Today on the Roundup, a rescission motion puts a contentious land sale decision on hold at Macedon Ranges; councils held back from rolling out FOGO services due to lack of processing capacity; Greater Geelong mayor returns to the job amid fears of increased politicisation of the council; a new federal local government minister announced; and illlness forces a council CEO to resign.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Transcript with Links:
A rescission motion puts a contentious land sale decision on hold at Macedon Ranges.
That story heads the Roundup for the 1st June 2022.
Welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today: councils held back from rolling out FOGO services due to lack of processing capacity; Greater Geelong mayor returns to the job amid fears of increased politicisation of the council; a new federal local government minister announced; and illlness forces a council CEO 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.
Implantation of a decision by Macedon Ranges Shire Council to sell the east paddock in the Hanging Rock Precinct to the State Government is on pause, after a rescission motion was lodged this week.
The Council last week voted 6 votes to three to proceed with negotiations on the sale and transfer of the council-owned land, which has become an established concert venue for international artists.
Some councillors are concerned about the sale proceeding before a state government master plan for the area is finalised. Negotiations between the council and the department of environment, land water and planning have been ongoing for some time, with the monetary value of the site a previous sticking point.
A motion to rescind will be considered at an Unscheduled Meeting of the Council that has been called for next Tuesday morning at 10.30.
https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/About-Council/News/News/Notice-of-Rescission-motion-lodged
A number of Melbourne councils are holding back on the introduction of a FOGO collection service due to lack of processing capacity.
According to a report in the Age this week, several councils including Yarra, Port Phillip, Brimbank and Manningham are being cautious about introducing or expanding FOGO services.
The caution is also partly due to a lack of demand for the resulting compost, and fears that it could just end up in landfill anyway.
On the most recent figures from Sustainability Victoria, a quarter of Victorian households are using a kerbside FOGO service with 1.3 million tonnes of food waste collected in 2020.
All councils are required to provide a FOGO service by 2030. There are moves by councils to create processing capacity. A consortium of 8 inner Melbourne councils are investigating a combined facility, and Wyndham is building its own.
Council food waste plan hits a snag – the state’s bin is full
A public art memorial acknowledging survivors of sexual assault is a step closer in Ballarat, with the council have now chosen a preferred site.
The council estimates the project will cost $1.5M and is expected to contribute $520K of that.
The memorial will be located near the lake in Victoria Park, and will recognise the full extent of pain and trauma caused by all forms of sexual violence, as well as provide a space to support healing.
Public art memorial site for survivors of sexual assault given the green light | City of Ballarat
Central Goldfields Shire is advocating for activation of the Myki ticketing system following the announcement of 4 new weekend passenger rail services for Maryborough.
The council has met with Department of Transport representatives as part of detailed planning for the commencement of the services after they were included in the latest state budget.
The new services will arrive into Maryborough each Saturday and Sunday morning and return to Melbourne in the afternoon, stopping all stations.
The council also wants to see added opening hours for the ticket office at Maryborough station. There is no commencement date for the new services yet.
The new providers of aged and disability services in Hepburn Shire have been announced. The commonwealth has appointed Benetas to deliver the commonwealth home support program for seniors from 1st July, while Mecwacare will be the new provider of services to support younger people with disabilities and their carers.
New providers for services in Golden Plains have also been confirmed, with mecwacare also taking in that shire’s program for younger people services. Silverchain will be the Golden Plains home support program service provider from 1st July.
https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/news/new-aged-and-disability-providers-confirmed
Briefs:
Wodonga City Council is believed to have made a decision on the appointment of a new Chief Executive. The Border Mail has reported that councillors met in a confidential session on Monday morning to make its choice.
An announcement on the successful candidate has yet to be made. The vacancy in the position was created by the departure of Mark Dixon late in 2021.
(Border Mail, Albury Wodonga)
A scheduled meeting to adopt the annual budget at Mornington Peninsula Shire has been postponed due to the hospitalisation of its Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh.
Mornington Peninsula News reports that the meeting has been put back a week, in accordance with the council’s Governance Rules, when Cr Marsh is expected to be able to take the chair.
Cr Stephanie Asher returns to mayoral role at Greater Geelong today, after her unsuccessful federal election campaign. Today’s Geelong Advertiser reports on fears of increased politicisation of the council, while Mayor Asher speaks out about the sledging, lies and personal attacks she experienced during the campaign.
(Geelong Advertiser, p9, 1st June 2022)
Applications have opened for the latest round of the Growing Suburbs Fund, with $50M made available in the latest state budget.
10 interface and six peri-urban councils are able to apply to the fund, which has so far invested $425M in over 300 projects since its inception in 2015.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-infrastructure-growing-communities
Latrobe City Council has formalised a partnership with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation to create employment opportunities for the local Aboriginal community.
The two organisations will deliver a program of on ground environmental works including revegetation, waterway restoration, pest management and bushfire fuel reduction.
Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan said the partnership acknowledged a shared commitment to respect and was an opportunity for the council to broaden its cross cultural understanding.
Traditional Owners and Latrobe City sign MoU
Still to come – a new federal local government minister announced; illlness forces a council CEO to resign; and a NZ CEO under fire over communication issues.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 1st June 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Vlga Connect – Hume Welcoming Cities Awards
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
The new federal Labor Government cabinet has been announced this week, revealing who will lead the portfolios relevant to local government.
