Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
A new mayor in Greater Geelong, and a new chair of Regional Cities Victoria;
new mandatory reporting requirements on the euthanisation of animals in Victorian shelters; a countback scheduled to fill a vacancy on Greater Shepparton Council; a mayor calls for an end to facial recognition surveillance of shoppers; and pressure mounts on a Tasmania councillor to resign.
All that and more ahead on the Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Listen from the list on this page, or on your preferred podcast app, links here
Transcript with links:
Issue 133, LG News Roundup, 19th June 2022
A new mayor in Greater Geelong, a new chair of Regional Cities Victoria. Those stories just ahead on the Local Government News Roundup.
Welcome to the bulletin for the 19th June. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today:
New mandatory reporting requirements on the euthanisation of animals in Victorian shelters; a countback scheduled to fill a vacancy on Greater Shepparton Council; a mayor calls for an end to facial recognition surveillance of shoppers; and pressure mounts on a Tasmania councillor to resign.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Cr Peter Murrihy has been elected mayor of Greater Geelong, to complete the two year term due to expire in November. The election on Friday evening was triggered when Cr Stephanie Asher stood down from the mayoralty effective on Wednesday. She will continue to serve as a councillor.
In a statement, the new Mayor said he hoped the appointment would go a long way to clearing the ‘political fog’, and that he would be reaching out to local members of parliament to talk about what the future holds.
As previously reported, 5 state MPs signed a letter that was critical of the Council’s ability to deliver projects, and threatened to freeze Greater Geelong out of planning for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Cr Murrihy has been a Geelong councillor since first being elected in 2017.
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/news/item/8da509d6bd57d67.aspx
The VEC has scheduled a countback for 6th July in Greater Shepparton to fill an extraordinary vacancy created by the resignation of Robert Priestly earlier this month.
Mr Priestly resigned after competing unsuccessfully as an independent candidate for the seat of Nicholls at the recent federal election.
The vacancy will be filled through a countback of all votes from the last general election in October 2020.
Greater Shepparton City Council countback | Victorian Electoral Commission
Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf has been elected Chair of Regional Cities Victoria, taking over from Kim O’Keeffe who recently stood down as Mayor of Greater Shepparton.
The mayor of Latrobe City Council, Cr Kellie O’Callaghan was reappointed as Deputy Chair of the group, which represents the 10 largest regional cities in Victoria. Collectively, the cities are home to more than 800,000 Victorians.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf election Regional Cities Victoria Chair
Horsham Rural City Council’s community safety unit staff have started using body cameras, in an attempt to combat aggressive behaviour.
The cameras will be used to collect evidence of interactions with the community, with any abusive or aggressive behaviour reported to the police.
The council has developed policies and procedures around the correct handling and storage of data before commencing the rollout of the cameras.
Colac Otway Shire has closed a deal that will see former Council land used for a high quality residential estate, with affordable and social housing elements.
The $2.6M sale was announced this week along with some of the conditions of the sale.
Purchasers will be gifted a 5kw solar package to reduce the ongoing cost of living and help with the shire’s carbon reduction aims.
Three lots for social housing will be created and provided back to the Council, which will seek other partners to develop and manage the sites.
Bruce Street land sells to a leading Victorian property developer – Colac Otway Shire
Brief:
The City of Whittlesea is celebrating a win in the Community Based INitiative of the Year category at the Victorian Parks and Leisure Australia Awards.
The award recognises the success of a Muslim Women’s Get into Golf program, delivered by the city in partnership with Golf Australia. The program will now be considered in the national awards later in the year.
Victorian’s animal shelters and pounds will be subject to new mandatory reporting and data collection requirements, under changes to a code of practice described as national leading.
Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the new requirements this week, making it compulsory for shelters and pounds to report a variety of data on dogs and cats that come into their care. Data on the number of animals euthanised and the reasons for euthanisation will be part of the reporting requirements.
