Shock suspension, hidden camera breach, and a “nonsensical” decision - #574

In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup:

• The shock suspension of a municipal building surveyor
• Police called after hidden cameras found in a town hall
• The half million dollar cost of democracy in Liverpool
• Death threats reported in the case against a Councillor and CEO
• A political stoush over safety and police numbers in Western Sydney
• Another councillor resignation, this time from WA
• A vaccination program under scrutiny in Tasmania

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

Transcript

Today’s Top Three

In a regulatory first, Victoria’s Building and Plumbing Commission has suspended the City of Boroondara’s Municipal Building Surveyor, Asanka Kodikara.

The six-month suspension and twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine follow what the watchdog called “gross failures” to act in relation to a Carnegie renovation.

The BPC found Kodikara failed to carry out mandatory inspections or take action against a builder who was working without insurance.

Commissioner Anna Cronin says the regulator will not hesitate to act when surveyors fail to ensure building safety.

Kodikara has also been ordered to undergo mandatory training.

In Liverpool, in Sydney’s south-west ... ratepayers are footing the bill for a rare council by-election this weekend.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the by-election is expected to cost more than 500 thousand dollars ... to fill the South Ward vacancy after deputy mayor Betty Green resigned citing health issues.

Liverpool is the only Greater Sydney council that did not adopt a “countback” system after the 2024 election ... a cheaper recount of the original ballots when a councillor steps down.

Mayor Ned Mannoun says the price is part of democracy. But others argue the money should be going to basic services ... like parks, footpaths and cleaning.

In Rockingham, WA ... councillor Craig Buchanan says he’ll resign from the council at the end of April ... after six years on council.

Cr Buchanan says the decision has not come lightly ... and he is willing to bring it forward if the mayor, council and administration prefer.

He says he cannot go into the full reasons ... but argues he no longer has the personal confidence needed in the city’s administrative procedures to keep doing the job to the standard locals expect.

The Sound Telegraph reports a dispute over an event permit may have been the tipping point.

The Council has confirmed the resignation in a statement yesterday, and says it will follow statutory requirements in filling the vacancy.

Victorian Report

Horsham Rural City Council has apologised for an alleged security breach at the Horsham Town Hall, which has seen several scheduled shows and events cancelled or rescheduled.

Local police are investigating reports that hidden cameras were placed in change rooms at the town hall on multiple occasions, according to ABC News.

Officers executed search warrants on April 2 ... and seized phones, computers and storage devices for forensic testing.

Police say it’s unclear how long the devices were in place ... but believe they were used for a period of time. A person of interest has been identified and stood down from their job ... but was yet to be interviewed as of yesterday.

The Council says it reported the alleged breach immediately and took steps to prevent further risk.

The case against a Hepburn Shire councillor and its CEO has taken a darker turn, according to The Courier.

Private prosecutor David Penman ... says his family has been terrified by five death threat letters ... opened by his wife in late March.

Penman has launched court action alleging misuse of ratepayer money by councillor and former mayor Don Henderson ... and council chief executive Bradley Thomas.

He says the threats appear to come from the same writer ... but he is not alleging either man was involved. Police are investigating ... and Penman says he is determined to press on.

The Melbourne Star observation wheel is expected to finally start spinning again before the end of the year.

The Herald Sun reports that Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece is "optimistic" the Docklands landmark will relaunch in the coming months, following five years of closure.

Residents recently sparked speculation about a reopening after spotting the wheel undergoing test runs and lighting demonstrations.

The attraction has been dormant since 2021. While a specific date hasn’t been set, the Lord Mayor says the public can expect to see more frequent testing as the council works behind the scenes to get the tourist attraction back in business.

Melton Council is asking the State to send more of the infrastructure money back to the suburbs generating it.

The Star weekly reported that councillors have endorsed a submission to MAV State Council in May... calling for a guaranteed share of Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution and Windfall Gains Tax revenue to be redirected to fast-growing councils.

Melton has paid more than 410 million dollars in GAIC ... but the council says only about 256 million has been committed locally.

Councillor Phillip Zada says with rate caps, inflation, and rising costs ... councils can’t keep up with demand for libraries, leisure centres, parks and local roads.

In Melbourne’s southeast ... e-bikes are turning up where they shouldn’t ... and Casey Council says it is weighing tougher ways to keep illegal riders out of Wilson Botanic Park.

