Victorian Roundup:
A draft property strategy at The City of Yarra proposes an increase in the CEO’s delegation to sell council-owned property from $1 million to $10 million, and has prompted concerns from some residents and community groups.
ABC News has reported on fears that the new limit could lead to the sale of community assets without the approval of the elected councillors.
The council is expected to vote on the strategy in August following the completion of a public consultation period.
The Age reports today that a seven-tower development in Melbourne’s east, the Box Hill Central North Masterplan, has been approved by the Planning Minister.
The $1.57B development is set to create 1700 homes, with 10% for affordable housing, and will include buildings over 40 storeys tall, about 4000 square metres of retail space, a co-working zone, civic plaza, and urban park.
The project was fast-tracked through the government’s Development Facilitation Program, a decision that was criticised by Whitehorse City Council, which fears it will result in a public realm that is severely compromised.
Construction of the $9.4m, 60km Creswick Trails mountain bike track in central Victoria has been plagued by trespassing, theft, and threats of violence, particularly from timber cutters.
The Herald Sun reported that the project, which began in 2023 and is slated for completion by the end of 2024, has seen damage to site security measures, theft of fencing and signage, and damage to unfinished trails.
Illegal tree harvesting has also resulted in the loss of up to 50 mature native trees.
Hepburn Shire Council chief executive Bradley Thomas said the behaviour was “one of the biggest risks for the project” along with the cost implications of repairing the damage.
A new development levy, the first of its kind in Victoria, is being proposed by Bayside City Council where new developments will contribute 0.92% of the project value towards affordable housing.
The levy aims to encourage the construction of affordable housing in the region, addressing the lack of such housing in Bayside and southern Melbourne.
The funds raised would be paid directly to an independent third-party organisation, with single dwellings, extensions, and replacement buildings exempted.
The site of the existing Footscray Hospital has become an advocacy priority for Maribyrnong City Council, which wants the site to be used for community purposes.
With a new hospital under construction, the site is expected to be vacated by 2026.
The Council’s vision for the site includes a new 3.5-hectare park, 30% affordable and social housing, a range of social infrastructure and a well-connected street network.
The Council will also submit a plan to the State Government addressing key planning issues related to housing, affordability, jobs, social services, infrastructure, and the environment.
Baw Baw Shire Council has received $510,000 from the Victorian Government for the Noojee Forestry Transition Project.
The funding will support the Shaping the Future of Noojee project, which aims to transition the community away from native timber harvesting.
The funds will be used for a project management extension, a feasibility study for a proposed community hub and education centre, and a power usage audit for local households.
The project is part of a broader initiative supporting 11 Victorian towns in transitioning their local economies.
Surf Coast Shire Council may put a revised budget for the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre out for community consultation, after unprecedented price increases have caused a major budget gap for the project.
Design changes and borrowings of up to $6M are under consideration, with the final borrowing amount to depend on savings from the value management process and potential revenue from alternative funding sources.
The council will this week consider endorsing its 2024-25 budget and then debate seeking community feedback on the revised budget.
The centre's final costings were received after the draft budget release, leading to the need for a separate engagement process.
Another planned post office closure has been met with disappointment from a council and its community, this time in the the City of Port Phillip.
The council, along with the Acland Street Village Business Association, and the Older Persons Advisory Committee say the closure of the site in St Kilda will disrupt the lives of traders and older citizens who rely on the post office services.
They are advocating for the Commonwealth Government and Australia Post to reconsider the decision and explore other options, such as retaining the current site or finding a nearby alternative.
Victorian Briefs:
Rural residents in Gannawarra Shire are being reminded to secure livestock due to a recent increase in the number of collisions and near misses with vehicles.
Livestock owners have been warned they may face fines up to $7,750 if they permit livestock to trespass, and additional fines under Council’s Community Amenity Local Law for inadequate fencing.
Bass Coast Shire Council will establish an independent Environment Fund aimed at restoring habitats around Bass Coast.
The council is partnering with Biodiversity Legacy on the fund, which will accept grants and donations, for the purpose of reversing biodiversity.
The fund will also work to attract visitors, researchers, and volunteers to the region.