Greater Geelong City Council has been recognised for a pair of world-first geopolymer bridges erected in North Geelong, with three awards and a commendation at the IPWEA Victorian Division awards.
The sustainable bridges are maintenance free for at least 100 years due to the long lasting nature of material, which uses 80 per cent less greenhouse gases in production when compared to concrete.
https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/news/item/8da4ed84e3eda6b.aspx
Still to come – a mayor calls for an end to facial recognition surveillance of shoppers; the council that wants to delay the election of its mayor for 16 months; pressure mounts on a Tasmania councillor to resign.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 19th June 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
The much anticipated Better Disagreements, Better Teams session scheduled for last week was unfortunately postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. While that was disappointing for the ready and willing participants, it means there will be another opportunity with the session to be rescheduled to a date in August.
Melissa Scadden of Justitia Lawyers and Consultants will delve into the characteristics of effective teams that create an environment for better disagreements. And how disagreements can be used to create better teams.
Elected representatives and council staff from around Australia are invited to be part of this special online session. You’re invited to register your interest by emailing vlga@vlga.org.au
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
Revelations that some major Australian retailers are using facial recognition technology for surveillance of customers have been a major talking point this week.
The mayor of Inner West Council in Sydney is among those calling for an end to the practice.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said the authoritarian and invasive method of monitoring and collecting data on citizens should be abandoned.
He said the capturing of biometric data without the consent of customers is a clear breach of privacy, and he has written to them urging them to stop the practice until better safeguards are in place.
Inner West calls for facial recognition to be withdrawn from local stores
WA’s City of Wanneroo is exploring a delay to electing a new mayor, after the resignation of former Mayor Tracey Roberts who has been elected to Federal Parliament in the seat of Pearce.
The legislation requires an extraordinary election to be held within four months, and the council has commenced the process to conduct a postal election on the 2nd September.
According to a report from Perth Now, the Council is also asking the minister to consider keeping the mayoralty vacant until the next scheduled election in October 2023. Under that scenario, the Deputy Mayor, current Cr Brett Treby, would continue to act in the mayoral role until that time.
The estimated cost of an extraordinary mayoral election conducted by post is $320,000, and some councillors are keen to avoid burdening ratepayers with that cost.
In Tasmania, the recent conviction of a Waratah Wynyard councillor on charges of prohibited behaviour has led to two motions listed on the Council meeting agenda for Monday night.
Cr Kevin Hyland has given notice of a motion of no confidence in Cr Darren Fairbrother. Cr Hyland’s motion refers to the recent conviction, and an appearance by Cr Fairbrother in the Burnie Criminal Magistrates Court on 6 June on a trespass charge, and says the council needs the national embarrassment to end.
The Deputy Mayor, Mary Duniam, has also foreshadowed a motion calling for the eligibility criteria for candidates and elected representatives to be overhauled, including disclosure of criminal history and the introduction of a requirement for a current Working with Vulnerable People registration.
Cr Fairbrother has so far resisted calls for his resignation.
In Queensland, the new CEO of Noosa Council has tabled a roadmap for change, looking to modernise the organisation and to realise operational efficiencies.
Scott Waters, who commenced in the role in late February, has presented the Council with a report that includes 64 recommendations, following a review of 17 specific functions.
He told the council that the report respects the legacy of the Council while identifying constructive improvements to deliver an innovative and agile council.A Councillor Executive Team workshop is planned to collaboratively develop a change management program to drive the organisational renewal.
https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/news/article/1431/ceo-roadmap-for-the-future
Dubbo Regional Council has signed a historic partnership agreement with the local Indigenous community.
The Daily Liberal has reported on the new agreement, which replaces a previous MOU signed in 2015. It was signed by the Council’s CEO and Mayor, and the chairperson of the Dubbo Aboriginal Community Working Party, which comprises members of local Aboriginal organisations.
