Victorian Roundup:
Moonee Valley Mayor, Pierce Tyson, has welcomed the outcome of the Airport Rail Link mediation process, with a recommendation from a Federal Government-appointed mediator for an above-ground station at Melbourne Airport.
The mediator, Neil Scales, found the proposed $10-billion Melbourne Airport Rail Link to be "viable and necessary".
The report also recommended against considering an underground option at this time, calling for Melbourne Airport to produce a comprehensive business case if they wish to pursue this option.
Mayor Tyson said the airport should put up, or shut up, emphasising the importance of the project for the high proportion of transport workers in Moonee Valley.
Brimbank Council has called on all parties to put their differences aside and get on with delivering airport rail.
It wants the state government to reassess the four year delay to the timeline, and give the project the same priority as Suburban Rail Loop.
The council sees Airport Rail Link as crucial for the development of the Sunshine Precinct, Albion Station, and Albion Quarter, potentially generating 30,000 new jobs and attracting over 40,000 new residents to the west.
Melton City Council in Melbourne's outer west is facing a $224 million infrastructure funding shortfall due to a failure to accurately anticipate rapid population growth.
The Age reports today on the council’s plans to increase developer levies to reduce the shortfall by $176M, a move that some are warning could add significant costs to new homes and potentially halt some developments.
Developers say that the extra costs will be passed onto home buyers, making some housing projects financially unviable and exacerbating the housing crisis.
The council is seeking to increase developer levies by an average of 56% in the Toolern precinct to cover most of the infrastructure funding shortfall.
Greater Geelong City Council is forecasting a significant increase in revenue from parking fines in its new budget.
The Geelong Advertiser reported that budget documents contain an expected increase of $6.7M, equating to a 68% increase on the previous year.
All parking infringements will increase by around 3%, and income from permits is also expected to rise.
The council is also increasing membership fees at aquatic facilities, and will investigate how it can make the new Norlane Aquatic Recreation Centre more affordable for residents in the north of Geelong after concerns were raised by a councillor.
Murrindindi Shire Council has adopted its first Key Worker Housing Strategy to provide safe, secure, and suitable housing for key workers in industries such as Health and Aged Care, Tourism, Hospitality, Agriculture, and Manufacturing.
The strategy will guide the development of suitable land, including both temporary and permanent housing options.
Two Council-owned sites in Alexandra have been identified for development, and the Council has applied for a government grant to facilitate key worker housing in Eildon.
Ballarat City Council has endorsed the designs for a Continuous Voices memorial, a tribute to survivors and victims of sexual abuse.
The memorial is intended to be a place for stories, healing, and hope, and will feature soaring curves that symbolise individual healing journeys, forming a canopy that represents community, protection, and strength.
The project has secured $500,000 in state funding and the city has committed an additional $520,000 towards its $1.5M price tag.
The City of Kingston's new aquatic and leisure centre will be managed in-house, under a model that the council says will ensure high service levels and alignment with strategic directions for other community facilities.
The decision follows a detailed review, and Mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said it will provide flexibility and adaptability to changing demographics and community needs.
The centre is expected to open in 2026.
Federal Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor has declared the Greater South East Melbourne region as crucial to Australia's future manufacturing sector.
His comments were made at the launch of the GSEM Jobs and Skills Roadmap in Canberra last week.
Minister O’Connor said the roadmap will provide insights on how other regions can ensure successful economies and good jobs.
The launch was attended by a number of ministers and MPs, along with the mayors of the seven Greater South East Melbourne councils.
The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) has launched the 2024 Victorian Councillor Census, a comprehensive study of over 600 councillors across the state.
The census, designed in collaboration with QDOS Research, aims to fill the information gap on the experiences of local councillors.
The data collected will be used to inform federal and state policy, funding decisions, and sector advocacy.
The census is confidential and anonymous, and the results will be released as a public research report.
Victorian Briefs:
Latrobe City Council has won the Bunnings Trade Local Government Initiative of the Year Award at the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards, recognising its commitment to sports development in regional Victoria.
The council has signed an eight-year partnership with Table Tennis Victoria and Destination Gippsland to host major table tennis championships.
The events are expected to bring over $400,000 annually into the local economy.
The Victorian Government has announced over 200 community-led projects in Victoria's small towns to receive support from a $20 million Tiny Towns Fund.
The first round of the program will fund more than 180 projects in rural and regional towns, and over 20 projects in outer metropolitan towns, each with fewer than 5,000 residents.
The projects include local hall upgrades, sports club renovations, and community gardening programs.
Increased reports of wandering or abandoned livestock in Ararat have led to a request from the council for farmers to ensure their animals are securely fenced and accounted for.
The council suggests supplementing animals' diets as pasture feed declines over winter, which can help keep animals within their fence perimeter.
