Donation fail, misconduct finding, and an accidental release - #601

Today on the Local Government News Roundup:

• Victoria’s new local government bill criticised for failing to crack down on political donations
• A call for an urgent review of Victoria’s domestic animals act
• A rural mayor’s damning assessment of the Murray Darling Basin Plan review process
• A Tribunal rules on misconduct by a Queensland mayor
• More mayoral contenders emerge in Tasmania, as a trail blazing mayor prepares to retire
• A council’s accidental release of confidential information
• Plus an elected member resignation and a senior executive appointment

Transcript

Victorian Report

The Victorian Government’s new legislation aimed at strengthening council governance has drawn sharp criticism for failing to crack down on political donations.

The bill follows years of integrity warnings, most notably from the anti-corruption watchdog’s Operation Sandon report into the Casey Council scandal.

While Local Government Minister Paul Hamer stated the changes are vital to restoring public trust, the new laws remain completely silent on capping developer donations.

The Age reported that the government has instead deferred any potential donation reforms until the 2028 municipal elections.

Integrity experts have labelled the delay "hard to understand," pointing out that strict new donation caps were recently rushed through for state elections but left local councils exposed.

The legislation does introduce powers to remove mayors who lose the confidence of their council, but critics argue that without tackling campaign finance, the sector's biggest integrity loophole remains wide open.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reports that the new bill will give Melbourne City Council the power to levy higher differential rates on derelict CBD properties.

It enables a rate multiplier of up to four times to penalise land-banking and incentivise development.

The reform effectively aligns the city’s rating powers with other councils across the state.

Maroondah City Council is calling for an urgent review of Victoria’s Domestic Animals Act.

Backed by a successful motion at the Municipal Association of Victoria State Council, Maroondah is urging the state government to re-establish stronger penalty deterrents for nuisance pets, such as barking dogs.

It follows recent regulatory changes that reduced council-issued fines.

The City of Stonnington has finalised the seven-point-one-five million dollar sale of a discontinued section of Coonil Crescent to Cabrini Health.

The deal secures a new public walkway, alongside a land transfer back to the Council.

Proceeds from the settlement will directly fund Stonnington’s forty-nine point six million dollar capital works program for the upcoming financial year, targeting core road and drainage infrastructure.

Mayor Melina Sehr said the agreement balances local health service expansion with neighborhood character protections.

**Hepburn Shire Council’**s overall performance score has dropped five points to 41 out of 100 in the latest Victorian Community Satisfaction Survey.

Mayor Tony Clark acknowledged the underwhelming result, citing major structural changes implemented over the last 18 months to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Despite the overall decline, the shire recorded positive gains in satisfaction regarding waste management, customer service, and sealed local roads.

Swan Hill Rural City Council has emerged as a major winner at the LGPro Awards of Excellence in Melbourne, securing top honours in both Service Delivery and Community Partnerships.

The council was recognised for its innovative approach to regional housing shortages and streamlined development advisory services.

CEO Scott Barber said the recognition reflected the council’s strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and delivering real outcomes for the community.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has also secured major recognition at the awards.

The council took home two top category awards, winning the First Nations Community Partnership category for its Briars Junior Ranger project, alongside a Diversity and Inclusion win for the Hastings pontoon hoist initiative.

The Mayor of Loddon Shire Council, in Victoria’s central north, says the Murray Darling Basin Plan review process is failing farming communities across the region.

Cr Dan Straub, a former chair of the Murray River Group of Councils, believes there’s a politcal push to remove more water from irrigators and country towns.

"We've never ever argued that the environment doesn't need water, but we need in a balanced format to deliver it where it's needed. The plan's telling us that the environment has benefited from the water that they've already purchased back off landholders, and more water won't make any significant benefits to where we're at now — yet there's still this ploy to take more out of that consumptive pool, away from not just irrigators, but away from town water as well."

Cr Straub says the Basin review has become a political contest that ignores both the science and the communities most affected.

"It's become a political hot potato, throwing that back and forward, without really listening to the scientific evidence and also the communities that are actually showing a direct impact. We've had industries that have said they've got no confidence in the water market in Victoria anymore — and that takes away those jobs, those families, those kids in our schools down through our rural areas of northern Victoria.”

Loddon Shire is one of six councils in the Murray River Group, which has made formal submissions to the current Basin Plan review.

