Planning alarm, avoidable failures, mayor removed - #519

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• Peak bodies sound the alarm over Victoria’s planning overhaul
• New landslide erosion measures in Mornington Peninsula
• The Victorian Ombudsman finds government and council failures caused a retirement village flood disaster
• The result of the Townsville mayoral election is official
• A population boom in the City of Ipswich confirmed by new data
• A Hobart councillor takes Federal Court action
• A South Australian mayor’s term ended early by fellow councillors
• And a warning that new legislation could bankrupt some WA councils

Plus much more news from across the world of local government.

Chapters

• 2:03 Victorian Report
• 10:17 NSW Report
• 16:23 Queensland Report
• 18:41 TAS/SA/WA/NT Report
• 24:53 Global Report

Transcript

Victorian Report

Mayoral election results:

Wellington: Mayor: Cr Cindy Madeley, Deputy Mayor: Cr Liz Foat. Cr Madeley steps up from the deputy mayor position.

Hobsons Bay: Mayor Cr Diana Grima, Deputy Mayor Cr Lisa Bentley

Bass Coast: Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead, Deputy Mayor Cr Brett Tessari - both re-elected to their roles

South Gippsland - Mayor Nathan Hersey, DM Brad Snell - Cr Hersey was previously mayor in 2022/23.

Gannawarra - Mayor Cr Garner Smith, DM Cr Ross Stanton

Glenelg Shire Mayor Cr Karen Stephens, Deputy Mayor Matt Jowett

Stonnington - Mayor Cr Melinda Sehr, Deputy Mayor Cr Samantha Choudhury

Benalla - [Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn, Deputy Mayor Cr Justin King](https://www.facebook.com/61570428256346/posts/pfbid02orGZJKNZuEGLkhZ44UMFaYUGYJtgRqCYQqoqBJ7u5EUDiPWhcVF57HDzQkChNRm5l/?)- both re-elected to their roles

Buloke - [Mayor Cr Graeme Milne, Deputy Mayor Cr Bernadette Hogan](https://www.facebook.com/100070906627944/posts/pfbid02ZGSG3RJyqhtcqTArbKYt4NXWwmusHjTFmPCJcFEWDnnL2Kq8WPHdWMUpaGev3RP4l/?)- Cr Milne steps up from deputy mayor, and takes on the mayoralty for the first time after 13 years on the council

Maribyrnong - Mayor Cr Mohamed Semra, Deputy Mayor Cr Samantha Meredith - both first term councillors elected to these roles for the first time; first African Australian mayor.

Merri-bek - Mayor Cr Nat Abboud, Deputy Mayor Cr Jay Iwasaki

Murrundindi- Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher, Deputy Mayor Cr Anita Carr - a third consecutive term for Cr Gallagher, and a second consecutive term for Cr Carr

Central Goldfields - Mayor Cr Ben Green, Deputy Mayor Cr Anna de Villiers - Cr Green steps up from deputy mayor, while it’s a first time as deputy mayor for Cr de Villiers.

East Gippsland - Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth, Deputy Mayor Cr Tom Crook

Darebin - Mayor Cr Emily Dimitriadis, Deputy Mayor Cr Matt Arturi - Cr Dimitriadis makes the step up from deputy mayor.

Knox - Mayor Cr Paige Kennett, Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Duncan - Cr Kennett is a former Knox council officer who currently works at Cardinia Shire Council.

Victoria's peak housing and local government bodies are sounding the alarm over the state's Planning Amendment Bill 2025, warning it's a missed opportunity to address the housing crisis.

The Community Housing Industry Association Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria say the bill - the biggest planning overhaul in 40 years - talks about social housing but provides no real way to deliver it.

The numbers paint a stark picture: more than 146,000 Victorians lacked suitable housing in 2022, and the state has the lowest proportion of social housing in Australia at just 3.1 percent.

The groups are calling on Parliament to introduce an affordable housing contribution requirement - a mechanism that would see funds from new developments go toward building social housing in the same communities.

Without it, they say, the government is only paying lip-service to Victoria's housing affordability crisis.

The bill is set to go before the Upper House in the coming days.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has voted to introduce interim planning rules for land at high risk of landslides, following recommendations from the McCrae landslide inquiry.

The new Erosion Management Overlay will affect approximately 33,000 properties across seven percent of the Shire, requiring most property owners to obtain planning permits before development or vegetation removal.

Landowners will likely need geotechnical reports to demonstrate their developments will be safe from landslides.

The interim control will remain in place for at least two to four years while the Council completes a comprehensive review of landslide data across the peninsula.

