VLGA Connect

In this week's episode of VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy speaks to the Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne, Nick Reece, about the challenges facing the M9 group of councils as they expect to accommodate up to a million more residents by 2051. Chris also chats to Simon Harrex (Victorian Local Governance Association) and John Armitage (QDos) about the launch of the 2026 Victorian Councillor Census, w...

In this week's special episode of VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews the new Local Government Minister in Victoria, the Hon Tim Richardson MP. Together they discuss his approach to the portfolio and what he sees as the sector's priorities in the months ahead, with the November state election fast approaching.  Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Support the show To learn more about the...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers to unpack two recent Council conduct decisions.  Chris also chats with Surf Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Libby Stapleton, about the push for a rapid transit link between Geelong and Torquay, and an innovative trial to improve the availability of longer term rental homes in the tourist town of Lorne. Sponsored by Hu...

This week on a special edition of VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by 2026 Mary Rogers Award Winner Councillor Melina Sehr from Stonnington City Council.  Cr Sehr received the honour at a special Award ceremony at Queen's Hall, Parliament House last week. This is the second year the VLGA has delivered the Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government, in partnership with the Victorian Go...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy is joined by General Manager of Murrumbidgee Council in NSW, John Scarce, to discuss the council’s decision to trial a four-day working week. Chris also sits down with Merri-bek City Council Mayor Cr Nat Abboud about a new national guide and toolkit to help local councils across Australia create healthier, happier open streets around schools. This is joint init...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic from Hunt and Hunt Lawyers to discuss the latest developments on new legislation to amend the Local Government Act. They also unpack two new councillor conduct decisions out of Kingston City Council - including  a councillor suspension.  Chris is also joined by Greater Dandenong City Council Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Weatherill, a...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers to discuss the latest developments at Hepburn Shire and the related Supreme Court case. They also review the status of the Government’s new local government bill and look at how it compares to the Opposition’s alternative bill. Chris is also joined by Dr Heather Holmes-Ross, President of South Australia’s L...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy is joined by Greater Geelong City Council Mayor, Dr Stretch Kontelj to find out more about his push for a special economic zone pilot in central Geelong, similar to what has been rolled out in Ireland and China. Chris also sits down with Dawn Bray from the VLGA, and Sally Clarke, a global expert on burnout and culture, to discuss the VLGA’s Councillor Professio...

This week on VLGA Connect, and as part of the VLGA's state election series, Chris Eddy is joined by Shadow Minister for Local Government, Bev McArthur MLC, to discuss the opposition’s view on a range of local government issues, including rate capping and legislative loopholes. Chris also chats with the mayor of South Gippsland Shire, Cr Nathan Hersey, about a shared council approach to FOGO s...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic from Hunt and Hunt Lawyers to discuss another big week for the local government sector. This week he examines another interesting councillor conduct decision, the wash up from the Wyndham mayoral crisis and the current state of the proposed changes to the Local Government Act given this week's developments at Spring Street.  As par...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by Victorian Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel to set the scene for this year’s state election.  We also chat with CEO of Moira Shire Council, Matthew Morgan, about how things are travelling at the only Victorian council currently under administration, and how he is preparing for the return of elected representation in 2028. Matthew also shares hi...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy is joined by Tony Raunic from Hunt and Hunt Lawyers to unpack one of the biggest stories unfolding in local government - the governance crisis at Hepburn Shire Council.  Chris is also joined by Kristen Desmond, the CEO of West Tamar Council in Tasmania, to discuss how AI was used to develop its strategic plan. They are the first council in Tasmania to develop t...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy speaks with Hume City Council Mayor Cr Carly Moore about the cost to the community of illegal dumping and how council is tackling the issue. Tony Raunic from Hunt and Hunt Lawyers is also back this week with the key takeaways from a couple of recent conduct rulings. He also discusses the major legal challenge by Bayside City Council in response to the new Victo...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy speaks with the Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Irene Grant, about council's push to improve the condition of rural and regional roads. Cr Grant shares what the latest safety data is telling us, which roads are of most concern to local residents and what funding commitments regional councils need now.  We also catch up with the Acting CEO of Infrastruct...

This week on VLGA Connect Chris Eddy speaks with Loddon Shire Mayor, Cr Dan Straub about his council's advocacy priorities ahead of the state election. Cr Straub shares his thoughts on the Murray Darling Basin Plan review process and the impact of water buybacks on his community. We also cross to Canberra where the annual National General Assembly has been underway this week. We get some insi...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Golden Plains Mayor Owen Sharkey to discuss how his municipality is dealing with growing pains and gearing up to make sure its voice is heard in the run down to this year’s state election. We also meet  Mansfield Shire Council CEO, Kirsten Alexander who has just been reappointed for a further four years. And finally we chat to Tony Raunic and get hi...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy interviews Frankston City Council CEO Tennille Bradley on her first 6 months in the role, council's priorities and taking part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise awareness of homelessness and advocate for change in the community.  Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to break down the decision from the Victorian Supreme Court which has ruled...

This week on VLGA Connect, Cr Lawrie Cox, Mayor of Whittlesea City Council chats with Chris Eddy about the council’s stand on road conditions in the region and its call for the state government to step up and do more to manage its assets. Cr Jodie Ashworth, the mayor of East Gippsland Shire Council, joins to talk about her leadership journey, and current issues and challenges happening for council...

This week on VLGA Connect, host Chris Eddy speaks with the mayor of Glen Eira City Council, Cr Simone Zmood, about the council’s successful application for a rate cap variation, the reasons behind the request and how they consulted with the community. To celebrate the launch of the 2026 Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government, Chris talks to last year’s inaugural winner Cr Kylie Spears fr...

This week, Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Sharon Gibson joins Chris Eddy to discuss the unique challenge facing the Gippsland region due to the impacts of the closure of the power station and how the region is advocating for support to adapt.  Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to give his thoughts on how councils can manage the issue of homelessness, looking at amendments made by...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy is joined by two mayors to break down both sides of the glass bin debate. Mayor of Merri-bek City Council, an early adoptor of the four-bin system, Cr Nat Abboud and Mayor of Manningham City Council, part of the coalition of councils lobbying the state government for an alternative before the 2027 deadline, Cr Jim Grivas, discuss the pros and cons of the schem...

With the release of the state budget this week, Chris Eddy speaks to Mayor Stefan Koomen from the City of Casey to hear the views of the Outer Melbourne Councils on the pros and cons from the budget for this rapidly growing area. Mayor of Mildura Rural City Council, Cr Ali Cupper discusses what is happening in the north west of the state, and gives a frank assessment of how the budget has fallen s...

This week on VLGA Connect, Chris Eddy chats with Evan King, CEO of the City of Ballarat to talk about how the ongoing fuel crisis is having a financial impact on council as well as the implications of a recent ruling on contracts from the Fair Work Commission. Also this week, Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to give his take on recent developments in the sector. Sponsored by Hunt &...

With a state election just around the corner, Regional Cities Victoria has made a $3B pitch as part of its advocacy campaign to secure the future of regional Victoria. Chair of RCV and Mayor of Warrnambool City Council Ben Blain joins Chris Eddy to explain more about the campaign and where they think the funding is most required. Victoria’s Auditor General Andrew Greaves also drops by to discuss t...

This week on VLGA Connect, James Collins, CEO from Cardinia Shire Council reflects on his first six months in the role and talks with Chris Eddy about how things are travelling in a rapidly changing municipality with some big interface and growth-related challenges. Tony Raunic from Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to review some significant recent legal decisions with implications for councils inc...