Emergency meeting, name change deferred, and "bombshell admission" - #531

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• The final monitors report for Darebin Council has been released
• A new acting CEO announced for Baw Baw Council
• A mayor cleared by an arbiter of misconduct
• Waverley Council commits $100k to support for the Jewish community
• A special rate variation to proceed at Ballina
• A potential name change for Glenn Innes Severn Council deferred
• A Queensland CEO hits out at media reporting of his Council’s financial position
• and the council fraud update described as a “bombshell admission.”

All of that and more just ahead on Australia’s number one local government podcast.

Chapters

• 1:41 Victorian Report
• 6:14 NSW Report
• 9:05 National Report
• 12:09 Global Report

Transcript

The final report of Municipal Monitors assigned to Darebin City Council has been released this week.

June Anstee and Ross Millard were appointed to serve between April last year and June this year, in response to governance and councillor conduct issues raised with the Minister.

They have made 16 recommendations for the council, and one for the Local Government Minister.

They include amendments to the CEO recruitment process and policy; the conduct of service reviews for some in-house services to identify efficiencies; along with outstanding matters from a previous monitor report in 2023.

The monitors have asked the Minister to consider a limit of two Notices of Motion per Council meeting agenda in the current process of developing Model Governance Rules.

The monitor’s report is available on the Local Government Victoria website.

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh has been cleared of misconduct.

Arbiter Joel Silver ruled that Cr Marsh acted within his powers when blocking three councillor motions in June that sought to revisit previous council decisions on climate policy and community funding.

The arbiter found that he had correctly applied governance rules requiring such motions to follow specific procedures.

Murrindindi Shire Council has offered its CEO Livia Bonazzi a new five year employment contract.

Ms Bonazzi commenced with the council in 2021 on an initial five year deal, which concludes in June next year.

Meanwhile at Baw Baw Shire Council, another acting CEO has been appointed while chief executive officer Tilla Buden focuses on treatment for breast cancer.

Sally Jones, who recently completed a term as interim CEO at Central Goldfields Shire, will step into the role on 6th January and until 3rd February, taking over from Mick Cummins who has led the council team in recent weeks.

The Moira Shire community is mourning the loss of life from a motor vehicle crash at Muckatah on Monday, with Council Chair Administrator Dr Graeme Emonson expressing condolences to victims, their families, and first responders.

Dr Emonson emphasised the importance of road safety during the busy harvest and holiday season, urging everyone to take responsibility to prevent further tragedies.

The Mayor of the City of Kingston has responded to a frightening incident of anti-social behaviour in Mordialloc this week when hundreds of teenagers stormed a Woolworths supermarket and clashed with police at a local beach.

Mayor Georgina Oxley condemned the behaviour and thanked Victoria Police for their swift response to bring the situation under control.

Brimbank Council has issued an emergency demolition order for the former council office building in Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine, after structural assessments confirmed the building is unsafe and poses a risk of structural failure that could endanger human life.

The demolition, which includes the entire building following an earlier partial demolition, will commence immediately at the owner's expense.

Surf Coast Shire Council is seeking $3m in government funding to repair a complex landslide on the Great Ocean Road near Fairhaven, with the affected embankment expected to remain closed until at least late 2026.

The Geelong Advertiser reported that a geotechnical report identified subsurface soil conditions, water impacts, and groundwater as primary causes of the slumping that dates back to 1975, making remediation costly and time-consuming.

Wyndham City Council is planning a second indoor aquatic facility in Tarneit to address the growing demand from its rapidly expanding population of over 330,000 residents.

The $120 million project, expected to be considered formally by the Council by mid-next year, will require funding partnerships with State and Federal Governments.

The City of Melbourne has brought back $2 weekday entry for its residents to outdoor pools at Carlton Baths and North Melbourne throughout summer, excluding public holidays.

The program has returned by popular demand after a successful trial last summer that increased visits by nearly 40%.