Maribyrnong City Council is making a submission to Victoria's Parliamentary Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care, calling for stronger oversight, better workforce standards, and improved transparency following child abuse allegations in the sector.

The Council, which owns eight long day care centres and 14 kindergartens managed by external providers, is pushing for tougher regulation, more frequent audits, and clearer accountability to restore family confidence in early childhood services.

The Victorian Ombudsman has delivered a damning report on the Rivervue flood disaster that devastated a retirement village in Avondale Heights in October 2022.

Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath found that the flooding of 45 retirement villas was the direct result of what she calls "recognisable and avoidable" government failures.

The report found that poor flood modelling by Melbourne Water in the early 2000s allowed homes to be built dangerously low in a floodplain, and that Moonee Valley City Council signed on faulty plans.

The ombudsman is calling on the Victorian government to compensate affected residents, saying it's simply "the fair thing to do." However, the government has not supported that recommendation, saying it would be carefully considered and would require a Cabinet decision.

The report also highlights similar concerns for residents at Kensington Banks, nine kilometres downstream in the City of Melbourne, where climate change and increased development have created new flood risks.

The Ombudsman said the experiences show the planning framework is letting Victorians down, and makes recommendations to improve how the systems manages flood risk.

Melbourne Water says it accepts the findings and is committed to improving flood risk information for the public.

An Elsternwick apartment block has made history as Victoria's first to install a shared solar battery system.

Twenty-six apartments have pooled resources to install rooftop solar and a 50-kilowatt-hour battery through Glen Eira Council's Solar Savers program.

The system will generate 54 megawatt hours of clean electricity annually, slashing emissions and power bills.

Residents could save up to five hundred dollars a year on energy costs.

The project sets a new benchmark for renewable energy in multi-dwelling buildings across the state.

Victorian Briefs

LGPro's Board has re-elected its executive office bearers for another year, with Sue Wilkinson continuing as President alongside Vice President Liana Thompson, Secretary Chris Leivers, and Treasurer Bruce Dobson.

The positions were affirmed at the organisation's Annual General Meeting last week, reinforcing the leadership team's commitment to supporting local government professionals across Victoria.

Wodonga Council's CEO and Mayor have met with Senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah to discuss critical regional issues including health service pressures, migrant resettlement, and housing demand in the Albury-Wodonga area.

The Council thanked the Senator for her engagement on the issues, and said it looks forward to continued collaboration to address challenges facing the growing cross-border community.

Greater Bendigo City Council has declared seven properties surplus to requirements and will proceed with their sale, depositing proceeds into public space or land and building reserves to fund future community infrastructure.

Two properties in Kennington and Spring Gully will be retained due to lack of nearby green space access, as Council continues strategic management of its $3 billion asset portfolio.

NSW Report

Greater Hume Council has appointed Dena Vlekkert as its new General Manager, effective February 4th, 2026.

Ms Vlekkert brings nearly twenty years of leadership experience, most recently serving as Director Community and Corporate at Wodonga City Council.

Mayor Lea Parker says Ms Vlekkert's proven leadership skills and regional knowledge will be invaluable to the continued success of Greater Hume Shire.

Colin Kane will continue as acting GM until her arrival in February.

Willoughby City Council is calling on state and federal governments to help unlock new housing in Chatswood.

The Council says it has already created capacity for 6,500 additional dwellings and will meet its five-year housing targets.

Mayor Tanya Taylor says Chatswood's connectivity makes it ideal for high-quality development, but growth must be matched by new parks, transport upgrades and community facilities.

The council wants to explore a landmark new park over the railway corridor north of Chatswood Station.

Maitland Council has expressed disappointment with the City of Newcastle's decision to allow Rising Tide protesters to use council land for their 2025 climate blockade.

The Newcastle Herald reported that the decision has led to Viking Cruises cancelling two ship visits that would have brought hundreds of passengers and millions of dollars in revenue for the Hunter region.

Some Maitland councillors are disappointed that Newcastle is accommodating the protesters despite last year's damage to council property and multiple arrests.

Newcastle Council granted an event licence, allowing Rising Tide to use council-owned land, noting that 76.6 percent of some 1500 public submissions supported the event.

Newcastle City Council has voted unanimously to write to the High Speed Rail Australia Chief Executive and Federal Minister for Infrastructure encouraging them to progress the business case for a station at Broadmeadow to the next stage.

The Council will also engage with Newcastle Airport and Port Stephens Council on joint advocacy to the Federal and State Governments on a fast and direct public transport connection to the Airport.

