Episode 155 LG News Roundup, 31st August 2022
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is your midweek update for the 31st August. I’m Chris Eddy.
Coming up in this edition: a Melbourne council considering its future as a kindergarten service provider; Victorian councils called on to do more about protection against second-hand smoke; another Queensland councillor charged with drink driving; and a long awaited review of the NSW rate peg confirmed.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Knox City Council is considering its future role as a kindergarten service provider in response to Victorian Government reforms that will increase kindergarten by 15 hours a week for both three and four year olds over the next 10 years.
Knox operates 29 sessional kindergarten sites at a cost of $3.3 million per annum. As hours increase, a key challenge will be the requirement for more classrooms and outdoor learning spaces at kindergartens.
Knox Mayor Cr Susan Laukens welcomed the government’s reforms, but said the rising cost of providing kindergarten services is diverting financial resources from other much needed services.
She said fully funding the additional resources required to implement the reforms is beyond the Council’s financial capacity.
The Council will appoint an independent consultant to recruit and facilitate a demographically representative community panel. Community input into the scope of the service review will be invited in October.
In more news out of Knox this week, the council has declared a climate emergency, which Mayor Susan Laukens says is an act of leadership.
She said the declaration strengthens the council’s position by recognising its role in relation to climate change, and how serious and urgently they are treating the issue.
The council expects to invest $33M over ten years to implement actions from its Climate Response Plan.
A date has been set for a by-election in Northern Grampians Shire, following the passing of Mayor and councillor Tony Driscoll last month.
The Victorian Electoral Commissioner, Warwick Gately, this week issued a call for residents and ratepayers in the council’s Kara Kara ward to be ready to participate in the by-election.
The roll will close on Friday 9th September; candidate nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday 4th October; and election day will be Saturday 5th November.
The by-election will be conducted by postal vote, with ballot packs expected to be distributed around the 18th October.
The head of Quit Victoria has called on regional councils in Victoria to do more to protect people from second-hand smoke.
Dr Sarah White told the ABC this week that more councils should be following the lead of the City of Melbourne, which is looking to expand the number of smoke-free zones under its Smoke-Free Melbourne policy.
She has raised particular concerns about vaping among young people, and says councils should be looking at updating signage to make it clear that where you can’t smoke, you also can’t vape.
Here are today’s Victorian Briefs:
Wellington Shire Council has installed a new charging station to cater for an increasing number of electric vehicle drivers. The charger at the Yarram Hub is the second for the shire, with a third to be installed soon in Heyfield.
The Borough of Queenscliffe reduced its emissions by 73% in the last financial year. Mayor Ross Ebbels announced the substantial one year drop this week, and said the result demonstrates the borough’s commitment to being a climate leader.
The reduction is equivalent to taking nearly 200 petrol cars off the road every year.
A new national fire danger rating system comes into effect this week, and Macedon Ranges Shire Council is among those encouraging residents to familiarise themselves with it.
The new system has four levels, instead of the previous six, and will be issued on days where there is a fire risk. The four levels are moderate, high, extreme and catastrophic. Roadside signs will be updated to reflect the new system from this week.
Coming up: another Queensland councillor charged with drink driving; a long awaited review of the NSW rate peg confirmed; and health warnings in Scotland after nearly two weeks of a garbage collection strike.
You're listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 31st August 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
With a state election looming, VLGA Connect is presenting a series of live panels and discussions with key players over the coming weeks.
The series comprises moderated live panel discussions, with audience Q&A so that you can ask your questions of panellists on issues of relevance to the local government sector.
The first live panel featured shadow ministers for Local Government, Housing and Planning; Richard Riordan and Ryan Smith; and it’s available for playback on the VLGA Connect YouTube and podcast channels now.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne will participate in a live panel event on the 16th September. We’ll have sessions on infrastructure needs, and the commitments the various council alliances would like to see from the parties in the lead up to the election.
Visit the Events page on the VLGA website for details and to register to be part of the 2022 State Election Series, brought to you by the VLGA.