Maribyrnong City Council has signed a renewed MOU with Victoria University.
Mayor Cuc Lam and VU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Wade Noonan have formally signed the extension which will take the relationship through 2028.
Peter Brown has stepped down from his position as Acting CEO of Moyne Shire Council after four months. Jodie McNamara will serve as Acting CEO until Mark Eversteyn takes over on July 15.
The City of Whittlesea has endorsed a policy aimed at ensuring gender-equitable access to community sports facilities.
The Fair Access Policy sets the expectation that gender equality will be prioritized in all current and future Council planning and practices related to community sports.
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I’m delighted to be co-hosting this event with Diane Kalen-Sukra, author, speaker and former senior local government executive,
It takes place on the morning of Friday October 11 in Australia, which is the afternoon or evening of the 10th October across North America and the UK.
Act now to reserve your free space at Tackling Toxicity, Cultivating Civility - supported by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Head to kalenacademy.com/summit to register and find out more.
National Roundup:
Illegally dumped tyres in Australia are costing local governments over $6.5 million annually, according to new research supported by the Australian Local Government Association.
Tyre Stewardship Australia estimates councils are cleaning up an estimated 300,000 end-of-life tyres at an average cost of $22 per tyre.
The costs are almost triple the average disposal cost of a passenger car tyre collected through tyre shops.
ALGA says a national mandatory product stewardship scheme is needed, as the current voluntary scheme is not functioning properly.
NSW:
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has adopted an operational plan for the 2024/2025 financial year that includes a rate freeze and the abolition of the Town Centre Master Plan component of the Port Macquarie CBD Business Rate.
The Port Macquarie News reported that the decision was made despite having received a letter from the Office of Local Government expressing concerns about the impact of a rate freeze on the council’s ability to deliver critical services.
Councillors were divided over the decision, with some pointing out strong opinions in community submissions against the introduction of a rate freeze.
The plan was adopted after the mayor Peta Pinson used her casting vote to break a deadlock.
Over $5 million has been allocated for an upgraded Singleton Police Station in the NSW State Budget, and the Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore, wants to more about the project's progress.
The NSW Government had previously promised $12 million for the project in 2021 to replace the current heritage-listed building.
The police station, which has been serving the community since 1867, is a key item on the Singleton Advocacy Agenda.
Cr Moore said the community had been waiting for 157 years for upgrades to the police station in Singleton, and three years for any progress on the commitment for a replacement.
The banquet hall at Albury Entertainment Centre will be closed until August due to a ceiling collapse, for which the council says no single cause has been identified.
Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of July.
The Border Mail reported that the collapse has forced the relocation or cancellation of several events, costing the council in lost hiring fees.
The rest of the Albury Entertainment Centre remains open for events.
Gunnedah Shire Council is urging Federal and State governments to revise the Financial Assistance Grants methodology, which is currently disadvantaging regional and rural councils in terms of road funding.
The council argues that the current system is flawed, as it results in city councils receiving four to five times more funding per kilometre of road than country councils.
The council is calling for a review of the grant distribution methodologies, an increase in Financial Assistance Grants to at least 1% of Commonwealth Tax Revenue, and a review of the legislation.
QLD:
Brisbane City Council has warned the city’s bus system may not cope with a new 50 cent fare trial, leading to fewer services and longer wait times for commuters - unless the government commits more funding for better buses.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on the council’s claims that there are 82,000 fewer bus services now than a decade ago because of a lack of state funding.
The council says just over 70 per cent of Brisbane’s bus services are funded by the state government, while other cities like Gold Coast, Ipswich and Logan are 100 per cent government funded.
A new campaign, “Back Our Buses”, was launched by the council on the weekend.
According to the Courier Mail this morning, Premier Steven Miles has dismissed the council’s concerns as “just a local government that wants more money” and described it as the “argy bargy” of a negotiation between the state government and council.
Leaked documents reveal that Moreton Bay City Council unlawfully regulated dogs from 2016 to 2022, according to ABC News.
Council officers are alleged to have seized dogs and fined owners without proper legal authorisation, in contravention of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act of 2008.
Fines, impoundments, and other directives have been rendered null and void as a result.
