Court action support, media ban lifted, and big changes coming for Tassie - #606

Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Stonnington backs a Supreme Court bid on activity centres
• A new role for a former LGV chief
• Port Phillip renames St Kilda Beach as Socceroos fever builds
• New meeting rules kick in for NSW councils
• A council ban lifted on a local radio station
• A Queensland mayor’s claims refuted by a state government department
• AI solutions rolled out in Mackay
• Major changes for Tasmanian councils move a step closer
• and the $100k bill for conduct complaints in Hobart

and more news from local government in Australia and beyond.

Transcript

Victoria

The City of Stonnington has backed Bayside City Council's Supreme Court action over the Victorian Government's Activity Centres Program.

Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr criticised the lack of community consultation, noting fifteen of the sixty designated zones fall within her municipality.

The council says it will monitor the legal proceedings before deciding on its own separate application.

The state government's move last week to take control of four precinct structure plans in the Geelong region has drawn sharp criticism from both the opposition and the council itself.

Acting Mayor Cr Eddy Kontelj told the Geelong Advertiser he first learned of the announcement through a government media release — with no prior consultation.

As reported on the Roundup on Friday, the Council says delays in the PSP process were largely outside its control, pointing to seven months without a state government response to a request for support lodged in November last year.

The opposition has labelled the move cynical, highlighting the recent un-consulted sale of growth-zone residential land to data centres.

Former Executive Director of Local Government Victoria, Mike Gooey, has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Safe Food Victoria.

The newly consolidated food safety regulator was established under recent legislation to streamline regulatory systems and reduce red tape for businesses.

Mr Gooey—who spent five years leading Local Government Victoria—will officially commence his new role this week, coinciding with the agency's first day of operations on 1 July.

The City of Port Phillip has temporarily renamed St Kilda Beach to 'Patrick Beach' to celebrate the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup knockout stages.

Partnering with Melbourne City Football Club, the council is honouring goalkeeper Patrick Beach with the foreshore renaming, green and gold illumination of the town hall on Friday night, and a planned community mural.

Mayor Alex Makin said it was a uniquely local way of getting behind the Socceroos and sharing in the excitement of the World Cup at home.

Illegal dumping is on the rise in the Golden Plains Shire, with the council recording twenty-eight incidents in May—up from sixteen at the same time last year.

Mayor Owen Sharkey told the Golden Plains Times that clean-up costs directly impact ratepayers, noting a single site in Piggoreet recently cost over five thousand dollars to clear.

Moira Shire Council has endorsed its Post Event Recovery Action Plan, establishing a long-term framework for community and economic restoration following January's Yarroweyah-Muckatah fire.

With funding from state and commonwealth agencies, the plan prioritises structured, council-led recovery and infrastructure repair.

The National General Assembly has officially adopted a motion from Moyne Shire Council calling on the federal government to establish a dedicated funding program for council-owned swimming pools.

With data showing eighty per cent of public pools face end-of-life within the decade, the council argues the maintenance burden is no longer sustainable for rural and regional local governments alone.

Ararat Rural City Council has been named Recycle Care Australia’s 2025 Textile Recovery Leader, after diverting nearly 12 tonnes of post-consumer textiles from landfill since May.

The council says the program, run with Recycle Care Australia, has seen strong community use of free clothing drop-off hubs at the Ararat Resource Recovery Centre.

Items collected include clothing, shoes and linen, to be assessed for reuse, repair or recycling.

Council says more drop-off locations and promotion are planned in the coming year.

NSW

New South Wales councils will operate under fresh meeting rules, as a new regulation takes effect.

The government has prepared new meetings regulations after the disallowance of last year's Model Meeting Code by the Legislative Council in May.

The new regulation mandates livestreaming of all council and committee meetings, restricts pre-meeting contact between councillors and staff on agenda items, and strengthens chairpersons' powers to expel disorderly councillors — including from successive meetings if the conduct is not remedied.

Councils do not need to amend their existing meeting codes — the new provisions apply automatically once the regulations is published to the NSW legislation website.

Hawkesbury City Council will lift its ban on Hawkesbury Radio from 1 July, after the station engaged in what Council describes as productive discussions and took steps to address the conduct that triggered the original exclusion.

The ban on the Hawkesbury Gazette remains in place.

Council says it is satisfied with Hawkesbury Radio's response to the actions of individual staff members and with measures taken to prevent a recurrence.