Heading the National Roundup today:
Reports emerged yesterday of another Queensland councillor having been charged with drink driving.
Townsville councillor Liam Mooney released a statement yesterday confirming that he had failed a random breath test on 7th August. According to the ABC, Cr Mooney recorded a reading of 0.068, above the legal limit of 0.05.
Cr Mooney said he had made a serious mistake, and that he had apologised to the mayor and his family for letting down them and the residents of his division.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she was extremely disappointed in him, and had accepted his apology.
No court date has been reported as yet.
In NSW, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has announced a review of the local government rate peg, which LGNSW has described as long-awaited but welcome.
LGNSW has been calling for the review since rate rises were capped at 0.7% for this financial year in the face of inflation tipped to reach nearly 8% by the end of this year.
LGNSW President Darriea Turley said the review was a win for the sector, and an opportunity to closely examine improvements to prevent future financial shocks.
At Port Macquarie Hastings Council in NSW, a consulting firm has been engaged to undertake an independent review of the council’s business rating model.
Councillors resolved to conduct the review earlier this year, and are participating in the first round of interviews which has commenced.
The council says the review will provide recommendations for funding options and rating structures for future development and maintenance of the Port Macquarie CBD, and potentially other business centres across the region.
A newly refreshed riverside boardwalk in Rockhampton has been vandalised on the weekend in what has been described as a disgraceful act.
Cr Cherie Rutherford said the vandalism, which included electrical damage, was heartbreaking, and happened almost immediately after the area underwent an upgrade.
Vandals destroyed power points and smashed bottles across the boardwalk. The power has been isolated until repairs can be undertaken.
Here are today’s National Briefs:
Kempsey Shire has held its first meeting since the July by-election this week, and elected a new Deputy Mayor.
Cr Anthony Patterson was elected to the position and will serve until September 2023, alongside directly elected mayor Leo Hauville.
At Snowy Monaro Regional Council, a new councillor has been sworn in after a countback completed last Friday.
Luke Williamson has joined the council, filling the spot vacated due to the resignation of John Last earlier in the year.
A team from WA’s City of Wanneroo has taken out this year’s LG Professionals Australasian Management Challenge.
The team represented WA in the national final in Adelaide this week, and was successful against competition from the state winners from around Australia and from New Zealand.
Just ahead of the International Spotlight, I’m pleased to announce that the Local Government News Roundup is a media partner for the Local Government Show 2022, coming up in November in Sydney.
The event features four knowledge streams on digital technology, parking, resource recovery and smart communities, with a stellar lineup of speakers assembled.
Register by 9th September save up to $700 per delegate, and Roundup listeners can get an extra 10% off the registration fee by using the VIP code LGNR10
More details on the link in the show notes, for the Local Government Show 2022 - 8 to 10 November at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Now to today’s International Spotlight:
In Edinburgh, Scotland authorities have had to issue health warnings due to garbage piling up on the streets as a collection strike stretched into 12 days.
The strike has now ended, and a clean up is underway, but more strike action is expected after an increased pay offer was rejected.
Meanwhile in the London borough of Newham, garbage collectors there have also walked off the job over a pay dispute.
The Associated Press says industrial disputes are multiplying across the UK amid soaring food and energy costs, and people are being warned away from beaches as heavy rain flushes raw sewage in rivers and seas.
Meanwhile, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the City Council has approved a new gunshot detection system, as part of efforts to reduce gun violence and increase police response time.
Carolina Public Press reports that the system will cost just under $200K for one year, and will operate in a selected 3 square mile radius.
The system uses acoustic sensors and artificial intelligence to analyse sounds. It can determine if a noise is a gunshot, and triangulate its location allowing the police to respond quickly if needed.
The process reportedly takes less than 60 seconds.
So far, there are around 130 American cities using the gunshot detection system.
That wraps up another Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Remember to subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular episodes highlighting local government initiatives, plus the flagship weekly news review on the Governance Update with Stephen Cooper.
I’ll be back with more news from around the world of local government on Sunday . Head to lgnewsroundup.com for breaking news updates and extra interview content.
Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.
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