Airport rail compromise, a mayoral declaration, and an AI trial

Coming up today on the Local Government News Roundup for Monday, 8th July 2024:

• A compromise on an above-ground station may have put the Melbourne Airport Rail Link back on track
• Melbourne’s new Lord Mayor declares his candidacy for election
• Rural councils urge the federal government to reconsider water buy-backs
• Calls for an urgent inquiry into youth mental health services 
• A council’s call for a new ambulance station in the wake of concerning waiting times data
• Liverpool Council backs away from a controversial parking fine practice
• AI technology to be tested for faster development approvals in NSW
• An admission that Brisbane Council was not consulted on a new government public transport initiative
• A Scottish council worker jailed for embezzlement

Victorian Local Governance Association
The VLGA is an independent organisation supporting councils and councillors in good governance.

Chapters

• 2:32 Victorian Roundup
• 9:11 National Roundup
• 14:36 Global Roundup

Transcript

Victorian Roundup:

Melbourne Airport has decided to compromise on plans for an Airport Rail Link and agree to an above ground station, according to reports from The Herald Sun and The Age this morning.

The decision is expected to clear the way for the project to proceed, with the airport said to be hopeful it could be ready by 2030.

However, the report suggests compensation for the acquisition of land could still be a sticking point.

The airport’s change of position will be welcomed by Moonee Valley and Brimbank Councils.

Both councils have recently called for the parties to get on with the project which is expected to deliver major benefits in job creation and economic stimulus to Melbourne’s west.

Nicholas Reece, **Melbourne'**s new Lord Mayor, has announced his campaign to retain the position for the next four years.

The Herald Sun and the Age have reported on his election platform, which includes a $10 million plan to enhance city lighting for safety and night-time trading, and a commitment to the $316 million Greenline project for new parks and green spaces.

Cr Reece has emphasised the importance of making Melbourne cleaner, safer, and more vibrant, while also focusing on economic growth, affordable housing, and maintaining a balanced budget.

He told the Herald-Sun that he would not shy away from the challenges and tough issues that the city is facing.

He also spoke with the Age, and promised to insist on green space and community facilities in the city’s growth suburbs to avoid repeating the costly mistakes of Docklands and Southbank.

There are now three confirmed lord mayoral candidates, with Cr Reece joining pollster Gary Morgan and Labor’s Phil reed, while former deputy lord mayor Arron Wood is also expected to join the race.

The Murray River Group of Councils, including Gannawarra Shire Council, is urging the Albanese Government to reconsider its Basin Plan approach, emphasising the negative socio-economic impacts of open tender water buy backs on communities.

They are advocating for a strategic, community-involved plan to recover water, warning that current methods harm local economies, jobs, and environmental outcomes.

The councils want genuine collaboration with the government to achieve sustainable environmental and economic results.

The Local Government Housing Innovation Program, a collaboration between the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and **Greater Dandenong City Council,** has received a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth Housing Support Program.

The initiative aims to accelerate housing supply to meet the National Housing Accord target of 1.2 million new homes in five years.

The program will support Victorian councils through AI procurement, social license strengthening, exploration of underutilised public land, and adaptive reuse of council buildings for housing.

The Star Weekly has reported on a call from Hobsons Bay City Council for an inquiry into youth mental health and an assessment of available support services.

The call follows a motion brought forward by Cr Jonathan Marsden, who argued that access to youth mental health support in Hobsons Bay is critically limited, with few free or low-cost services available.

He said the situation is urgent, with high rates of psychological distress being experienced among 15 to 24-year-olds, especially young women.

The Star Weekly also reports on Melton City Council’s call for new measures to monitor and rehabilitate youth offenders including increased funding for prevention and diversionary programs.

Councillor Julie Shannon brought forward a motion emphasising the inadequacy of current methods and suggesting alternatives like ankle bracelets.

