‘Gamed by councillors’:How gag orders and secret arbitrations are stifling local councils

‘Gamed by councillors’:How gag orders and secret arbitrations are stifling local councils

Lack of transparency,restrictions on ratepayer questions and impenetrable freedom-of-information requests:welcome to local council.

  • byCara Waters

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Council worker takes shire to court over alleged illegal dumping of toxic waste

Council worker takes shire to court over alleged illegal dumping of toxic waste

A regional council worker is taking his employer to the Federal Court after accusing it of illegally dumping toxic waste and punishing him for speaking up.

  • byJames Dowling andCameron Houston
Two Liberal candidates to keep council positions during campaign

Two Liberal candidates to keep council positions during campaign

Two Liberal candidates in the state election will be able to keep their councillor positions while they campaign after a controversial vote at Boroondara Council that went against integrity guidelines.

  • byRachel Eddie
Stonnington councillors boycott meetings to axe $1.8m marketing scheme

Stonnington councillors boycott meetings to axe $1.8m marketing scheme

Audits into traders associations have raised questions of governance and accountability.

  • byStephen Brook
It’s help,not mockery,that vulnerable flood-affected Victorians need
Opinion
Floods

It’s help,not mockery,that vulnerable flood-affected Victorians need

As Victorian communities battle floodwaters and the prospect of more rain on the way,it’s more important to offer help than judgment.

  • byVera Hemkes
Yarra residents hold own meeting in protest after council cancels

Yarra residents hold own meeting in protest after council cancels

Furious locals are staging an outdoor sit-in protest after the City of Yarra axed its regular public meeting,claiming there were “no agenda items” for discussion.

  • byCara Waters andSophie Aubrey
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Give councils cash to help bring down housing prices:think tank

Give councils cash to help bring down housing prices:think tank

Poorer,younger Australians have suffered one of the biggest falls in housing affordability. A leading economist says councils should get cash to lift builds.

  • byShane Wright
Too many flies? Horse neigh sayers block new houses near country racetrack

Too many flies? Horse neigh sayers block new houses near country racetrack

It has all the ingredients tree changers look for in a regional town. But there’s one part of Kilmore locals say city people wouldn’t like.

  • byTom Cowie
Turf war treaty:Council keeps some parkland for community use

Turf war treaty:Council keeps some parkland for community use

The coveted Coburg North reserve was the latest battleground caught between the needs of professionalised organised sport and local residents wanting open space protected in their neighbourhoods.

  • byCara Waters
Traditional owners formalised in new boundaries covering central Melbourne

Traditional owners formalised in new boundaries covering central Melbourne

Previously,there had been no formalised traditional owner group for 3721 square kilometres from the Werribee River through Melbourne and east to Bunyip.

  • byRachel Eddie
Thousands more parking fines could be refunded over ‘illegal’ reviews

Thousands more parking fines could be refunded over ‘illegal’ reviews

Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass has identified another 17,400 fines that could be refunded after finding councils and agencies might have acted illegally by outsourcing reviews.

  • byRachel Eddie