The Pakenham Star reports that e-bikes and motorbikes have been slipping in after hours ... damaging grounds and plantings ... and prompting safety fears from visitors.

Victoria has no minimum age for e-bikes ... and no licensing or registration ... even as NSW and Queensland move to seize illegal machines and restrict children.

Casey Mayor Councillor Stefan Koomen says those crackdowns are worth assessing for Victoria.

Feral pigs are becoming a bigger threat across eastern Victoria ... and East Gippsland Shire Council says new funding could make a real difference.

The Victorian Government is putting two point seven five million dollars into surveillance and control on public land ... with about eight hundred thousand focused on the Eastern Alps and Upper Snowy.

East Gippsland Mayor Councillor Jodie Ashworth says farmers have been warning pest numbers are rising ... hurting productivity and community wellbeing. She says the investment shows those concerns have been heard ... and wants any new jobs filled locally.

Victorian Briefs

The Victorian Electoral Commission is calling for candidates for the Whittlesea City Council by-election.

Nominations opened on Monday ... and must be lodged in person during business hours ... with an appointment ... and a 250 dollar fee.

Nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday 21 April.

Oakleigh is getting a new art trail aimed at making the area feel safer and more welcoming after dark while celebrating its multicultural character, including the long-standing Greek precinct.

Monash Council says it will feature new murals, projections, and lightboxes, backed by Victorian Government funding plus a local contribution, with an opening expected in 2027.

The redevelopment of the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club is moving into a new phase, with the Victorian Government taking over the assessment of the project.

Hobsons Bay City Council confirmed the shift, stating the upgrade will now be managed as a state project to ensure transparency and accountability through the planning process.

The state government has committed over 11 million dollars to the project, with the council contributing a further 3 million to replace the club’s ageing facilities.

Local Government Managers Australia has officially appointed Tess Bishop as its new Chief Executive Officer following an extensive national search. Ms. Bishop joins the organisation with over 20 years of senior executive experience, currently serving as Deputy Secretary at the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

LGMA President Daniel Fletcher says Ms. Bishop was the "clear standout," praising her track record of navigating complex policy and major reforms.

Ms. Bishop, who has previously led initiatives for 67 Queensland councils, says she is honoured to step into the role, emphasising that local government is "where policy meets people."

She is set to officially take the reins on Tuesday, May 5th.

NSW Report

A public plaza outside Fairfield station has been fenced off ... and it has sparked a political stoush about safety and police numbers in Western Sydney, according to a report from ABC News.

Fairfield Mayor Councillor Frank Carbone says antisocial behaviour, drinking and assaults left council with little choice ... and he claims police are not being deployed to the area.

But NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley says Fairfield received 64 new recruits ... the biggest allocation in the region. She has called the mayor’s claim “absolute garbage” ... and says stirring alarm does not help police or the community.

Right across New South Wales ... councils say the fuel crisis is starting to pinch essential services.

LGNSW President Mayor Darcy Byrne says the sector is feeling both distribution problems and sharp price rises ... and warns the impacts will differ from place to place.

At the Treasurer’s request ... LGNSW is now asking every council to fill out a short survey on storage capacity ... fuel reserves ... and how fuel intensive council operations are.

Cr Byrne says the goal is to present clear evidence ... and push for councils’ critical work to be prioritised in fuel allocation.

From the Daily Telegraph, a report that a fight over parking is now threatening one of Moore Park’s busiest entertainment venues ... Hyper Karting, inside the Entertainment Quarter car park.

City of Sydney planners knocked back its bid to keep operating until 2028 ... saying the business relies on nearly three hundred commercial parking spaces.

Founder Andrew Richardson calls that nonsensical ... pointing to data showing the car park has not hit capacity since Allianz Stadium reopened ... and saying more parking is coming.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore says she was disappointed ... but had no say under NSW law. The decision is now under review ... with public comments to follow.

In Sydney’s Crows Nest ... a developer wants to bring construction onto Sundays ... and the local council says it could change weekend life across the city.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Deicorp is seeking approval to work seven days a week on a 640 million dollar project ... including Sunday hours for internal fit-out ... arguing labour shortages and supply chain delays are stretching timelines.

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker says residents have already lived through years of big builds ... and Sunday is now the last guaranteed quiet day.