Sunbury Life reports that the George Evans Museum collection in Sunbury, in storage since 2017, is to be distributed across Hume City Council’s Global Learning Centre and library.

The collection of more than 5,500 items charts the history of Sunbury.

Volunteers are sorting through the items, with public displays to start in December.

The council’s plan includes returning unwanted items to donors.

Items not displayed will be accessible to the community and researchers, with sensitive items stored in a heritage archive.

Murrindindi Shire Council will receive $300,000 from the state government to support job creation and skills development through the Forestry Transition Program.

The Local Development Strategy (LDS) program, which is community-led, has identified six key initiatives including farm forestry, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Training will be provided locally over the next 12 months.

The initiative is part of a broader $22 million Community Development Fund aimed at helping native timber communities transition to new economies.

Victorian Briefs:

Glenelg Libraries have eliminated overdue fines for adult users, aligning with the existing policy for children and youth.

The change follows a trend among public libraries in Victoria, aiming to remove barriers and encourage community members to return overdue items and use library services.

Horsham Rural City Council recently hosted an aggressive dog training workshop for authorised officers from Western Victorian councils to enhance public safety and equip workers with skills to handle aggressive dogs.

The training focused on the risks posed by wandering dogs and the importance of securely confining dogs to properties to prevent attacks.

Wyndham City's annual lighting festival, LIT, has won the Creativity and Culture Award at the National Awards for Local Government.

The event, now in its third year, attracted over 75,000 visitors.

Two other Wyndham City events, Firefly Night Market and Mooroop Yarkeen, were finalists for the awards.

National Roundup:

NSW:

Liverpool Council in Sydney's south-west will no longer issue fines for cars parked on rolled kerbs after community backlash over parking in narrow streets.

Mayor Ned Mannoun told 9News that the decision formalises a draft policy position, and aims to ease navigation for emergency and service vehicles.

Existing fines will not be refunded, and the policy does not apply to squared-off kerbs or other authorities like Transport NSW and NSW Police.

The council has generated $2.4 million in fines over the past year, which Mayor Ned Mannoun blames on state government policies which have allowed developers to build narrower streets.

Berrigan Shire Council has welcomed a NSW Auditor-General's report revealing inaccuracies in ambulance response times for Tocumwal, according to a report from the Cobram Courier.

The report highlights discrepancies between regional and metropolitan performance, with Tocumwal's actual response time averaging 40 minutes, contrary to eight minutes as previously claimed.

The council is advocating for a permanent ambulance station in Tocumwal to improve healthcare outcomes and stresses the need for better performance metrics and oversight for regional areas.

Sixteen councils in NSW will trial AI technologies to speed up development assessment timeframes, supported by a $5.6 million investment from the NSW Government.

The initiative aims to reduce administrative delays and improve the accuracy of development applications, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of days annually.

Each of the 16 councils will receive funding to implement new technology for a year.

Clarence Valley Council has introduced an Accelerated Development Application (DA) process as of 1 July 2024 to fast-track approvals for simple residential projects like new dwellings, secondary dwellings, sheds, decks, and swimming pools.

The aim is to improve processing times and boost housing supply by approving compliant developments within 20 days.

Applications that adhere to planning controls and are free of key environmental constraints are eligible for the fast track process.

National Briefs:

Mayor Neil Reilly of Kiama Council has announced his retirement at the end of the current council term in August, after 17 years of service.

At 71, he says he is looking forward to a productive retirement, after his final council meeting on August 13.

The Federal Opposition’s spokesperson on local government Senator Bridget McKenzie has revealed that a Coalition government would not support calls to increase Federal Assistance Grants to councils to 1% of commonwealth tax revenue.

Government News reported on Senator McKenzie’s address to last week’s National General Assembly in Canberra, in which she said if elected a Coalition government would focus instead on addressing funding disparities between large and small regional councils.

The 60 King William building by Cox Architecture has won the City of Adelaide Prize in the SA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architecture Awards.