Kiama Council's CEO Jane Stroud has moved to clarify the scope of a domestic waste review, assuring the community that no immediate changes are coming to bin collections, with at least six months before any adjustments and up to three years for major service changes.

She said the review aims to improve efficiency but reports about outsourcing of domestic waste services are incorrect.

Ms Stroud said rising costs, environmental rules and good governance were the factors driving the review.

Orange City Council has launched a second community survey about a proposed flight route between Orange and Newcastle.

The first survey received around 700 responses showing strong interest in the service.

Council's Airport Community Committee Chair, Councillor Tammy Greenhalgh, says they now need more detailed information about travel patterns and pricing to strengthen discussions with airline carriers.

The survey will help determine if there's enough demand to support direct flights between the two regional cities.

Residents have until December 14th to complete the online survey

Griffith City Council has voted 6-1 to support a push for the town's hospital to split from its Wagga-based administrators, according to a report from Region Riverina.

The decision backs independent MP Helen Dalton's bill to create a new Griffith-based Western Riverina Local Health District.

A community survey of nearly 800 people showed 62 percent backed the split while only 3 percent wanted to retain the current model.

Mayor Doug Curran's motion also stated council would work with the current health district until a split occurs.

Greater Hume Council has secured $1.65 million in federal funding to complete the final stage of the Holbrook Flood Levee, with construction set to begin in the 2026-2027 financial year.

The funding, part of the Australian Government's Disaster Ready Fund Round Three, will help finish the levee's southern section, providing critical flood protection from Ten Mile Creek for the Holbrook community.

Council will contribute an additional $413,400 towards the $2.07 million project.

NSW Briefs:

Penrith City Council has released a draft Biodiversity Strategy for public feedback, aiming to protect the city's 13 unique vegetation communities and native species through six strategic goals.

They include maintaining and extending biodiversity, caring for country, and forming partnerships. The strategy identifies six priority precincts for restoration efforts.

The NSW Government has certified Shoalhaven Council's Coastal Management Program following years of development and community consultation.

The program outlines 66 management actions to address key risks including foreshore erosion, ecological concerns, and sea-level rise over the next decade.

The Office of Local Government is undertaking a statutory review of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.

The regulation will be automatically repealed on 1 September 2026 unless remade before then.

OLG is proposing to split the regulation into three standalone regulations to make them easier to apply.

The first step will focus on transferring election provisions to a new standalone Local Government Elections Regulation.

Support for the Roundup comes from Symphony3.

Symphony3’s SmartGlue Integation platform allows Councils to Connect their systems securely, to automate their dataflows, and to monitor performance in real time.

Symphony3 has recently worked with Murrindindi Shire Council to develop a Snap Send Solve connector to Civica CRM. This connector eliminates the time and cost headaches around manual data entry and speeds up service delivery. The Snap Send Solve Connector is available in the Symphony3 marketplace and connects to common ERPs like Civica Altitude and Authority, Infor Pathway, Readytech and many more.

Visit www.symphony3.com to learn how SmartGlue can work for you.

Queensland Report

Nick Dametto has been confirmed as the new Mayor of Townsville, after the declaration of the result by the Queensland Electoral Commission.

The declaration came as Mr Dametto achieved an unassailable lead, even without outstanding postal votes which can be received until 25th November.

The Townsville Bulletin reported that Mr Dametto had secured 62.7 per cent of the vote after counting on Wednesday, ahead of Acting Mayor Cr Ann-Maree Greaney on 12.71 per cent.

New figures show the City of Ipswich is booming, with more than 2,300 new residents settling in over the past three months, pushing the city's population to over 268,000 and its growth rate to 3.5 per cent.

The September quarter saw 840 new homes built, with Ripley leading the charge as the fastest-growing suburb, adding 515 new residents.

The Council is calling on state and federal governments to urgently upgrade transport infrastructure, including the Cunningham and Centenary highways, to support the rapidly expanding Ripley Valley Priority Development Area.

Gold Coast councillors have rejected a nine-storey tower designed to provide accommodation for homeless people, students, and workers in Miami.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported the private development would have created 109 rooms with around-the-clock meal service near the light rail.

Councillors voted against city planners' recommendation for approval, citing concerns about building height, car parking, and impact on suburban character.

The Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council are investing more than $5M to revitalise Nambour's town centre.

$2.53M from the state will fund a new signalised pedestrian crossing on Currie Street, improving safety and walkability.

Work is set to begin in the first half of 2026.

Toowoomba Regional Council planner Katrina Christensen has been named Emerging Planner of the Year at the Planning Institute of Australia Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence.

Christensen, who joined Council's Planning team in 2021, was recognised for her exceptional impact on regional planning through leadership, policy development and community engagement.