Central Coast Council is expected to adopt a revised flag and street banner policy at its ordinary meeting tonight, resolving a multi-year dispute over Australia Day displays.

Local groups have raised concerns for some time about the policy, which meant Australian flags were not flown on council streets around January 26 each year.

The update clearly distinguishes between official flagpoles and promotional banner infrastructure to simplify compliance with national protocols, according to the Central Coast Express Advocate.

Bayside Council will escalate community safety concerns to the South Sydney Police Area Command following increased reports of anti-social behaviour at Mascot Central.

Following a decision at Wednesday's council meeting, officers will also investigate requesting local property developers provide a dedicated security presence to act as a deterrent.

The City of Ryde has introduced a new managed shared e-bike service across Macquarie Park, Gladesville, and Meadowbank.

Partnering with Lime, the initiative aligns with the council's Integrated Transport Strategy to reduce vehicle congestion and support its Net Zero goals.

To address community concerns, the framework features geofenced no-ride zones and mandatory parking areas.

The Country Mayors Association of New South Wales has criticised the latest state budget over a distinct lack of regional water infrastructure funding.

CMA Chairman Rick Firman highlighted a one-billion-dollar infrastructure shortfall for regional utilities, contrasting it with over five billion dollars allocated to metropolitan Sydney.

Berrigan Shire Council has cautiously welcomed the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s "What We Heard" report, noting it represents a positive step forward.

Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean praised the explicit acknowledgement of river heights on local tourism, but stressed that the Commonwealth must deliver real action rather than platitudes.

Dungog Shire Council is entering the final stages of its major organisational restructure, with new leadership aiming to drive the region forward.

Mayor Digby Raywood announced that stage three of the council’s internal review is well underway.

According to Mayor Raywood, interviews for a new Chief Financial Officer have also concluded, with an official appointment expected shortly.

Dubbo Regional Council will commission a comprehensive resource benchmarking report as a result of last week’s council meeting.

The study will compare workforce allocations, worksites, and community facilities against peer councils, tracking staffing levels from amalgamation to the present day to identify operational efficiencies.

Bathurst Regional Council is set to seek a 750,000-dollar loan to upgrade its Peel Street works depot, according to the Western Advocate.

The project will allow the relocation of council staff from the historic Howick Street post office building, freeing up the space there to generate an estimated 250,000 dollars in annual rental revenue.

Queensland

A breakdown in council procedures has sparked controversy in Far North Queensland.

According to a report by The Cairns Post, Queensland's Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers has refuted claims made by Cairns Mayor Amy Eden regarding advice given during a recent ordinary meeting.

The dispute arose after Mayor Eden shut down questions from fellow councillors regarding a misconduct finding against her, citing departmental advice. However, a spokesperson for the department said no such advice was provided to block councillor questions.

Under standard local government model meeting procedures, councillors retain the right to question peers, though the chairperson holds the discretion to disallow questions in certain circumstances.

Mackay Regional Council is introducing three artificial intelligence initiatives in its upcoming budget to combat rising operational costs.

The measures include a new after-hours digital assistant called LUNA, alongside administrative automation in development planning and corporate services.

The strategy aims to mitigate significant external funding shortfalls and is projected to deliver eighty-thousand dollars in initial annual savings while maintaining service delivery.

Outback Queensland's Quilpie Shire Council has taken out top honours at the National Awards for Local Government, being named the 2026 Outstanding Rural and Remote Council.

The accolade recognises Quilpie’s 'Q1000' Regional Growth Initiative—a strategic blueprint successfully tackling population decline through targeted housing grants and childcare expansion.

Tasmania

Major changes for Tasmanian local government are a step closer, following the passage of the Targeted Reform Bill through the state’s upper house last week.

The legislation will cut fifty councillor positions across the state ahead of the October elections. Under the new model, Tasmania’s five largest urban councils will be capped at nine elected members, while all other municipalities will be reduced to seven.

Local Government Minister Kerry Vincent says the reforms are the most substantial since 1993 and will better align councillor allowances with contemporary responsibilities.

According to Pulse Tasmania, the lower house will review the upper house amendments when parliament resumes in August.

Official figures reveal that code of conduct complaints at the Hobart City Council have cost ratepayers more than $116,000 over the past four years.

Data published by The Mercury shows a spike of 19 internal complaints since November 2022, representing a 38 per cent increase in costs compared to the previous council term.