The community is also being asked to report any wandering or abandoned animals to Community Safety Officers.
Stage 1 of the new state-of-the-art Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct has been completed.
The precinct, funded by a $14.8 million investment from the Labor Government, features a multi-sport stadium, an oval, and a female-friendly pavilion.
The project was funded through the Local Sports Grants initiative and the Growing Suburbs Fund, with additional investment from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Melbourne Water, and AFL Victoria.
Interview:
Representatives of around 20 councils from Melbourne and the north of Victoria came together recently to discuss ways to increase their use of recycled materials in a wide range of council projects.
I spoke with Dian Lipiarski from Sustainability Victoria to find out how the event went and about what is being done to help councils buy more quality recycled products.
National Roundup:
A Parliamentary local government inquiry has been told that Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could be boosted by up to $7 billion per year if local governments were sustainably funded by the Federal Government.
New research shows that a $1 billion annual investment in local government roads could increase Australia’s GDP by $3.5 billion per year, and an extra $350 million for parks and open space could increase GDP by $900 million per year.
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has made five key recommendations to a Parliamentary Committee, including increasing untied Financial Assistance Grants for local government to at least one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
NSW:
Half of Liverpool City’s councillors have written to the Local Government Minister, raising concerns about the council’s processes, according to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald.
The group, including three Labor and two independent councillors, have issued a statement of no confidence in Mayor Ned Mannoun, saying they hold serious concerns of possible legal, financial and governance repercussions from the actions of the mayor, deputy mayor and three councillors.
Mayor Mannoun dismiss claims of dysfunction and said decisions were being made in a proper manner.
The unrest follows the controversial dismissal of the council’s former chief executive John Ajaka, who was the 10th CEO in eight years.
The Office of Local Government is already conducting a separate investigation into potential dysfunction within the council.
The Sydney councils issuing the most ticketless parking fines have rejected a state government request to halt the practice, citing ranger safety concerns, according to ABC News.
The ticketless scheme, introduced in 2020, allows councils to mail parking fines instead of attaching tickets to vehicles.
This has led to drivers unknowingly receiving multiple fines, and concerns from the Finance Minister Courtney Housoss who has asked them to revert to a paper process.
Councils such as North Sydney and the City of Sydney have either refused to revert to paper tickets or are still reviewing the request.
The City of Newcastle has praised its staff for their professionalism and bravery and NSW Police for their quick response to an incident at the Newcastle Museum last week.
An alleged terrorist entered Newcastle Museum armed with a knife and wearing tactical gear.
Staff members calmly asked the man to leave, with one calling the police.
The Newcastle Herald reported that the incident was livestreamed via the man's helmet camera, and lasted less than two minutes.
The man left, dropped his knife outside, and was arrested by police.
North Sydney Council is transitioning all parking meters to cashless operation due to the upcoming shutdown of Australia's 3G network, which the current meters rely on.
The Daily Mail reported that the change will take place over the next month, but it’s facing resistance from some residents.
The council says coin payments have decreased to less than 4%, points to a reduction of maintenance costs due to coin-related malfunctions as another reason for the switch.
QLD:
Brisbane City Council has warned that more than 1 million passengers could be left stranded at bus stops during the state government's 50c fares trial if patronage increases by 10%.
ABC News reported that the council is calling for extra funding and additional services to accommodate the potential increase in ridership.
However, Translink, the public transport agency, disputes the figures, saying that its initial modelling does not support the council's claims of potential overcrowding.
The Caloundra Music Festival, one of the Sunshine Coast's biggest live music events, has been permanently cancelled due to discontinued funding from the Sunshine Coast Council.
ABC News reported that the festival, which attracted tens of thousands of attendees annually, faced rising costs and declining ticket sales.
The council plans to continue supporting smaller events and programs.
Southern Downs Regional Council has developed a new workforce strategy to improve gender, age, and cultural diversity within its ranks.
The data-driven strategy revealed that the council needs to improve female employment, particularly in outdoor roles and senior leadership.
Warwick and Stanthorpe Today reported that the council also plans to publish its gender pay gap data annually for transparency.
The strategy will be reviewed later in the year, and an automated recruitment and selection system will be implemented to enhance data collection.
National Briefs:
Shellharbour City Council will seek a commitment from the state Housing Minister for a rezoning of the Shellharbour Hospital site for housing, according to a report from Illawarra Mercury.
The council has unanimously supported a motion from Mayor Chris Homer to explore the use of the site for an increase in housing supply, including key worker housing.
Alastair Dawson has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Livingstone Shire Council.
He brings extensive experience in both private and public sectors, including roles as CEO at Rockhampton Regional Council and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Central Queensland University.
Mr Dawson begin his duties in the week of July 15, 2024, and will serve until a permanent CEO is appointed.