Hear more from Cr Straub on this week’s VLGA Connect, out on Friday.

NSW Report

Waverley Council has voted against releasing three-D modelling for the Bondi Junction draft masterplan.

The strategy, which proposes three-thousand new homes, drew strong resident backlash in the chamber.

Mayor Will Nemesh defended the long-term planning process, firmly denying community allegations of conflicts of interest, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Moree Plains Shire Council has appointed Director of Corporate Services Ian Stoneman as Acting General Manager, following the departure of Natalia Cowley to Cessnock City Council.

Before finishing her 17-month tenure last week, Ms Cowley delivered a new Financial Sustainability Policy to help the council manage rising business costs without resorting to Special Rate Variations.

Recruitment for her permanent replacement is underway.

Planning approvals have been finalised for the Nowra Riverfront Precinct in New South Wales, clearing the path for over 900 new homes.

Shoalhaven City Council partnered with State agencies on the rezoning, which increases maximum building heights up to 12 storeys and mandates dedicated social and affordable housing allocations.

Mayor Patricia White welcomed the milestone, noting it will drive critical civic revitalisation and support population growth close to the city centre.

Ku-ring-gai Council has voted to let the Development Application for the Marian Street Theatre lapse, effectively abandoning the long-delayed redevelopment project.

The decision follows 13 years of closure and more than $1.7 million in public expenditure on planning and design, according to a report by Broadway World.

Community advocates have sharply criticised the move, highlighting a stark contrast with the council's ongoing multi-million dollar investments in local sporting infrastructure.

Tweed Shire Council has adopted its 2026/27 budget, keeping its annual rate increase below the rate of inflation.

Councillors voted to approve a 3.1 per cent rise in general rates, bringing the average household bill up by roughly 3.6 per cent once all service charges are factored in.

Mayor Chris Cherry said the modest increase strikes a balance between community affordability and maintaining essential services, noting the figures sit well below the current 4.2 per cent inflation rate and those of neighbouring cross-border councils.

Camden Council has unveiled New South Wales’ first publicly accessible Wind Phone along the Nepean River Trail.

Inspired by a Japanese concept, the disconnected phone booth—titled Whispers in the Wind—serves as a contemplative public artwork designed to provide a quiet, natural space for community grief and reflection.

Mayor Therese Fedeli said the initiative highlights local government's role in creating inclusive public spaces that actively support community emotional wellbeing.

The Norfolk Island Regional Council has welcomed a new Commonwealth Administrator Fiona McKergow, who commenced her term this month.

Council has extended its thanks to the outgoing Administrator George Plant for his three years of service to the community.

Acting General Manager Scott Hackney highlighted the productive relationship shared with Mr Plant and noted that Ms McKergow’s extensive public administration experience will support the island’s ongoing efforts to strengthen local governance.

Queensland Report

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden has been found to have committed misconduct on two occasions, after the Councillor Conduct Tribunal ruled she released confidential council information to a journalist in 2023, while serving as a councillor.

The Cairns Post reported that the tribunal found Mayor Eden disclosed legal advice on a public art project, and separately, details of a confidential workshop discussion.

Mayor Eden must make a public admission at Wednesday's council meeting and complete confidentiality training; the Tribunal declined to impose a fine.

Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell has extended her period of leave until early August.

Deputy Mayor Julie Talty will continue as Acting Mayor to ensure organisational stability ahead of the council’s crucial budget meeting on June 30.

According to Redlands Coast Today, day-to-day administration and community services remain unaffected.

Construction has officially commenced on the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer at Moreton Bay Central.

The City of Moreton Bay has welcomed the milestone, noting the multi-billion-dollar project will significantly boost the regional economy and create approximately 400 ongoing, highly skilled operational roles.

The facility anchors a strategic Priority Development Area designed to drive long-term innovation and advanced industry within the local government area.

Gympie Regional Council is expanding its recreational vehicle network to capture a growing share of regional tourism ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games.

At its latest ordinary meeting, the council endorsed plans for three new RV sites in Gympie, Tin Can Bay, and Amamoor.

Mayor Glen Hartwig says the infrastructure requires relatively small investment but promises significant economic returns for local businesses.

Tasmania

Hobart’s longest-serving alderman, Marti Zucco, has announced he will contest the lord mayoralty in the October elections.