The figures emerge amidst ongoing calls from the Local Government Association of Tasmania for greater structural reform and dispute mediation across the sector.

Western Australia

The Shire of Coolgardie announced that Councillor Corey Matthews has resigned from Council, effective immediately, for personal reasons.

Shire President Paul Wilcox thanked Matthews for his service since being elected in 2023, and asked that his privacy be respected.

A process under the Local Government Act to fill the vacancy will now commence.

The City of Mandurah is reviewing the application of its current memorial policy following community pushback.

The council initially denied a family's request to reinstate two beachside plaques after a recent storm damaged the original benches, according to ABC News.

Mandurah Chief Executive Casey Mihovilovich says a final decision is on hold pending a consultation meeting with the family.

The Shire of Peppermint Grove has unanimously approved a 3.8 per cent rate increase for its upcoming budget.

The move ends nearly a decade of below-inflation hikes and will fund a $2.7 million capital works program.

Mosman Park Council is considering the creation of a housing innovation advisory group to help guide its infill policies and address State-mandated density targets.

The West Australian reported the voluntary panel of industry experts will support the town's draft 2026 local planning strategy amid concerns over state overrides around transit precincts.

Meanwhile, the council is also reviewing a proposed 5.9 per cent rate increase in its draft budget this week.

Meanwhile, the West Australian reports that Cottesloe and Mosman Park are reviewing their planning frameworks to introduce new policies regulating the removal of significant trees on private land.

The move follows a growing trend across WA local governments utilising WALGA's model template to mandate development approvals for tree-damaging activities.

Northern Territory

The City of Darwin has welcomed Clarence McCarthy-Grogan as the newly elected member for Chan Ward.

The disability advocate and former Australian representative wheelchair basketball player fills the vacancy following a recent by-election.

Ahead of his formal induction this Tuesday, Lord Mayor Peter Styles said that McCarthy-Grogan’s leadership and commitment to inclusion will bring valuable perspective to the council.

International

NZ:

Wellington City Council has adopted its Annual Plan, locking in a 5.9 per cent rates increase—its lowest in six years.

Mayor Andrew Little said the budget delivers over 31 million dollars in savings while protecting core community services.

The council is also opening public consultation on a proposed shift from a capital value to a land value rating system.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has awarded a new nine-year contract to Tranzit Group to deliver an all-electric urban bus fleet for the Napier and Hastings public transport network.

Scheduled to begin in August 2027, the agreement marks a major transition toward zero-emission public transport for the region.

The new fleet will feature modern, quieter vehicles equipped with next-stop audio-visual announcements and charging infrastructure supplied by local technology company Kwetta.

UK:

Suffolk County Council will vote on launching a judicial review against the UK government’s council reorganisation plans.

A letter seen the BBC shows Ministers rejected civil service advice for a single unitary authority, choosing instead to split the county into three.

Council leadership opposes the split, while critics question the five-hundred-thousand-pound legal risk.

Cumberland Council Chief Executive Andrew Seekings has announced he will step down at the end of December.

Confirming his retirement at a staffing committee meeting, Mr. Seekings cited personal and health reasons for his decision after leading the unitary authority since its formation.

The recruitment process for a new chief executive is underway, according to the *News and Star.*

CANDA:

Regina City Council has rejected a proposal to mandate a full-time return to the office for hybrid municipal employees.

The motion, which aimed to boost downtown revitalisation, was defeated in an eight-three vote.

Council cited workplace flexibility, employee productivity, and office space savings as key factors in retaining the hybrid model, according to a report from CTV News.

USA:

In Oklahoma, Tulsa City Council is demanding clarity from the mayor over a surprise executive restructure.

Councillors claim they were not informed of a decision to shift the public safety commissioner to a civil service position, raising the role's maximum salary cap.

Mayor Monroe Nichols has defended the move, citing long-term administrative stability, according to KJRH Local News.

A Louisiana council has voted to introduce a charter amendment reducing the mayor's veto power.

If approved by voters, the threshold to override a mayoral veto at Monroe City Council will drop from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

The Ouachita Citizen reported the decision follows ongoing disputes over administrative authority and infrastructure development.

SOUTH KOREA:

Seoul City has initiated a resident-led audit into former Seongdong District Mayor Chong Won-o following a joint petition concerning a 2023 overseas study tour.

According to The Chosun Daily, the probe focuses on travel approval and document management irregularities involving an accompanying official.

The municipal audit is scheduled to conclude within sixty days.