Local Government News Roundup
Australia’s no.1 podcast for local government news and views, hosted by veteran media presenter and senior executive Chris Eddy. Brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Local Government News Roundup
"Distasteful, disrespectful and absolutely abhorrent"
Today on the Local Government News Roundup,
the new MAV board announced;
support for Wodonga’s campaign for a greenfield hospital;
the strong recovery of CBD worker activity continues;
the council advocating for stronger controls on e-cigarettes;
a Queensland councillor under scrutiny for offensive social media activity;
the NSW election candidate who wants to remain mayor even if elected to state parliament;
a new councillor conduct framework with tougher penalties flagged in NSW;
and much more local government news.
Victorian Local Governance Association
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Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found in the transcript, or by visiting the Roundup website.
Episode 203 LG News Roundup, 7th March 2023
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today: the new MAV board announced; support for Wodonga’s campaign for a greenfield hospital; the strong recovery of CBD worker activity continues; the council advocating for stronger controls on e-cigarettes; a Queensland councillor under scrutiny for offensive social media activity; the NSW election candidate who wants to remain mayor even if elected to state parliament; a new councillor conduct framework with tougher penalties flagged in NSW; and much more ahead on an all-new edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
The Municipal Association of Victoria board election results have been announced, with Cr David Clark of Pyrenees Shire re-elected as MAV President for a second term.
Seven returned and three new directors will form the MAV board for a two year term.
The councillors comprising the new board are:
Nathan Hersey, Mayor of South Gippsland Shire;
Aaron Scales, of Towong Shire;
Corangamite Mayor Ruth Gstrein;
Rohan Leppert from the City of Melbourne;
Jennifer Anderson of Macedon Ranges Shire:
Stuart James from Monash;
Hume Mayor Joseph Haweil;
Steve Staikos from Kingston:
From Melton, Kathy Majdlik;
And from Northern Grampians Shire, Murray Emerson
Cr Clark said he looked forward to working with the newly elected board to continue the important work of the MAV representing local government.
Source: Municipal Association of Victoria
Indigo Shire Council in Victoria’s northeast has thrown its support behind Wodonga’s push for a new purpose-built hospital on a greenfield site, instead of the planned redevelopment of the Albury Base hospital.
Mayor Sophie Price said last week that the council believes a new single-site hospital presents the best opportunity to meet its community’s high-quality health needs now and in the future.
Meanwhile, the council is continuing its advocacy for better ambulance services, describing a dire situation with Code One ambulance response times being at a historic low.
Mayor Price said there are concerns a substandard hospital could exacerbate the issues with dismal ambulance waiting times.
Source: Indigo Shire Council
An independent survey commissioned by the City of Melbourne shows more city workers are returning to their Melbourne offices more often, confirming a significant increase in workplace attendance over the past 12 months.
The survey conducted in December found 88 per cent of respondents attended their workplace at least once in the previous week - up from 55 per cent in the previous January.
The data shows commuter levels are now at 63 per cent of the pre-pandemic benchmark, with lunchtime pedestrian activity reaching 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Melbourne councillors are set to consider a range of measures to entice even more workers into the city as part of its economic development strategy.
Source: City of Melbourne
Hume City Mayor Joseph Haweil has challenged sporting clubs with gaming machines to stop claiming tax benefits, describing them as “rorting the system” and “ripping off residents.”
The comments are published in the Star Weekly today, and come from a recent council meeting, when Cr Haweil said that claiming things like employment and maintenance costs are not genuine contributions to the community.
Cr Haweil named five clubs that he called on to stop the practice, after the release of figures showing a 45 per cent year on year increase in gaming machine losses in Hume City.
Source: Star Weekly, 7-3-23
Still in Hume, and councillor Trevor Dance has reportedly hired a firm to manage media enquiries on his behalf.
Cr Dance has told the Star Weekly that he has engaged a law firm with ties to a PR agency, following the council’s decision to appeal a VCAT decision to overturn a finding of serious misconduct.
Hume Council CEO Sheena Frost said while she was unaware Cr Dance had hired the firm, he was free to engage professional external support at his cost.
Source: Star Weekly, 7-3-23
The Victorian and Federal Governments will be lobbied by Melton City Council for stronger regulations around the importation and sale of e-cigarettes.
The Melton Moorabool Star Weekly reports on concerns raised by deputy mayor Julie Shannon at a recent council meeting about the use of e-cigarettes by adolescents.
She moved that the council lobby federal ministers about better regulation of the importation of electronic nicotine products, and to request a review by the state government of laws around the selling of the products.
A state government spokesperson told the Star Weekly that options are being developed for strengthening compliance and enforcement in Victoria and that ministers from all jurisdictions are working closely on a national approach to the issue.