The final call sits with the NSW Department of Planning ... and both sides say the decision will reach far beyond one site.

Into the regions for more news:

In Tamworth ... the council is weighing a major move to bring its admin workforce back under one roof ... after four years spread across seven buildings.

The Northern Daily Leader reports that a council business paper has proposed relocating most staff who once worked at Ray Walsh House ... to a large site near the CBD.

Ray Walsh House is off the table for now ... with costs to repair or replace it put at between 50 and 70 million dollars.

The vote will happen in closed session ... with council citing commercial confidentiality.

In the Riverina ... Leeton Shire Council has voted to oppose large-scale solar farms on irrigable farmland ... trying to draw a line between clean energy and food production.

The motion, put forward by Mayor George Watson, backs renewables in principle ... but says high-value land with reliable water should not be the default site for grid-scale projects.

Councillors described prime farmland as “precious” ... though Cr Nicholas Wright warned against unintended impacts on small on-farm solar for existing operations.

General manager Jackie Kruger says the policy still allows case-by-case decisions ... but mass developments on productive irrigated country would be unlikely to win support.

Orange City Council, in the state’s Central West has decided to oppose a proposed greyhound racing “centre of excellence” on council land ... even though it could bring in more than a million dollars, according to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald.

The shift follows a strong community backlash ... and councillors’ claims the project was oversold.

They say the development application describes a far more basic facility ... and relies on disputed claims about economic benefits.

Campaigner and former councillor Neil Jones says the plan is about wagering, not the town ... and critics point to animal welfare risks ... especially on curved tracks.

On the Tweed ... new police powers to deal with illegal e-bike use have been welcomed by the council.

Tweed Shire Mayor Councillor Chris Cherry says locals have been calling for action ... after reports of riders speeding on footpaths ... through shopping centres ... and near families.

The council says residents are not anti e-bike ... they want safety and respect for shared spaces.

Kiama Council has paid tribute to former state MP Bob Harrison OAM ... who has died at 91.

Mr Harrison represented Kiama in Parliament from 1986 to 1999 ... and spent decades in public life ... including two terms as Shellharbour Mayor.

Kiama Acting Mayor Councillor Melissa Matters says Harrison leaves a lasting legacy ... and she has offered condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the council.

NSW Briefs:

After a weekend fire shut the gates at Grafton Regional Landfill ... Clarence Valley Council says the site is open again ... but the bigger worry is what sparked it.

The cause is still under investigation ... but the council is warning that lithium batteries are turning up in the wrong bins ... then igniting when they are crushed or damaged.

A countback election to fill a Ward 3 vacancy on Wollongong City Council has resulted in the election of David Haden, after the resignation of Tiana Myers.

Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown says she is looking forward to working with Mr Haden ... who says it is an honour to represent the community.

Hundreds of people in yellow have gathered on Jetty Beach in Coffs Harbour to form a giant human banana ... aiming for a world record and tipping the hat to the region’s banana‑growing history.

Mayor Nikki Williams, says it was a playful way to put the city on the national map, and to boost votes for Coffs Harbour in the NSW Top Tourism Town Awards.

Queensland Report

South East Queensland is growing fast ... and its mayors say the next bottleneck is digital. The Council of Mayors has launched its first digital plan ... aimed at lifting productivity ... easing cost of living pressure ... speeding up housing approvals ... and cutting red tape.

SEQ chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says tools from AI to quantum could help councils deliver services faster ... and reduce costs for families.

The plan points to a benchmark report showing the region is less productive than global peers ... with internet speeds lagging.

It calls for stronger coordination on connectivity ... data standards ... and cyber security ... ahead of Brisbane 2032.

Queensland has a new position aimed at narrowing the gap between Brisbane and the regions ... a Special Commissioner for Regional and Rural Queensland.

Former Hinchinbrook Shire deputy mayor and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps has been appointed to the role ... with a brief to take government services on the road ... and make sure policy better reflects local priorities.

Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last says the commissioner will be on the ground ... listening and feeding community insights back into programs and investment decisions.

South Burnett Regional Council has warned that text messages claiming an overdue Southeast water bill are a scam and were not sent by the council.

It is concerned that the messages may target older and vulnerable residents for identity theft and financial fraud, and advises recipients not to click links or share details, but to screenshot, delete, and report them via the Queensland Government scam reporting page.

