Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
Three new CEO appointments in Victoria, plus CEO news out of Western Australia;
The Mildura countback result hot off the press;
A coroner’s investigation to focus on a rural Council’s road safety decision making;
Moreland hails a victory at VCAT;
Some council advocacy wins in the latest election promises;
Flood impacted councils in NSW part of an urgent drive to deliver temporary housing;
And the South Australian city calling for its own version of a city deal.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government. Subscribe to the VLGA Connect channel on YouTube or your preferred podcast app for the latest interviews on topics of interest to the local government sector.
Transcript with story links:
Issue 115, LG News Roundup, 20th April 2022
Hello. It’s time for the Local Government News Roundup.
It’s the 20th April 2022, and I’m Chris Eddy. A big welcome to the literally hundreds of new listeners who found us through last weekend’s special edition of the program. I hope you can stick around for a regular fix of local government news and views from across the country.
On today’s program:
Three new CEO appointments in Victoria, plus CEO news out of Western Australia;
The Mildura countback result hot off the press;
A coroner’s investigation to focus on a rural Council’s road safety decision making;
Moreland hails a victory at VCAT;
Some council advocacy wins in the latest election promises;
Flood impacted councils in NSW part of an urgent drive to deliver temporary housing;
And the South Australian city calling for its own version of a city deal.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government. Subscribe to the VLGA Connect channel on YouTube or your preferred podcast app for the latest interviews on topics of interest to the local government sector.
We start as always with the Victorian roundup:
A string of CEO-level announcements in the lead up to the Easter break.
First up, Yarriambiack Shire Council appointed its Acting CEO Tammy Smith to the role on an ongoing basis. Tammy joined Yarriambiack in early 2019, and has held the position of Director Business Strategy and Performance since March 2020.
Mayor Kylie Zanker said her appointment was a unanimous decision of the council after receiving 28 applications for the position. The recruitment process was coordinated by MacArthur.
Mildura Rural City Council also looked inward to appoint its next CEO. Martin Hawson has been confirmed in the position, after acting in the role since last year. He has been the council’s general manager of community services for 20 years.
Martin is the council’s first locally born and raised CEO in over two decades.
And at Swan Hill, the council there has looked across the border for its new chief executive.
Scott Barber will make the move to the top job in July, coming from a director position at Wagga Wagga City Council. He has previously held executive roles at Goulburn Murray Water and Murray Shire Council.
We are keeping track of council CEO movements in Victoria during this council term with a regularly updated list on our website. Four CEO positions are currently yet to be determined – they are Wodonga, Darebin, Moyne and Alpine.
There are also CEO movements in Western Australia to report – that’s coming up in our interstate roundup a little later in the bulletin
In breaking news, a countback has been conducted this morning to fill an extraordinary vacancy on Mildura Rural City Council. The vacancy arose when councillor and deputy mayor Cyndi Power resigned last month.
Nine eligible unsuccessful candidates from the 2020 general election were included in the computer countback, with Troy Bailey elected to fill the vacant position.
Mr Bailey will have 48 hours to complete the necessary declarations of eligibility before being able to be sworn in to the role.
A coroner’s investigation will reportedly focus on whether a Strathbogie Shire Council decision to defer safety upgrades contributed to a road accident in which a 38 year old man died.
According to a Herald Sun report, the accident occurred about a month after a decision to not immediately remove 22 trees lining the road where the accident occurred.
The report says the Council was lobbied by environmental campaigners to go against a recommendation to remove a number of dangerous trees, and voted to defer the work.
Mayor Laura Binks told the Herald Sun that some minor safety upgrades would begin as quickly as possible.
Yarra City Council adopted its draft budget last night, with the Mayor Sophie Wade saying the Council and community will need to make some tough decisions.
Losses in excess of $50M have impacted its operating environment and financial position, and the council is looking to save at least $23M over the next ten years through improvements and efficiencies.
The Mayor has announced an independent strategic review of operations, with a report to come back to the community. Yarra is also proposing an increase in metered parking and permit fees, and will investigate the potential introduction of a separate waste charge in next year’s budget.
Yarra delivers a responsible and responsive draft Budget in challenging times | Yarra City Council
Local councils and community groups are being invited to contribute ideas to showcase their region as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The state government has opened an Expressions of Interest process to capture ideas for a cultural program, indigenous engagement, and hosting sporting heats or training.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said the aim was to ensure the benefits of the games extend beyond the four regional hubs that have been announced for Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland.
EoIs can be submitted through the Victoria 2026 website.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/calling-community-ideas-victoria-2026
Moreland City Council has welcomed a victory in VCAT, which has refused a planning permit for a new Bunnings Warehouse in Brunswick.
The Council had rejected the proposal in 2020 over concerns including amenity and traffic impacts.
Mayor Mark Riley the decision was a win for the local community, and he thanked those community members who got involved with the campaign to secure this planning win.
VCAT decision on Bunnings a victory for Brunswick residents
55 rural and regional Victorian towns will see new electric car fast chargers installed in the coming months.
Election promises are flying thick and fast at the moment. Here are some of the most recent hard won advocacy outcomes for councils:
Federal Labor has committed $10M to the Gippsland Logistics Precinct in Latrobe City Council.. The funding would support the development of internal road and utility infrastructure and flood mitigation earthworks as part of stage 2 of the project, which is expected to create 500 jobs.
