Brawling North Sydney Council seeks Governance Coordinator

Councillors behaving badly

29 September, 2014

Forced amalgamation spectre returns for NSW councils

Baird shifts posts on O’Farrell’s promise

11 September, 2014

Councils back bid to cut-off electricity to illegal slumlords

Local governments want faster shut-down powers.

17 July, 2014

Grants freeze paves road to regional infrastructure hell

Budget puts safety and economic growth at risk say engineers and councils, who want access to affordable debt facilities.

5 June, 2014

NSW councils urge O’Farrell to act on local government reform

The New South Wales government is under pressure from councils to act on recommendations from the Independent Local Government Review Panel before the next election in 2015.

14 April, 2014

NSW councils fleeced by half billion in annual cost-shifting

A new report by Local Government NSW has laid bare rampant cost-shifting which has forced councils to pick up a $521 mil tab in the 2011/2012 financial year.

13 March, 2014

Training councillors to become better leaders

The Centre for Local Government at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) has lessons to offer on how elected representatives can stay well on course. The role of a councillor has always been a challenging one – balancing council rules, policies and procedures with the expectations of constituents who expect high quality service at a […]

20 January, 2014

PM’s sister defeated in bid for Local Government NSW presidency

By Julian Bajkowski The sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Christine Forster, has lost a high profile bid to become the president of peak council group Local Government New South Wales after incumbent co-president Keith Rhoades following elections in Sydney during the body’s annual conference. The re-election of Mr Rhoades, who is an independent councillor […]

2 October, 2013

Liverpool’s managerial dismissal sparks job hunt

By Paul Hemsley Sydney’s Liverpool City Council has confirmed it is looking for a new deputy general manager following the sudden departure of Matt Daniel. The Western Sydney local government declined to detail the circumstances surrounding Mr Daniel’s exit, however a spokesperson told Government News that “his contract has ended with council”. The spokesperson said […]

2 October, 2013

PM’s sister tilts for Local Government NSW presidency

By Julian Bajkowski New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and his Local Government minister Don Page could soon have the most formidable of internal opponents to deal with when it comes to trying to push through contentious and controversial council mergers. Christine Forster, a Liberal councillor on the City of Sydney and the high-profile and […]

30 September, 2013

O’Farrell compromises over development law battle with councils

By Paul Hemsley New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell has yielded, at least in part, to demands from councils that he keep his key election promise to return planning control to local governments after Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard indicated the Macquarie Street may now compromise over electorally unpopular new planning legislation. The Premier’s concession […]

19 September, 2013

More NSW Budget poured into filling mining potholes

By Paul Hemsley Deteriorating council roads and bridges in regional New South Wales suffering years of costly wear and tear inflicted by the mining industry will finally get increased financial relief worth after the O’Farrell government forked out $120 million in the 2013-14 Budget under the Resources for Regions Program. The state government funding towards […]

21 June, 2013

Albanese shells out another $150m to share between councils

By Paul Hemsley Councils across Australia have warmly welcomed federal Minister for Local Government Anthony Albanese’s injection of $150 million to share between councils and shires to help build and renew community infrastructure. Formally announced at the National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) in Canberra this week, the funding measure formed the centrepiece of […]

20 June, 2013

Positions splinter on NSW planning overhaul

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski Extensive changes to planning and development laws proposed by the New South Wales government have produced widely divergent positions among key stakeholders in the local government and property development sectors as negotiations with Macquarie Street start in earnest. NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard announced the proposed […]

18 April, 2013