Tasmania

In Tasmania ... ABC News reports that a school vaccination program is under scrutiny after a student was vaccinated without caregiver consent.

West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl says it shows why councils should not be running state health programs ... and calls the current setup a minefield.

She says ratepayers are covering the cost ... about 20 thousand dollars a year ... with only a quarter reimbursed.

The council says the mandatory referrals were made ... and it cannot comment further. The Local Government Association wants the Public Health Act changed ... and Minister Kerry Vincent says he is open to talking about it.

South Australia

Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith has expressed "outrage" over a draft management plan that allows leashed dogs in CBD playgrounds, citing a serious risk of "fecal contamination" and parasites.

The Lord Mayor, a former pathologist, claims the presence of dogs is a significant health hazard to children.

However, health experts aren't sold. Speaking to Adelaide Now, University of Adelaide parasitologist Professor Ryan O’Handley says he’s "a little lost" by the Mayor's stance. He notes that parasite levels in local household dogs are under 1%, suggesting better education and more waste bags are the real solution—not a total ban.

Local parents agree, calling the proposed ban "ridiculous" and noting that for children with sensory needs, having their dogs nearby is an essential part of inclusivity.

A petition signed by 58 citizens regarding the employment terms of senior council staff was formally tabled at the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Ordinary Council Meeting last week.

The petitioners are calling on the Council to restrict the length of any new or renewed senior executive contracts ahead of the upcoming 2026 Local Government Election. Specifically, they have requested that no senior appointments be made for a term exceeding 12 months from the date of the election.

Despite the petition being deemed valid under meeting regulations, the report concludes that the Council has no legal grounds to act on the specific request. Because staffing matters are governed by existing contracts and statutory obligations, the official recommendation to the Council was simply to receive and note the petition.

Qantas is temporarily suspending flights to Mount Gambier ... and the District Council of Grant says it’s disappointed ... but not giving up on the route.

The council owns and operates the regional airport ... and says the pause will be felt by residents, business and visitors.

Mayor Kylie Boston says the council has been working with Qantas on more viable options for the Limestone Coast ... and will keep advocating to lift passenger numbers.

Former Mount Gambier City Council chief executive Sarah Philpott is stepped in as acting executive director of corporate performance and strategy at the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.

Ms Philpott led the council from 2021 to 2025 ... and has three decades of local government experience across South Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

And Port Adelaide Enfield Council has formally noted the creation of a casual vacancy, with the election of former councillor David Wilkins to the South Australian Parliament.

A supplementary election will not be required, due to the closeness to the next scheduled council poll in November.

Western Australia

In Bassendean ... a vacant council-owned block next to the local RSL could become veteran housing ... with new clubrooms on the ground floor.

The town says talks with RSL WA have progressed ... after an earlier three-year lease expired last year.

A letter of intent signed in January sets out plans to value the land at a discount ... and to seek state and federal funding. Mayor Kathryn Hamilton says the focus is community benefit ... and any development would still face planning and consultation.

Shire of Ravensthorpe councillors have elected Benno Sutherland as Deputy Shire President ... filling a role left vacant after the death of Cr Mark Mudie in the West River bushfire last December.

Sutherland was first elected in 2025 ... and will serve in the deputy role until 2027.

The special meeting also swore in two new councillors ... Helen Burton and Geoff Fyfe ... and appointed delegates to council committees.

In Boyup Brook ... the local shire is spelling out what a new state forestry payment does, and does not, cover.

The Shire of Boyup Brook says it has received 230 thousand dollars from the Forest Products Commission across the next two financial years ... money meant to support local government services.

But about 135 thousand is needed just to cover the equivalent of rates for 2025-26 ... leaving a gap for 2026-27.

It says the commission’s land is not rateable under state law ... and it is lobbying for full equivalent payments, warning the uncertainty makes long term budgeting harder.

Global Report

NZ:

The Far North District Council says it’s being unfairly singled out following calls for Government intervention.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has asked officials to engage with the council after Kerikeri councillor Davina Smolders raised concerns about its governance—even suggesting a Crown Observer might be needed.

However, RNZ reports today that Mayor Moko Tepania believes the council is being unfairly targeted.

He maintains the Minister recently expressed confidence in the council’s ability to perform its duties and says they’ve heard nothing further regarding an observer.

