Bondi attack, misconduct, CEO appointments, and travel bills - #529

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup Summer Series:

• Local government leaders respond to the horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach
• An Arbiter finds Whittlesea councillor Aidan McLindon engaged in misconduct
• Plus Council CEO appointments and extensions
• The passing of a long time local government leader
• Gold Coast mayor’s international travel bill comes under scrutiny
• and more of the latest news headlines from around the world of local government.

Chapters

• 1:42 Reaction to Bondi terror attack
• 5:05 Whittlesea arbitration outcomes
• 6:35 More Council news from around the country

Transcript

As news of the horrific events at Bondi Beach in Sydney last night dominate news coverage at home and abroad, local leaders have expressed shock and called for calm in their communities.

Waverley Council, which is home to the iconic area, expressed horror last night as reports of the shootings emerged, urging all members of the public to prioritise their safety and stay away from the area.

This morning, the council issued a further statement. Mayor Will Nemesh described the incident as “a despicable and cowardly display of terror targeted at our Waverley community, and in particular our Jewish community.”

He said while we grieve and mourn the victims of this violence, we thank and recognise those who put their lives on the line to protect innocent civilians.

At more than 10,000 people, Waverley Council is home to the largest Jewish population in NSW.

Earlier this year, Mayor Nemesh joined with the mayors of Inner West and Liverpool Councils to hold a roundtable to collaborate on solutions and responses to growing concerns about social harmony and an alarming rise in anti-semitic attacks.

The mayor of The Hills Shire Council, Dr Michelle Byrne has expressed her horror at the attack, and extended condolences to victims and families.

Dr Byrne said the Hills Shire stands with its Jewish community, and said antisemitism and hatred must be condemned unequivocally.

At Kiama Council, Mayor Cameron McDonald has announced that the Council’s flags will be lowered to half-mast, and a minute’s silence observed at Tuesday’s council meeting.

He said the council stands in solidarity with the broader community as we mourn this tragedy.

In the City of Glen Eira in Melbourne, home to Australia’s largest Jewish community, Mayor Simone Zmood said she was horrified by the events in Bondi, and was watching the events unfold with a heavy heart.

Cr Zmood said the community of Glen Eira stands with those affected and joins the nation in condemning this senseless violence.

Former Glen Eira mayor Jim Magee OAM is calling for visible, immediate and unambiguous leadership on the issue of antisemitism, which he says is not just a threat to one community, but Australia itself.

He said words alone are not enough without action - commitment, follow-through, accountability and long-term action to confront anti-semitism and extremism wherever it appears.

The terror attack has quickly sent shockwaves around the world. In Manchester, England, which was the scene of a terror attack on a Hebrew Synagogue in October, the local Jewish community vowed to stand with those affected in the Sydney attack.

The mayor and deputy mayor of Greater Manchester said “we share the horror and sadness at the attack on Jewish families as they gathered to celebrate Hanukkah in Bondi Beach.”

The leader and opposition leader of Lancashire County Council released a joint statement, voicing solidarity with all those affected, and said they are working actively with the Jewish community.

In other stories making local government news.

The arbitration outcome of four complaints lodged against Whittlesea councillor Aidan McLindon will be tabled at the Council’s meeting this week.

The arbitration process was suspended for six months, due to the suspension of the former mayor and the conduct of a Commission of Inquiry into the council, which concluded in October.

Arbiter J A Silver dismissed some of allegations made, but found two to be proven and determined that Cr McLindon had engaged in misconduct on those matters.

He has been directed to issue an apology to Council staff for remarks made on Sky News in January this year - remarks that the Arbiter found were "deliberate in misleading the public" and brought discredit on the Council.

Cr McLindon is also required to undertake training and counselling designed to assist him developm practical diary and time management strategies; and he will be barred from holding the office of mayor or deputy mayor for the next 12 months.

Mr Silver said that while the alleged misconduct was mostly not proven, what he did find would have supported removing Cr McLindon as mayor had he not already been removed by the Minister for Local Government.