Ballarat MP Catherine King has been named Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Ms King was shadow minister for regional development, transport and infrastructure for the past 9 years.
She becomes the first female infrastructure minister and is one of a record 19 women amongst 42 on the government’s front bench team.
Eden Monaro MP Kristy McBain has been named in the outer ministry as Minister for Regional Development and Local Government and Territories.
A Queensland council is suing the commercial services arm of the state’s local government peak body over a stalled power plant project.
The ABC is reporting that Winton Shire Council is taking the action after a $4M geothermal power plant, built to generate electricity from hot water, remains idle more than two years after being built.
Concept designs estimated savings to the council over $15M in the first 20 years, however Mayor Gavin Baskett says it didn’t get past the commissioning stage due to alleged technical issues and management failures.
Plans for four other similar plants in the state are understood to be on hold.
Council launches legal action over $4m geothermal plant that’s never delivered power – ABC News
Mackay Regional Council’s CEO Michael Thomson has resigned this week to focus on his battle with cancer.
Mr Thomson has been on leave for three months after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, and has made the extremely tough decision not to return to the job in the best interests of the council and his family.
In a statement released yesterday, Mr Thomson said there were positive signs from his treatment, there would likely be tough days ahead. He feels his ongoing treatment will cause disruption at the Council at a crucial time, and that the best option is to leave the organisation.
Mayor Greg Williamson has paid tribute to Mr Thomson’s achievements since joining the organisation in August 2020, and said the council respects his decision.
Angela Hays will remain as Acting CEo for at least another three months.
Council CEO resigns to focus on cancer battle
Legislation to introduce compulsory voting in Tasmanian local government elections is being debated this week.
The Advocate reports that debate over the state budget will be suspended to allow consideration of the Local Government Minister’s bill, which would introduce the requirement to vote for the elections coming up in October this year.
Voter turnout at the last round of Tasmanian council elections was around 58 per cent.
(The Advocate, Burnie)
Albury City Council will transition out of family day care services later this year following a review of its children’s services offering.
AlburyCity has reached the view that increased regulatory, compliance and resourcing requirements have made it unviable to continue to offer family day care services.
Greater Hume Children Services will take over the service by 30 September.
Albury City CEO Frank Zaknich said the two councils are working closely together to ensure families and educators are well supported through the transition.
Family Day Care services to transition | AlburyCity
A Queensland council has received a petition with nearly 1500 signatures calling for a low cost desexing program for cats and dogs.
Animal welfare charity ARK says Southern Downs Regional Council’s animal Management strategies have failed the community, with the overpopulation of cats a particular problem.
Warwick Today reports that the petition calls on the council to subsidise a community desexing scheme, citing similar examples at other councils such as Gold Coast, Fraser Coast and Scenic Rim.
(Warwick Today)
To the National Briefs now:
Hobart City Council has this week endorsed a submission to the state’s Future of Local Government review. The submission supports the introduction of compulsory voting in local government elections, the adoption of caretaker provisions, and advocates for a broader council role in the development of social policy.
WA’s City of Stirling has formally extended the contract of its chief executive Stuart Jardine by one year, meaning he will stay in the job until at least April 2024.
Mr Jardine has held the position since 2007 and was contracted until April 2023. His local government career spans 35 years, and in 2017 he was awarded a public service medal.
https://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/your-city/news/2022/may/council-extends-ceo-contract
NSW councils are encouraged to get their entries in for this year’s Local Government Week Awards.
Nominations can be made through the Local Government NSW website, with entries closing on the 16th June. Winners will be announced during Local Government Week on the 4th August.
Queensland’s Scenic Rim Regional Council has appointed a new Deputy Mayor. The election was conducted as part of the council’s annual review of elected member appointments last week.
Cr Jeff McConnell was elected to the role despite a motion from Mayor Greg Christensen to reappoint outgoing deputy Michael Enright. According to a report in the Beaudesert Times, the Mayor’s motion did not receive a seconder.
https://www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/news/article/705/scenic-rim-regional-council-deputy-mayor-elected
International Spotlight:
A NZ council CEO is under fire over the timing of advising the council that its civic centre was a serious earthquake risk.
According to stuff.co.nz, Nelson City Council CEO Pat Dougherty told elected members last week about two reports indicating extremely high earthquake risk for parts of Civic House.
The media outlet claims to have seen emails showing the senior leadership team were aware of the issue last December.
The mayor Rachel Reese has said she would have expected to be told immediately about the serving of an earthquake prone building notice.
The CEO has admitted the matter could have been handled better, and is conducting an internal investigation into apparent communication issues.
Chicago City Council has passed a new citywide curfew for minors, increasing the hours and age limit of an existing curfew.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot put forward the proposal to apply the curfew to minors under the age of 18 from 10.00 at night. It increases the age by one year and brings the time back from 11pm.
The move is in response to recent outbreaks of youth violence, although some alderpersons described the measure as toothless and seldom-enforced.
Chicago City Council approves Lightfoot’s curfew ordinance, takes up violence in 2nd meeting
In Colorado, the town council of Hayden is trying to stem the departure of employees to neighbouring local government by approving a raise of 4% for its staff.
Mayor Zach Wuestewald said the raise was being provided 6 months earlier than planned, and was also in recognition of nearly 10% inflation across the state’s Mountain West region.
Neighbouring counties are looking at similar measures, including giving employees a bonus week’s pay. All are reporting difficulties recruiting and retaining staff under current conditions.
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 on Wednesday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.