Source: Star Weekly
A campaign to stop a quarry in Mitchell Shire has produced more than 1350 emails to members of Parliament, according to the council.
The campaign by the council and the communities of Beveridge and Wallan is working to highlight concerns about the impact of the proposed quarry on the health and wellbeing of residents.
A decision on the quarry on the Northern Highway at Wallan is in the hands of planning minister Sonya Kilkenny.
Mitchell Shire councillor Rob Eldridge said the council supports the community’s call that the quarry is in the wrong place and should be rejected.
Source: Mitchell Shire Council
A leisure facilities management business owned by Richmond Football Club has entered into a partnership with Manningham City Council to manage facilities at 10 locations in the city.
Aligned Leisure now manages facilities in 41 locations in Victoria and New South Wales. The ten Manningham facilities will include Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Mullum Mullum Stadium.
The five-year partnership commences on 1st July.
Source: Richmond Football Club
The City of Greater Geelong is partnering with the Geelong Football Club and the family of the late Frank Costa AO to recognise his life and achievements with a permanent bronze statue in central Geelong.
Mayor Trent Sulllivan said Mr Costa was a remarkable businessman, mentor and advocate, and that his work will have a positive impact on the Geelong region for generations to come.
A 2.2 metre tall statue will be installed in front of the T&G building, where the future businessman once sold papers.
The memorial will be unveiled mid year at a cost of $100k.
Source: Greater Geelong City Council
Briefly:
Applications have opened for the second round of the Women Leading Locally Program, part of the state government’s aims to achieve gender equality on councils by 2025.
There are 32 places in the second round, adding to the 60 women who have received training and mentoring since the program’s commencement.
Applications from women in local government areas with low female representation are open until 14th April.
Source: Victorian Government media release
Merri-bek City Council has launched two trail maps, one featuring local wineries, distilleries, and breweries; and the other showcasing 12 live music venues and record stores in the city.
The trails aim to boost tourism and support local businesses. Mayor Angelica Panopoulos said the council wants its hidden gems to be known, discovered, and loved across Melbourne.
Source: Brews News
Strathbogie Shire Council has opened an expression of interest process to create a public artwork for Euroa.
The council is seeking experienced artists to apply for a commission to deliver a freestanding sculptural work, proposed to be situated in Seven’s Creek Park in Euroa.
Expressions of Interest submissions close on 31st March.
Source: Strathbogie Shire Council
And the newly redeveloped art gallery in Maryborough has reopened to the public, raising the cultural and tourism profile of Central Goldfields Shire.
The $2.3M renovation and refurbishment has provided three gallery spaces, a main exhibition space, and a central space dedicated to local artists.
The council received $1.7M from the state government for the redevelopment.
Source: Central Goldfields Shire Council
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Now for some of the stories making local government news from around Australia this week.
A Queensland councillor will be referred to the state’s integrity body over a social media post that has been widely condemned for containing a racial slur.
The Courier Mail reports that Fraser Coast Councillor James Hansen sent the post to a local newspaper, and declined an opportunity to retract the slur.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the statement attributed to Cr Hansen is distasteful, disrespectful, and absolutely abhorrent.
A Council spokesman said the council has previously resolved that any further inappropriate use of social media by Cr Hansen would be treated as misconduct and confirmed that the matter would be referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor for investigation and action.
Source: Courier Mail (Brisbane), 6-3-23, p.14
The Mayor of Edward River Council says she wants to stay in the role if she is elected to Parliament at the upcoming state election.
Peta Betts is the Nationals candidate in the seat of Murray, and under state legislation she would be able to remain mayor for 18 months after being elected as an MP.
The Griffith Area News reports on concerns from other candidates, including incumbent MP Helen Dalton, who says she is mystified that Ms Betts is campaigning while also acting as mayor of her council.
Ms Dalton describes it as a ‘half-hearted attitude.’
Mayor Betts says the majority of her councillor colleagues are supportive, despite drawing frowns from some.
Source: The Area News (Griffith), 6-3-23, p.2
A new integrity and accountability framework for NSW councils is being developed, with the aim of ensuring the highest standard of conduct from elected officials.
Local Government Minister Wendy Tuckerman said the changes follow an independent review of the existing accountability framework, which proposed the establishment of independent conduct review panels.
There will also be tougher deterrents and stronger sanctions for councillor misconduct, and stronger mandatory training and development requirements.
Under a planned roadmap, a ministerial implementation task force will be established after the state election, and legislative amendments will be prepared to implement the reforms.
Ms Tuckerman said the new framework is targeted to come into effect early next year.