Horsham Rural City Council has launched bike patrols along walking tracks and reserves to monitor dog owners and enforce leash requirements, addressing community concerns about dogs wandering off-leash and waste management.

The initiative, part of Council's Domestic Animal Management Plan, aims to promote responsible pet ownership through education and enforcement, with penalties of $407 applying for breaches.

Whittlesea Council and its Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox have taken on chair duties for the Northern Councils Alliance, after a meeting of newly elected mayors this week.

Mitchell Council and its Mayor Cr John Dougall take on the deputy chair role.

The alliance of seven northern councils will focus on addressing impacts of a lack of transport connectivity and the need for an outer north hospital in its advocacy going into a state election year.

Colac Otway Mayor Cr Jason Schram, and Greater Geelong Mayor Cr Stretch Kontelj OAM, have been elected Chair and Deputy Chair, respectively of the G21 Alliance.

The alliance represents the collective interests of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliffe Councils, with each of its CEOs forming part of the G21 board.

Waverley Council has committed $100,000 from its operating budget to support Jewish community organisations following the terrorist attack on Sunday.

The council held an emergency meeting this week at which it also resolved to fly flags at half-mast for two weeks, provide a dedicated community gathering space, and encourage residents to light candles nightly during Chanukah in solidarity with victims and their families.

Meanwhile, the council has refuted claims circulating on social media that parking tickets were being issued to nearby vehicles after the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The council said no fines have been issued, and the ticket in the image in question was issued before the attack.

It said parking officers are not operating in the area, which remains an active crime scene with vehicles still cordoned off inside the police exclusion zone.

Ballina Shire Council has unanimously approved an application for special rate variation of 6% per annum for four years (2026-27 to 2029-30) at its final meeting of the year.

Despite strong community opposition to the proposal, the Council has cited the need to address the ongoing structural deficit caused by cost-shifting from state and federal governments.

The Echo reported that there were deputations or members of the public in the gallery, despite the significance of the decision.

A name change for Glen Innes Severn Council is on the table, but a decision will not now be made before March next year.

The Council this week voted to defer consideration of changing its name to Glen Innes Highland Council until after a Councillor Workshop and receipt of a report including full cost implications and options for community consultation and engagement.

The council also considered a confidential final investigation report into the conduct of former councillor Troy Arandale, which found breaches of the Code of Conduct had occurred.

Cr Arandale resigned from the council in July. The matter has now been referred to the Office of Local Government for information.

Wollongong City Council has set an ambitious target to create 20,500 new jobs by 2035 through its Economic Development Strategy 2025–2035, doubling its previous goal after achieving the earlier 10-year target in just six years.

The strategy focuses on five key priorities while identifying 10 momentum-building projects to drive economic transformation.

The City of Newcastle has adopted a new policy for effective communication between councillors and staff.

While the new policy is based on OLG Model Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy, it includes additional clauses focusing on staff wellbeing, and the risk associated with the disclosure of confidential information.

Councillor Clive McCarthy has been recognised for 30 years of continuous service to Oberon Council since his first election in September 1995.

Cr McCarthy’s 30 years service has included a term as deputy mayor in 2000/01 and he has served for many years as Chair of the council’s Heritage Committee.

Hilltops Council is urging residents to stay vigilant and report vandalism incidents after recent damage to public facilities including graffiti, destruction of amenities, and misuse of community spaces.

Council is asking the community to contact them or NSW Police if they witness vandalism in progress.

North Burnett Regional Council says a media article claiming it's financially sustainable is "incorrect and misleading."

The council's CEO Craig Matheson says a reported surplus of 4 million dollars includes restricted capital grants that can't be used for day-to-day services.

He said the real picture shows an operating deficit of 4.6 million dollars.

The council is taking steps to strengthen its financial position through asset sales and careful rating decisions.

Noosa Council has recovered an additional $200,000 from a $2.3 million fraud attack in December 2024, reducing its loss to $1.7 million.

