, noting that as an elected official, she is protected by First Amendment rights that prevent the city from taking disciplinary action.

CANADA:

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that his government will introduce legislation next month to ban speed cameras across the province, according to CTV News.

Mr Ford called the cameras a "cash grab" by municipalities and said, quote, "Enough is enough."

The ban would remove more than 700 speed cameras currently operating in 40 municipalities. In their place, the province plans to establish a new fund to help cities implement alternative safety measures like speed bumps and raised crosswalks.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow immediately pushed back against the decision, saying it would make roads less safe.

The move represents a complete reversal from Ford's own 2019 law that first allowed municipalities to install the cameras.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has directed Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams to conduct a comprehensive review of what elected municipal officials are paid across the province.

Global News reported that the review aims to ensure "taxpayer dollars are being respected," according to a newly published mandate letter.

The Minister has also been tasked with finding ways to limit annual property tax increases and counteract special taxes on second homes that some municipalities have implemented.

The move has drawn criticism from municipal leaders, with the Alberta Municipalities group questioning the province's intentions and suggesting the review should extend to provincial officials as well.