Source: Office of Local Government NSW
New equipment and cameras have been installed by Ipswich City Council to improve community resilience after significant flood events last year.
Mayor Teresa Harding said gauges damaged in the February 2022 flood had been replaced, and flood cameras installed at key locations around the city.
Eleven cameras are providing live feeds, updated every 15 minutes, which are freely available online through a disaster dashboard via the Council website.
The council plans to spend nearly $3M on flood preparedness and waterway recovery, flood mitigation, and drainage across Ipswich.
Source: Ipswich City Council
Human error has been blamed for the inadvertent publishing of a woman’s personal contact details online by Launceston City Council.
The incident attracted the attention of the Tasmanian Ombudsman, who tabled a report in the Parliament last week.
According to The Examiner, after the woman responded to a consultation about a property development, her name, address, email and phone number was disclosed on the council website.
The details were removed two days later, and the council has liaised with the Ombudsman’s office to strengthen its procedures.
Source: The Examiner (Launceston), 4-3-23, p.4
The Institute of Public Works Engineers has joined with the Australian Local Government Association to call for permanent funding in the upcoming Federal Budget for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
The peak bodies want the government to commit to $500M per year ongoing and indexed annually.
They estimate that approximately $9.2B of local government buildings and community facilities are in poor condition, and are in urgent need of maintenance and upgrades.
ALGA President Linda Scott said making the program permanent would be an investment in Australia’s future productivity.
Source: IPWEA/ALGA Media Release
Briefly:
A Mt Gambier councillor has secured a position in South Australia’s parliament after the resignation last month of former health minister Stephen Wade.
Ben Hood has resigned from the council and was officially sworn in to his new role this week.
The former deputy mayor will be replaced either through a supplementary election or new countback provisions in the legislation.
Source: Border Watch
Strathfield Council has a new mayor after an extraordinary meeting last week. Cr Karen Pensabene will serve out the current term until September this year.
Outgoing mayor Matthew Blackmore has stepped into the deputy mayoral position.
Source: Strathfield Council
Broken Hill City Council has purchased a former ice works site in the city and plans to partner with government to deliver a multi-story apartment block in a bid to ease an ongoing housing crisis.
Mayor Tom Kennedy said the development will be important for the long-term attraction and retention of key workers.
A recent audit showed unmet demand for medium to high density in Broken Hill.
Source: Broken Hill City Council
Meanwhile Forbes Council is working with Crown Lands and the local Aboriginal land council on the delivery of up to 100 house blocks for social and affordable housing.
Mayor Phyllis Miller said the delivery of the homes was crucial for the area, with people living in caravans and sheds after more than 350 homes were damaged in last year’s floods.
Source: Central Western Daily, 6-3-23
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Now for today’s International Spotlight:
In England, a council is aiming to encourage conversations about the environment by investing in litter collection tools made from recycled materials.
Forest of Dean District Council in western Gloucestershire, has introduced new equipment made from recycled ocean plastic and old face masks.
The Council says the equipment is made in England and will be used for litter-picking activities with local school children to spark curiosity about the possibilities of recycling.
In New Zealand, the city of Christchurch has proposed a new structure that would make it a ‘super city’ if adopted.
Councillors have made a submission to the Future of Local Government review calling for a rethink on how councils are funded, and for Christchurch to become a unitary authority like Auckland, Nelson, Marlborough, and others.
The submission contends that there is no logical reason for current boundaries, and a joined-up system between local and central government is needed.
The panel overseeing the review process will report to Government on its findings and recommendations next year.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
In Alaska, an elected mayor is about to get the rare opportunity to take over the job of the top administrator.
The elected body at Kodiak Island Borough has looked to its current mayor to take the reins, after an eight-month search for a new borough manager.
The last two managers have been fired from the position, and the borough has been without consistent leadership for 18 months.
Alaska Public Media reports that Mayor Aimee Williams has been appointed after being elected only last year. She will have to step down from the mayoralty, with an interim mayor to be appointed to serve until the next municipal election in October.
Source: Alaska Public Media
And in Nebraska, a town that has been without bus services since January looks set to have them back up and running again soon thanks to a large donation from a local donor.
The buses stopped running when a former director of the bus system allegedly stole an estimated $1M and fled the country.
According to the Hastings Tribune, the area’s transit service has met a crowdfunding goal of $500K, which it needed to secure a promised matching amount from the Johnny Carson Foundation.
With the $1M committed, the operation can now pay off its debt and resume services for about two months - ongoing operation will be dependent on government funding and local sponsor support.
Source: Hastings Tribune
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That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 7th March 2023.
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I’ll be back soon with more of the latest local government news. Until next time, thanks for listening, and bye for now.