SA councils Victor Harbor and Prospect have welcomed the selection of their regions to host stages of next year’s Santos Tour Down Under.
The 25th anniversary edition of the world class cycling event will kick off in the City of Prospect on the 21st January; while stage 4 from Glenelg to Victor Harbor is expected to bring 5,000 visitors to the peninsula.
Sydney’s Bayside Council is calling for tougher anti-hoon laws in NSW.
The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reported that the council will lobby the state government to legislate tougher measures to combat dangerous speeding, excessive noise pollution, hooning and anti-social behaviour.
And applications are open for the CEO position at the Shire of Tammin, in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
Applications must be in by 8am on the 15th July.
SA:
South Australian Councils will be under pressure from the state government to assess land divisions faster.
Government News reported that strict timeframes will be set for land division applications, and failure to meet them could result in the state government taking control through a new Land Division Assessment Panel.
The reforms aim to streamline the code amendment process and land division, potentially enabling houses to be built on development sites up to 18 months faster.
A review of services and assets in Coober Pedy will be funded by the state government, in response to calls from the council’s administrators.
The funding will help the council complete a thorough asset management plan, while a taskforce considers options for the future delivery and governance of essential services in Coober Pedy.
Tatiara and Coorong District Councils have launched an online platform aimed at supporting farmers in adopting new agricultural practices and promoting sustainable farming.
The platform provides project information, research results, resources, and factsheets tailored to the needs of farmers in the Coorong and Tatiara districts.
It was developed in collaboration with agricultural experts, researchers, and local stakeholders, and is intended to enhance productivity, economic outcomes, and resilience to agricultural challenges.
WA:
The City of Joondalup has signed a memorandum of understanding with CORE Innovation Hub, the operator of the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP), committing to the delivery of innovative infrastructure platforms through robotics.
PerthNow reported that the partnership aims to support future technologies like autonomous vehicles, and transform Joondalup into a dedicated precinct for urban robotics testing.
The AARP is a world-leading collaborative innovation hub and Australia’s largest test and development site, located about 10km from the Joondalup City Centre.
Join us in October for a unique global online event featuring a group of visionary civic leaders from across the globe, sharing strategies on tackling toxicity, bridging divides and renewing civic culture.
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.
Global Roundup:
USA:
A Los Angeles City Council committee is moving forward with a proposal to study the potential banning of synthetic grass citywide due to environmental and health concerns, including the presence of harmful chemicals.
It is claimed that artificial turf creates runoff that can contaminate groundwater and waterways, according to a CBS News report.
Despite arguments for synthetic grass reducing water use and eliminating the need for harmful pesticides, concerns remain about its contribution to the urban "heat island" effect and potential health risks from exposure to chemicals.
The City of Detroit has unveiled plans to install solar arrays on vacant lots throughout the city, using the land to produce clean and relatively inexpensive energy.
The project will see solar arrays installed on about 200 acres of land, producing enough energy to offset the electricity used by 127 municipal buildings.
The Associated Press reported that the city will use $14 million from an existing utility fund for up-front costs, with the solar fields expected to save the city $4.4 million per year.
CANADA:
Edmonton City Council has voted to advance its district-planning policy, which divides the city into 15 districts aiming to meet most residents' daily needs within a 15-minute walk, bike, or transit trip from their home.
CBC News reported that the policy faced public opposition, with concerns about restrictions on movement and potential government overreach.
An amendment was passed to ensure the policy would not restrict freedom of movement, association, and commerce.
Other concerns raised include environmental effects, layouts of mature neighborhoods, and the impact on the cost of living.
UK:
Bristol City Council has been criticised for owning an art collection worth £134m, of which nearly 90% is not publicly displayed, according to a report from BBC News.
The council owns nearly 38,000 works of art, including five pieces by Banksy, but only 11.2% are on public display, and there are calls for some of the collection to be sold to balance its books.
But the council says the collection is a vital part of the city's cultural and educational offer and that there are ethical principles it must follow regarding the sale of items.
Wandsworth Council in south London is implementing a ban on e-bikes being left on busy town centre pavements.
The ban will be enforced once the council finishes installing 111 e-bike parking bays across the borough.
The scheme aims to prevent rental e-bikes from blocking pedestrian routes.
BBC News reported that the council will continue to allow "free-floating" parking in quieter parts of the borough.
A UK council has created confusion after its former headquarters was mistakenly listed for sale online, according to BBC News.
Slough Borough Council moved out of the building in 2019 and it is considered as an asset that could potentially be sold to meet the council's debts.
The council has been discussing a sale of assets to potentially raise around £600M, but the former headquarters is not currently for sale despite the ad appearing online this week.
The ad was quickly withdrawn, and the council has apologised for the confusion.