VLGA Connect

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 from Maroondah City Council about why the awards are important and why people should nominate.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

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 the City of Port Phillip to their local laws. 

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

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 scheme.

Tony Raunic, Managing Principal at Hunt & Hunt Lawyers returns to discuss a controversial community decision at Yarra City Council. 

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

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 short for regional communities and ways the council are educating their community on the division of responsibility between local and state government.

Sponsored by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999

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 & Hunt Lawyers.
Support the show
To learn more about the events, programs, and training offered by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), please click here.

If you'd like to contact us about the podcast, please send us an email to [email protected] or call us on 03 9349 7999