The award celebrates her dedication to delivering planning outcomes that enhance liveability and create meaningful opportunities for communities across the Toowoomba Region.

Tasmania

Hobart councillor Louise Elliot is taking action in the Federal Court after being sanctioned for using the term "mind virus" in a social media post, according to a report from The Mercury.

She was found to have breached the Councillor Code of Conduct for comments opposing the Palestinian flag flying outside Town Hall.

Cr Elliot argues the ruling is unconstitutional and restricts her freedom of political communication.

She's launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the one hundred and twenty thousand dollar legal costs.

The panel found suggesting colleagues had a "mind virus" was inherently offensive and could imply mental illness.

The City of Launceston has secured $540,000 from the Australian Government's Disaster Ready Fund to develop a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy.

The council will contribute the remaining funds to complete the $1.5 million project over three years.

Launceston has experienced more than 40 major floods since records began and currently manages over 12 kilometres of levees and 19 floodgates.

South Australia

Sue Scarman has been removed as mayor of Northern Areas Council with 12 months left in her term.

Fellow councillors have voted to replace her with farmer Keith Pluckrose, with a reason given that another councillor should have the chance to prove themselves ahead of upcoming electoral changes that will see mayors directly elected.

Cr Scarman, who was originally elected by straw draw after a tied vote, has questioned the legitimacy of the move, according to ABC News, and says she’s done nothing wrong.

The decision passed six votes to three at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Burnside Council has reportedly spent more than fifty-thousand dollars investigating councillor conduct complaints in just one year, with cases nearly tripling amid claims of dysfunction and incivility, according to a report from the Adelaide Advertiser.

Two investigations involving Councillor Jane Davey alone cost ratepayers over forty-three thousand dollars.

An independent report earlier this year found the council to be psychologically unsafe and in urgent need of intervention.

The Ombudsman has now recommended Councillor Davey apologise and attend training after she failed to properly manage a conflict of interest.

A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into the Whyalla Council building over the weekend. Police responded to an alarm at the premises just after 1:30am on Sunday.

Magic 1059 reported that Officers found a 28-year-old man inside the building. He surrendered without incident and has been charged with serious criminal trespass and property damage. He's due to face court in January.

Community feedback is open on a proposed boundary change affecting land parcels in Skye, in the City of Burnsideand Adelaide Hills Council.

The minor administrative change, first raised in 2018, aims to resolve a boundary anomaly between the two councils.

Residents have until November 26th to submit their views to the SA Local Government Boundaries Commission.

The District Council of Cleve has completed a review of its electoral representation arrangements, resulting in an increase of one area councillor.

The council will comprise a mayor and six area councillors, effective from the next council elections.

The council area will not be divided into wards.

The council currently comprises the mayor, Phil Cameron, and five council members.

Alexandrina Council has elected Councillor Michael Scott ASM OAM as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term until the 2026 Local Government Elections, replacing outgoing Deputy Mayor Peter Oliver whose term ends November 30.

Cr Scott is an 11-year veteran councillor, serving in his third term on the council.

Western Australia

From ABC News: Western Australia's lower house has passed legislation that would stop councils from charging rates on certain mining land, a move that could devastate the Shire of Mount Magnet by slashing its annual rates income from $3M to just $300K.

The reform follows a Supreme Court ruling in July that allowed the shire to levy rates on mining camps with miscellaneous licenses, but the mining industry warned it could cost the sector $55M a year.

Mount Magnet's chief executive Tralee Cable says the swift legislation, which requires repayment of rates collected since 2017 within 28 days, shows "amazing disregard" for the impact on small regional communities and could make the shire economically unviable.

The WA Government is slashing planning red tape to fast-track high-density housing developments near ten Perth train stations, according to ABC News.

The WA Planning Commission will replace local councils in setting height and density guidelines for precincts including Ballajura, Redcliffe, and Cottesloe.

Planning Minister John Carey has issued a warning to councils opposing medium to high-density developments that the time for delays is over.

The City of Canning has voted to audit all its public laneways to identify which need better lighting as resident requests continue to mount.

Councillors say there's a significant backlog of lighting requests, with Willetton accounting for 35 per cent of outstanding requests.

The city currently has a budget of just fifty thousand dollars for laneway lighting upgrades this year, according to PerthNow.

The West Australian reported that the City of Rockingham is pushing for 16,000 extra homes, including 24-storey towers along the foreshore, to support a population boom driven by AUKUS defence projects.

Mayor Lorna Buchan says the city's population is growing at 3.5 per cent a year and desperately needs varied housing options.

