Victoria’s new Local Government Bill has passed the Upper House, with amendments.

The new act aims to give councils greater autonomy and allow them to focus on governance.

The Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) says it appreciates the work undertaken by the government, but has some criticisms.

The act pushes councils to develop and implement certain policies, such as those relating to deliberative community engagement and a council workforce plan.

The lobby says these policies will add to the operational costs to councils, particularly those in rural areas and in the rate capping environment.

The VLGA is calling for greater support and resources for councils as part of the implementation of the new Local Government Act.

“There are questions regarding the logistics of the mandated candidate training for candidates for the upcoming council elections in October,” VLGA president Cr Lambros Tapinos said in a statement.

“In addition to the requirement for councils to conduct such training, the requirement for candidates to attend training face to face has the potential to disadvantage members of the community who may not be available at the scheduled time of such training or travel to the trainings’ venues.”