Melbourne’s Bayside Council has reportedly erased a teenage volunteer from its community newsletter after complaints about her Palestine necklace pendant.

The teenager was featured twice in the magazine for her volunteer work but was completely removed after public complaints, according to The Age.

The council called the necklace a "political symbol" that breached neutrality requirements.

Brimbank Council has unanimously extended CEO Fiona Blair's contract for another five years.

The decision reflects Ms Blair's strong leadership since taking the role in January 2022, according to Mayor Virginia Tachos.

Mitchell Shire Council has welcomed the launch of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, a nationally significant freight hub.

The project has secured 2.5 billion dollars in federal investment and will connect Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

The first stage aims to be operational by mid-2028.

The Southwest Victoria Alliance has elected a new leadership team to advocate for regional communities.

Councillor Dennis Heslin from Southern Grampians will chair the alliance, taking over from Warrnambool Mayor Ben Blain, with Corangamite Mayor Kate Makin to serve as deputy chair.

Cr Blain is not putting his feet up though - he’s now been elected Chair of Regional Cities Victoria, the alliance representing Victoria's 10 largest regional cities.

Wodonga Mayor Cr Michael Gobel is Deputy Chair for 2026.

From NSW, the Daily Telegraph reports today on opposition from the mayor of Yass Valley Council to further wind farms across the southern tablelands.

Cr Jasmin Jones says the added threat of bringing large scale battery storage systems to the region is frightening, and poses an “utter madness” fire risk to the drought-stricken area.

Former long-time Sutherland Shire councillor, and five term mayor Kevin Schreiber, has died at the age of 82.

Mr Shreiber gave 21 years of service before retiring from Sutherland Shire in 2016, after which he served two terms on Blue Mountains City Council.

Community and business leaders have paid tribute to Mr Schreiber in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.

ABC News reports on Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s upcoming trip to Italy for the Winter Olympics, estimated to cost ratepayers around $20,000.

Mayor Tate will be a torchbearer at the games.

His international travel bill for the past financial year has reportedly exceeded $103,000, including nearly $40k to attend the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Olympic basketballer Suzy Batkovic has been unanimously elected as Townsville's new Deputy Mayor.

The Division 6 councillor fills the vacancy left by Ann-Maree Greaney who resigned last week.

Cr Batkovic serve the remaining two years of the current term.

Chris Rose PSM has been revealed as the government appointed advisor to Redland City Council.

Mr Rose's appointment runs from today through 29th May 2026.

The new CEO of Derwent Valley Council will be Wes Young, according to a report from Tasmanian Country.

Mr Young will take up the position in the new year on a four year contract.

The former journalist has worked at four other Tasmanian councils and is a former policy advisor to Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Hobart City Council will debate a proposal by Councillor Ryan Posselt to ban large car yards from the CBD to make way for housing development, arguing that 45,314 square metres of prime inner-city land is inefficiently used by automotive retail.

In South Australia, Mick Nelson has been appointed as Roxby Downs Council’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Nelson, who has worked in the mining sector for 25 years, will take over in February from interim chief executive Brian Carr.

From Western Australia:

Re.Group has taken over operations of the Regional Resource Recovery Centre in Canning Vale from December 1, 2024, under a 20-year agreement with the cities of Canning, Melville, and Fremantle.

The deal ensures continued recycling and waste processing services at the centre, which is one of only three material recovery facilities in Perth.

And in news from the UK:

Whitehall City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 16 to consider the ouster of a council member who faces charges of sexually abusing at least eight teenage boys.

Gerald Dixon, who was reelected Nov. 4 to a second four-year term, was arrested Dec. 8 and charged with felony counts of gross sexual imposition and compelling prostitution.

BBC News reports that Councillor Philip Burford from Forest of Dean District Council has been banned from all committees for three years after being found to have bullied planning officers, causing "dread" among staff through sustained criticism and inappropriate conduct.