The agreement commits the council to consulting with the working party on issues involving Aboriginal people and communities, with social housing highlighted as a current priority issue.
(Daily Liberal, 17-6-22, p.3)
In today’s National Briefs:
SA’s Onkaparinga City Council has appointed Alastair Dawson as its new CEO. Mr Dawson says he is returning to his first love, local government, after holding a senior role at Central Queensland University.
The Council says it has chosen Mr Dawson for the role due to his wealth of experience as a dynamic and transformative leader in the local government and education sectors.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-6942693819477831680-YhNP
Media response – CEO appointment City of Onkaparinga
And another CEO level announcement out of South Australia this week, with the District Council of Yankalilla appointing Nathan Cunningham as its new CEO.
Mr Cunningham has been the Director of Community and Planning at the City of Prospect for 8 years, and held a general manager role for 7 years previously at Light Regional Council in Kapunda.
He takes up the position on the 13th July.
In the Northern Territory, a new look open data portal has been launched bringing enhanced access to facts and figures from 17 territory and local government departments and agencies.
The site hosts more than 860 different datasets, available to business, researchers, journalists and the wider community, free of charge. The portal is a key outcome of the territory’s digital strategy and action plan.
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/more-government-open-data-just-click-away/
Bathurst Regional Council has selected a preferred provider to service the Bathurst to Sydney air route, after Rex Airlines confirmed it would no longer provide the service.
The Council had called for EOIs, and is now negotiating with a preferred provider about flight schedules, aircraft type and related matters.
The Sunshine Coast has this week been recognised internationally as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Mayor Mark Jamieson described the recognition as a truly historic moment for the Sunshine Coast. He said it would help with the protection of the region and the natural environment for future generations.
The path to formal recognition commenced with a Council resolution in 2019. The Sunshine Coast becomes the 5th currently recognised in Australia, joining Fitzgerald in Western Australia, Mornington Peninsula and Western Port in Victoria, and Noosa and the Great Sandy reserves in Queensland. There are currently 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries.
Sunshine Coast officially becomes a UNESCO biosphere
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
Complaints by residents at Queensland’s Scenic Rim Council have led to a change in the way Council meetings will be scheduled.
The Beaudesert Times reports about concerns that too many meetings were being held behind closed doors, after the council scrapped committee meetings in favour of internal workshops in 2019.
A planning and development committee will be reinstated under a new plan, that may also see the creation of other committees, with the changes to be overseen by an implementation committee chaired by the Deputy Mayor.
(Beaudesert Times, 15-6-22)
International Spotlight:
A new study of 99 coastal cities around the world has found that most are sinking even faster than the rate of sea level rise.
The combination of coastal subsidence and sea level rise means many cities will be dealing with coastal flooding issues sooner than first thought.
Hakaimagazine.com reports that the worst affected cities are in Asia, including in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia – where there are plans to move the capital from Java to the Indonesian part of Borneo, partly because Jakarta will be 33 per cent under water by the middle of this century.
The study’s authors are urging cities to make improvements in groundwater management, as their research shows groundwater extraction in many of these cities is exacerbating the problem.
Coastal Cities Are Already Sinking | Hakai Magazine
In the Swedish city of Malmo, talking garbage cans are the latest tool being used to encourage people to do the right thing with their trash.
CNN reports that when pedestrians drop trash into one of the bins, a sultry female voice offers a range of racy but positive responses.
The bins have been updated since the pandemic, during which they offered messages of thanks for observing social distancing regulations. I’ve included a link in the show notes to a demonstration of the current bin messaging – it does help if you can understand Swedish, but you’ll certainly be able to appreciate the ‘tone’ of the messages.
Sexy trash cans? This Swedish city is taking a risqué approach to garbage | CNN Travel
That’s the latest from the Roundup, thanks to the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government. Subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular sessions with local government identities and decision makers.
I’ll be back with more news from around the world of local government a little later than usual this coming week. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.