The council is inviting concerned dog owners to contact them.
Former Bundaberg Regional Council mayor and Queensland police minister Jack Dempsey has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Aurukun Shire Council.
The Cape York Weekly reported that the appointment comes after the council's previous CEO failed to turn up for work under a new contract.
Mr Dempsey, who served in the Queensland Parliament for nearly a decade and held several key portfolios, is expected to start in late July.
WA:
The Town of Bassendean council rejected a proposal from officers to reduce public participation at meetings, according to a report from PerthNow.
The staff had proposed removing public question time and written questions from monthly briefing sessions and halving the time for deputations to improve meeting efficiency.
However, after more than an hour of debate and five alternative proposals, the council voted 5-2 to maintain the current policy.
National Briefs:
Diamantina Shire Council in far west Queensland is seeking applications for the Chief Executive Officer position.
Interested applicants should apply with LG Services Group by 3rd July.
City of Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans has been appointed to the Green Adelaide board, joining former Conservation Council of South Australia Chief Executive Craig Wilkins.
The role complements Mayor Evans' existing position on the Premier's Climate Change Council.
The City of Canterbury Bankstown has completed a beautification project at North Parade, Campsie, to deter illegal dumping.
The initiative, funded by an Illegal Dumping Prevention grant, has proven effective in reducing illegal dumping, with a similar project at Dispensary Lane resulting in a significant reduction in such incidents.
In Tasmania, Sue Hickey has been elected as the new mayor of Glenorchy.
Ms Hickey has been a councillor for three years, and is a former MP and mayor of Hobart City Council.
And Justin Stringer has been elected to the vacant councillor position on Glenorchy council.
More on the by-election count which continued over the weekend from the Hobart Mercury.A
Global Roundup:
UK:
Crawley Borough Council is calling on the government to address Uber drivers picking up passengers from Gatwick Airport, claiming they are violating licensing rules, according a report from BBC News.
The council is investigating after a complaint that local drivers are losing business to Uber, and will write to the Department for Transport, Transport for London, and Gatwick Airport about the issue.
Uber's website states that its drivers must pick up passengers from a designated area at the airport or face a fine.
Glasgow City Council has installed signs around the city centre outlining rules for buskers, including controlling volume, location, and song variety.
The guidelines are not new, but the signs were erected following a review of street performers last summer.
BBC News reported that the review found that complaints were more common when buskers were too loud, blocked public access, or repeatedly performed the same songs.
The signs also explain the potential consequences of being a nuisance.
CANADA:
Winnipeg councillor Markus Chambers has been found to have breached conflict of interest rules by voting on a development owned by his friend and former campaign manager, despite city planning officials' concerns.
Cr Chambers, who also serves as deputy mayor and chair of the Winnipeg police board, failed to recuse himself or disclose his personal relationship with one of the owners of the development.
CBC News reported that the city's integrity commissioner has recommended a public apology, which Chambers has confirmed he will make.
NZ:
Waimakariri District Council in Canterbury is considering implementing charges for official information requests due to the increasing demand and workload.
The council has responded to nearly 300 requests in the past year, and recent requests have been substantial.
The proposed charges would cover the costs associated with processing requests, which have previously been free.
The council is expected to discuss a draft charging policy this month.
Despite calls for his resignation over code of conduct complaints, Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has refused to step down according to the NZ Herald.
The complaints stem from Clark's behaviour at a United Fire Brigades’ Association prizegiving dinner, where he allegedly disrespected and offended attendees.
While a vote for Clark to delegate all future public engagements was accepted, a vote for his formal resignation resulted in a tie.
Clark has since apologised for his behaviour, attributing it to "brain fade" after open heart surgery.
SPAIN:
The City of Barcelona in Spain plans to ban apartments currently being rented to tourists to reduce soaring housing costs for residents.
The city's mayor, Jaume Collboni, announced that the licenses of the 10,101 apartments currently approved as short-term rentals would be scrapped by 2028.
The Guardian reported that the move comes in response to a 68% increase in rents and a 38% rise in house prices over the past decade.
The city's tourist apartments association says the ban will likely lead to a rise in illegal tourist apartments.