The building was one of four entries for the award, which Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said is about promoting innovative projects that celebrate experiences in the City of Adelaide and further activate the public realm.

QLD:

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish has revealed under questioning on talkback radio that the Brisbane City Council was not consulted ahead of a decision to implement 50-cent fares for public transport.

The Courier Mail has reported on criticism from the state opposition and the council, which runs the city’s buses, about a lack of additional funding to support the initiative.

The council has confirmed it is working towards an agreement with the government for more services to support the 50c flat fares idea, which is due to take effect on 5th August.

Sunshine Coast News has reported that a decision on a proposed $50 million luxury resort at Noosa Springs has been postponed again due to concerns about its proximity to a sewage plant, vegetation clearing, and inconsistencies with the Noosa Plan.

Despite modifications to the plans and previous officer recommendations for approval, there are still concerns with the project, and Noosa Council has deferred the decision while the developer considers more changes and undertakes stakeholder engagement.

WA:

The City of South Perth plans to auction two properties in South Perth and Como to recover unpaid rates.

The owners have three months to settle their debts or face public auction.

The city has not sold properties for unpaid rates in the past three years, unlike other cities such as Kwinana, Cockburn, Mandurah, and Bayswater, according to a report from PerthNow.

Councillor Pablo Miller has resigned from the **City of Karratha Council** after seven years of service.

Elected in 2017, he was instrumental in initiating a Youth Advisory Group.

His resignation was effective July 5.

The Council will receive a report this month on calling a by-election to fill the vacancy.

Global Roundup:

UK:

Michael Paterson, a former Aberdeen council worker, has been jailed for four years for embezzling over £1 million from the Council over 17 years to fund a luxury lifestyle.

He manipulated the council tax refund system to transfer money into his own account, initially to pay off debts, but continued the embezzlement to fund extravagant holidays, technology, and dining.

The Daily Mail reported that Mr Paterson will also face confiscation proceedings to recover the stolen money.

His actions were discovered after a colleague noticed an unusual refund, leading to a comprehensive investigation.

The Labour Party has retained three seats in Liverpool City Council by-elections, maintaining its position as the largest group on the council with 61 out of 85 seats.

The by-elections were held in conjunction with the country’s general election, following the sudden resignation of three Labour members.

BBC News

The introduction of the UK's first coastal tourist tax has been postponed due to opposition from hoteliers.

The proposed levy of £2 per room per night at around 70 large hotels in Dorset was expected to generate £12m over five years to support regional tourism.

Despite initial approval, over 40 hotels appealed the ballot process, leading to a delay until autumn, according to local gov dot co dot uk.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said it would continue to work with accommodation providers on developing the introduction of a levy.

USA:

A $2 million proposal to study a hyperloop system between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic, has failed to gain support from a key Metropolitan Council committee.

The Star Tribune reported that the project, which aims to transport passengers at 700 mph in just 15 minutes, received a low score from the committee largely because its scoring system is not designed to evaluate studies.

Therefore it did not meet the criteria for funding.

The Met Council may reconsider its scoring categories in the future, but for now, the hyperloop study remains unfunded.

Several North Texas cities are considering installing an electric, aerial gondola system called Whoosh to provide personalised, point-to-point transportation.

The website The Chron reports that the system can change elevation and navigate elevated guideways, aiming to offer fast, on-demand, nonstop trips similar to services like Uber.

Discussions are ongoing with cities including Arlington, Dallas, DeSoto, Frisco, and Plano.

Previous attempts at similar systems, like the Wire One Austin proposal, were not implemented due to practicality concerns at the time.

NZ:

Auckland Council has opposed a government plan to reverse lower speed limits introduced in 2020, citing safety concerns, according to a Radio New Zealand report.

The council argues that reduced speed limits have decreased injuries and deaths, especially around schools.

The Green Party supports the council's stance, and has criticised the government's proposal as out of touch and dangerous.

Public submissions on the plan close on 11 July.