Mayor Tepania says the council remains committed to working with the Government, but insists they are conducting their governance appropriately.

UK:

Lancashire County Council is promising changes after a public inquiry into the Southport knife attack.

The inquiry says agencies failed to take ownership of the risk posed by Axel Rudakubana ... and that the council’s children’s services stepped the case down to a lower level of support.

Lancashire’s chief executive, Mark Wynn, has apologised ... saying the council is deeply sorry for its part in the systemic failings.

Local Gov reports that the inquiry has made 67 recommendations ... including a full review of how children’s services and Early Help assess and manage risk ... and deal with online harms.

North Yorkshire Council has launched a legal challenge against the regional Mayor over a controversial funding decision.

As reported by The Northern Echo, the council has initiated judicial review proceedings against the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Council leaders claim a new funding formula will leave the county with a 20-million-pound shortfall for road repairs over the next four years.

Council leader Carl Les argues the decision was "unlawful" and lacked the required unanimous support. He says the move is necessary to protect residents from deteriorating road conditions.

However, Mayor David Skaith has hit back, calling the legal action a "political stunt" that wastes taxpayer money and risks pausing vital investment.

The council says it hopes the legal notice will force a "reset" in the relationship between the two authorities.

In Essex ... a row over an AI-made political video is ending without charges ... but not without fallout, according to BBC News.

Police say they will take no further action over a post by Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan ... after deciding it does not meet the criminal threshold.

Callaghan apologised after sharing a clip that targeted local Conservatives and Reform UK councillors ... and displayed the word “Jew” over a Conservative councillor’s image.

He says he deleted it as soon as he realised the antisemitic content ... and accepts he should have been more careful using AI.

In Scotland ... the Courier reported that Perth and Kinross Council has been hit with an unprecedented rebuke from the Scottish Information Commissioner over record keeping tied to a scrapped senior director role worth about 128 thousand pounds a year.

The commissioner, David Hamilton, says the post was abolished without a single record ... leaving the public unable to scrutinise the decision under FOI laws.

The council’s chief executive, Thomas Glen, says it’s reviewing the recommendations and must report back by July.

USA:

A surprise announcement this week in Santa Barbara, California… Mayor Randy Rowse has declared he will not seek re-election in the upcoming November 2026 contest.

Rowse, a Republican who has led the coastal city for the past eight years, cited a desire to focus on family.

Santa Barbara Today reports that his departure immediately shifts the political landscape, leaving three Democratic City Council members—Cathy Murillo, Alejandra Gutierrez, and Eric Friedman—to vie for the top post.

The move effectively signals the end of a rare era of Republican leadership in the city and guarantees a major shift in the ideological direction of the council starting in 2027.

In the small Minnesota city of Carver ... council members have hit pause on the fast-growing data centre industry.

Fox9 News reported that they have unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development ... giving staff time to study impacts on the natural and built environment.

The city says it wants clearer rules for zoning ... including what large facilities could mean for water systems and noise.

Leaders also noted there is no specific data centre project currently pending in Carver ... and the moratorium could be lifted early if councillors choose.

In San Antonio, Texas ... a proposed new ICE detention centre is turning into a test of local power, according to National Today.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones says she will use every legal and political tool she has ... to stop a processing and detention facility she says would harm the community.

Reports suggest the site could be among the largest in the country ... able to hold and process thousands of people.

Ortiz Jones says the plan could carry serious social and economic costs for residents.

City council is expected to consider a resolution condemning the proposal in coming weeks ... as the mayor rallies public opposition.

CANADA:

Toronto and Kyiv are looking to deepen a partnership that’s becoming more practical as the war drags on. ... Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada has met with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow ... to discuss new ways the sister cities can work together ... supporting Ukraine’s resilience and recovery amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Ambassador Plakhotniuk thanked Mayor Chow for what he called consistent support ... and strong engagement with Toronto’s Ukrainian community.

The ambassador says Toronto’s leadership is a model for city-to-city cooperation ... as Ukraine plans for rebuilding.

Ottawa and the Saskatchewan government are investing more than 25.9 million dollars to upgrade water, wastewater and stormwater works in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw ... funding designed to unlock almost 29,400 new homes.

The mayors of those cities have welcomed the funding injection, which will help deliver new services, divert more waste from landfill, and reduce flooding risks.