CEO Larry Sengstock said there had been no impact on council services or projects, and the council has implemented multiple security measures following the social engineering attack that manipulated staff into changing supplier banking details.

Local press reports have interpreted the message as “a bombshell admission” that staff error was responsible for the losses, and not AI technology as originally suggested.

Bundaberg Regional Council has rejected a recommendation to implement full postal voting for the next local government election, after councillors voted 8:3 against the proposal.

The Bundaberg NewsMail has apologised for previously reporting that the council had supported the recommendation.

Ipswich City Council has released a brochure promoting the city's elite sporting facilities as training bases for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, highlighting its reputation for developing world-class athletes.

Mayor Teresa Harding said the release of the brochure was a pivotal moment to showcase Ipswich's sporting facilities to the global spotlight.

Scenic Rim Council Mayor Tom Sharp has criticised the Queensland government for excluding the region from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Mayor Sharp said the moving of rowing events from Wyaralong Dam to Rockhampton was "a slap in the face" to Australia's fastest-growing region, according to the Beaudesert Times.

Sixteen Tasmanian coastal councils are collaborating on a $1 million Coastal Hazard Resilience Planning Project,funded through the Commonwealth Disaster Ready Fund.

The aim is to improve coastal hazard mapping, community awareness, and adaptation strategies.

The four year project is being led by LGAT in partnership with Huon Valley, Brighton, and Kingborough councils.

A City of Launceston delegation has completed a visit to Ikeda, Japan, celebrating 60 years of Sister City partnership.

The council says the visit strengthened ties between the two cities and identified opportunities for future collaboration in education, community development, and economic initiatives.

Canning City Council has voted 7-2 to approve Mayor Patrick Hall's attendance at the 2025 World Cities Summit in Singapore.

Most costs will be covered by the Singaporean government, with about $1600 required from the city for airfares and incidentals. More from PerthNow.

Dean Unsworth, CEO of the Shire of Murray, has been named the 2025 IPAA WA Local Government Leader of the Year for his strategic leadership that balances economic growth with social and environmental responsibility.

His advocacy and strategic planning since 2016 have secured hundreds of millions in government investment and driven a number of transformative projects for the shire.

The City of Palmerston says it has now completed all high-priority clean-up work following Tropical Cyclone Fina, with the most affected suburbs set to be fully cleared before Christmas and remaining areas finished early in the new year.

Over 400 of the 1000+ reported issues have been resolved, and residents can track progress through a live recovery map on the council's website.

Wellington mayor Andrew Little has flagged a likely referendum on council amalgamation at the 2028 local election, moving faster than the Government's timeline to strip voting rights from regional councils, according to a report from The Post.

The region's mayors have agreed to accelerate discussions on amalgamation in response to government reforms that would abolish elected regional councillors and allow mayors to develop reorganisation plans without requiring a public vote.

Wellington City Council has revealed it undercharged a household and commercial sludge levy on recent rates invoices.

Now, a total shortfall of $3.436 million must lbe legally collected and passed on to the facility's financing entity.

The undercharged amounts average $40 for households and $1,200 for commercial properties.

England's most-deprived councils, including Manchester, Birmingham, and outer London boroughs, will receive significant funding increases under a new three-year settlement announced by the government.

Urban areas with high social needs will be prioritised, according to the Guardian, though the changes have drawn criticism from affluent southern councils and some northern authorities who feel London suburbs benefited disproportionately.

And in breaking news overnight, the UK government has offered to delay elections due in May for councils in local government reorganisation areas.

The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, has written to council leadersinviting their view on a potential postponement and whether this would allow them to better deliver local government reorganisation.

Their responses are due by 15 January.

The Mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni, along with 16 other European city leaders, is calling on the EU to treat the housing crisis as a "new pandemic" and launch a €300bn annual affordable housing fund similar to the Covid-era response.

The call comes as house prices across the EU have soared 48% between 2010 and 2023, with the mayors warning that failure to address the crisis could undermine democracy and fuel support for far-right populists. More from The Guardian on that story.