Mr Zucco’s platform features a push for Victorian-style council rate capping and new free parking initiatives to improve city accessibility.

According to The Mercury, the veteran councillor has already formally urged the Local Government Minister to introduce the rate-cap model to limit future increases.

Waratah-Wynyard Mayor Mary Duniam has announced she will retire from local government at the upcoming October elections.

First elected in 2005, Councillor Duniam became the municipality’s first female mayor in 2022.

Speaking to The Advocate, she urged voters to choose their representatives thoughtfully, highlighting that every council operates as a multi-million-dollar organisation.

A mayoral contest is already brewing, with councillors Dillon Roberts, Leanne Raw, and Michael Johnstone all confirming they will stand for the top job.

South Australia

Mitcham Council has inadvertently published confidential notes on its website detailing a four-point-four million dollar property negotiation.

As reported by The Advertiser, the leaked text outlines plans to sell the former Blackwood Library site to developer Buildtec for a five-storey multi-use complex.

Chief Executive Matt Pears said the document was released due to an administrative error and has since been removed from public access.

Western Australia

City of South Perth councillor Hayley Prendiville has resigned, effective immediately.

Elected in 2023 to represent the Moresby community, Ms Prendiville served on several key council committees, including the CEO Selection and Inclusive Community Advisory groups.

Mayor Greg Milner has thanked her for her service, highlighting her advocacy for local environment and arts initiatives. Details on a process to fill her place on the Council are pending.

The Shire of Broome is calling on the Western Australian Government for urgent policy reform regarding public housing rate exemptions.

The council warns that shifting property management to community housing providers is expanding charitable-use exemptions, putting local budgets under pressure.

With public housing making up 16% of Broome’s housing stock, the council warns that total exemptions could cost up to $2.8 million annually, unfairly shifting the infrastructure burden onto remaining ratepayers.

Two WA councils are trialling new AI-powered "near-miss" camera technology, in partnership with the WA Road Safety Commission.

The City of Stirling has installed a temporary unit at Alexander Drive and Wordsworth Street, while the Shire of Mundaring is trialling a similar camera on Great Eastern Highway at Stoneville Road.

Unlike enforcement cameras, the devices don't issue fines — they collect de-identified data on speeds, traffic movements and close calls, giving planners evidence to guide future road safety upgrades.

Global Report

UK:

The UK government is facing a legal challenge over its local government shake-up.

The Reform UK-led Essex County Council has announced plans to seek a judicial review at the High Court this week, according to a BBC News report.

It opposes a mandate to replace fifteen authorities with five unitary councils by 2028, branding the plan financially unviable.

The UK Government has stripped Malvern Hills District Council of its major planning powers after the authority exceeded the acceptable limit for overturned development appeals.

According to a report by BBC News, twelve per cent of the council's refusals were overturned between 2023 and 2025. Major planning decisions will now be managed at a national level by the Planning Inspectorate.

The council has expressed disappointment, and is considering options to challenge the government’s action.

USA:

In the Washington DC Democratic primary, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has swept to victory, capturing more than fifty percent of first-choice votes.

Her main rival, former Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, has conceded, congratulating Lewis George and calling the result clear.

Lewis George, a democratic socialist representing Ward 4, will now face the general election in November — though in a city that hasn't elected a Republican mayor since the 1970s, she's widely expected to succeed outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is stepping down after three terms.

New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry is under renewed pressure after the death of an 18-year-old tourist, fatally injured when a carriage horse bolted in Central Park.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Lynn Schulman say the Council will hold a hearing in July on “Ryder’s Law” — a proposal to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in the park, while providing transition and job-placement support for drivers.

According to USA Today, the Transport Workers Union supports adding hitching posts in the park, so horses can be tethered safely during stops.

And the Central Park Conservancy says this is the kind of tragedy it warned about — and that now is the time for city leaders to act.

MEXICO:

The municipal president of Tenancingo in Mexico, Nancy Napoles, has been accused of staging her own kidnapping.

According to a report by CBS News, prosecutors have alleged the incident was simulated to embezzle over two million dollars in public funds, framing the money as a forced ransom payment.

Napoles has maintained her innocence via social media, calling the allegations politicised.

While arrest warrants have been issued for her husband and brother-in-law, prosecutors have requested Napoles present for formal testimony early next month.