She's called on the state government to urgently approve the precinct plan allowing high-rise development in the city centre and along the waterfront.

The mayor has also warned that drivers could face daily gridlocks with five-kilometre tailbacks unless state and federal governments fund new roads.

Northern Territory

The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory has elected Councillor Peter Pangquee from the City of Darwin as its new President at this week's Annual General Meeting in Darwin.

Two new directors, Mayor Joanna Holden from Katherine Town Council and Councillor Mark Fraser from the City of Palmerston, have joined the board as the organisation focuses on building capability and driving reform across the Territory.

The announcement comes as the City of Palmerston rejoins LGANT membership, strengthening unified representation for councils across the NT.

Global Report

UK:

Liverpool City Council has admitted it took fatalities to occur before action was taken on a road where an elderly couple drowned in flood water.

The couple died when their car became trapped in flash flooding on Queens Drive in August 2023.

BBC News reported that the council's highways chief said it would not be feasible to close roads based on weather warnings alone.

Four flooding incidents had occurred at the same location between May and July that year, with vehicles stranded and people rescued.

The council accepted its response prior to the fatal incident was reactive rather than proactive.

Union Jack and St George's flags put up across Warwickshire since the summer are being taken down by the Reform UK-led council.

Council leader George Finch says the move is necessary to make way for Christmas lights, with contractors citing health and safety concerns.

The flags won't be destroyed and could return in the new year, according to BBC News.

The flags had sparked debate about whether they represented national pride or were intended to cause division.

Highland Council is launching an action plan to tackle 850,000 pounds worth of food waste from school meals each year.

A survey found more than 70 percent of dining hall staff reported too much food ending up in bins, with some entire meals thrown out untouched.

Pupils have requested simpler meals like sandwiches and sausages, but also want less processed food.

The council serves 18,000 lunches daily across 202 schools.

BBC News reported that an action plan will be considered by councillors soon.

From The Guardian, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly preparing to give English mayors the power to charge a tourist tax on overnight stays.

A 5% levy would cost British holidaymakers an estimated £518 million in additional costs, including VAT.

The hospitality industry warns this would create an effective consumer tax of 27%, one of the highest rates in Europe.

Edinburgh is already introducing a 5% tourist tax from July, while Wales will charge £1.30 per person per night from April 2027.

EUROPE:

Milan has increased its tourist tax ahead of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, sparking fury from the hospitality sector.

The rate will rise to €10 per night for five-star hotels and €9.50 for short-term rentals from January 2026.

The hospitality industry calls the move "disproportionate and unsustainable", warning it could lead to a 30% drop in tourist numbers, while hotel groups say they were given no advance warning or consultation about the decision.

USA:

Police departments across Washington state are switching off license plate reader cameras following a court ruling that the data must be made public.

Geekwire reports that a judge determined that images captured by Automated License Plate Readers are public records under state law.

Cities including Redmond, Lynnwood, and Sedro-Woolley have disabled their cameras amid privacy concerns and potential immigration enforcement access.

Privacy advocates are particularly concerned after reports showed U.S. Border Patrol had searched Washington police databases despite state laws limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement.

CANADA:

From CTV News:

Barrie City Council has approved a zero percent increase to the city's operating budget for the fourth consecutive year.

Mayor Alex Nuttall says the budget maintains stable taxes while investing in key projects including a new south Barrie recreation centre and library.

The budget allocates 41 million dollars per year for transportation and construction projects.

Council also approved a two percent infrastructure investment funding levy.

North Bay councillors are calling for an external review into the mayor's expenses scandal.

The motion argues the city's integrity commissioner investigation was too limited.

Council members believe a more comprehensive external investigation is needed to ensure full transparency and accountability in the matter.

Vancouver Councillor Rebecca Bligh is tabling a motion to ensure the city maintains its commitment to the Women's Equity Strategy following the closure of the Equity Office.

The strategy has been in place since 2018, focusing on childcare, housing, and violence prevention.

The Equity Office was shut down in September as part of Mayor Ken Sim's cost-cutting measures seeking 120 million dollars in savings.

A second motion will call for a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Task Force, noting 34 women have been killed in B.C. since August due to intimate partner violence.

NZ:

Former Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is relocating to Melbourne.

The 42-year-old announced the move on Facebook after choosing not to seek re-election as mayor, and failing to secure a seat as a councillor.

Whanau's single term as mayor was marked by council divisions and government intervention, including the appointment of a Crown Observer.

She's also pursuing legal action over alleged defamation and harmful digital communications.

Stuff reported that her departure adds to the record 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia in the past year.