Major election promise for Gippsland Logistics Precinct | Latrobe City Council
And Frankston City council has achieved a bipartisan commitment to its basketball stadium redevelopment, one of its key advocacy priorities. Liberal candidate Sharn Coombes has announced a $15M contribution toward the project, matching a pledge made by Federal Labor last month.
Now for the Victorian Briefs:
Maribyrnong Council has released the final designs for an upgrade of the historic Footscray Town Hall.
The upgrade is part of a multi million dollar Civic and Community Precinct which will include a new outdoor park, and a six star Green Star administration building.
The renovated Town Hall is expected to be re-opened in 2024.
Final Designs for Upgrade of Historic Town Hall Released – Maribyrnong
Greater Shepparton City Council is exiting the direct delivery of aged care services from 1st July.
The council has announced a range of services, including meals and home support, to be delivered by a new provider which is yet to be appointed by the commonwealth government.
Melton City Council is the latest council to abolish overdue library fines.
A unanimous council vote will see the fines dropped from July as a way of increasing engagement with libraries, as has occurred at other library services in recent times.
The new CEO of Respect Victoria is looking to engage more closely with councils across the state in it’s work to stamp out violence against women.
Emily Maguire has been in the role for 7 weeks, and she told VLGA Connect that the 16 Days of Activism Campaign has been an extremely successful partnership with local government.
Emily also sees a strong link with the work that councils and others are doing to meet the requirements of new gender equality legislation…
Emily Maguire, CEO of Respect Victoria, joins me and Kathryn Arndt on a new episode of VLGA Connect, out today on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Still ahead on the Roundup:
CEO arrivals, departures… and arrivals in Western Australia;
Flood impacted councils in NSW part of an urgent drive to deliver temporary housing;
And the South Australian city calling for its own version of a city deal.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 20th April 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Now here’s the VLGA CEO’s Kathryn Arndt with a preview of some upcoming events.
Thanks Kathryn. You can find out more about VLGA events and activities by visiting www.vlga.org.au
The deadline for entries for the 20th year of the Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards is fast approaching. As councils and others put the finishing touches on their entries, the Roundup will bring you a special edition taking a closer look at two of last year’s successful entries. Find out more about Cardinia Shire’s Deep Creek Reserve project, a category winner last year; and Latrobe City Council’s Biogas Generator project, which was an industry leader finalist.
Look out for the special edition coming this Friday.
Now for some of the stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
Starting in Western Australia, where the CEO at the City of Swan, Jeremy Edwards, last week announced he is leaving the organisation in July to pursue further career opportunities.
Mr Edwards joined the city in January last year after moving from the CEO position at the Shire of East Pilbara.
Mayor David Lucas said he had reluctantly accepted Mr Edwards’s resignation, and that the search for a new CEO would begin soon.
https://www.swan.wa.gov.au/News-Media/2022/News-focus-stories/City-of-Swan-CEO-announces-resignation
By the end of the week, the further career opportunity was revealed to be the CEO position at the City of Bayswater.
The Mayor, Filomena Piffaretti announced that Mr Edwards would be taking up the role in July.
The position was vacated in February this year by Andrew Brien who resigned to make the move to the CEO position at Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Meanwhile after 12 months as acting CEO at the City of Fremantle, Glen Dougall was last week appointed to the position on a four year contract.
Mr Dougall has been with the city since 2005, and has held the position of Director City Business for the past eight years.
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the appointment heralded a new era for the city, and the selection panel was impressed by his ability to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/glen-dougall-new-city-fremantle-ceo
In NSW, discussions are underway with a number of local councils to identify sites for temporary modular housing for people displaced by floods.
The state government is investing $350M in housing for the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Lismore local government areas.
Preparatory works on the first location in Ballina Shire are expected to start within a week. It will initially include around 25 temporary accommodation pods, housing up to 100 people.
The aim is to deliver around 2,000 temporary homes across the hardest hit regions in the coming weeks.
A Sydney council will provide free early education to children whose parents are awaiting asylum seeker determination.
Inner West council says the move will assist some of the 400 children of asylum seekers in NSW who are currently denied access to affordable childcare.
The move will see the council join with Canterbury-Bankstown Council and partners in using unused places in preschools and childcare centres for some of the families.
The unanimous decision of the council was in response to a motion from Inner West councillor Mat Howard.
A decision by the NSW government to cover a $43M increase in the emergency services levy this year has been welcomed by councils.
The state’s local government peak body LGNSW says that while the sector is grateful for the announcement, real reform of the emergency management funding process is needed.
LGNSW President Darriea Turley said it is a temporary reprieve, and the increase will be of the cost base that councils will have to fund in the following years.
LGNSW continues to argue that the fairest and most transparent way to fund emergency services is through a broad-based property levy.
To South Australia now, where councils are supporting a new initiative by Woolworths supermarkets, which has launched locally made compostable fruit and vegetable bags in their stores statewide.
The bags can be composted in council-provided green bins or in household compost; and can be used as liners in food scrap kitchen caddies, helping to reduce plastic waste and divert household waste from landfill.
The initiative has the potential to divert up to 70 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill each year.
In Whyalla, the Mayor Clare McLaughlin has called on the Prime Minister and the Federal Opposition Leader to commit to a regional city deal for the city.
Mayor McLaughlin believes the city is at the forefront of an exponential increase in national economic activity, as local heavy industry transforms through the emergence of a green hydrogen industry.
She said enabling and supporting infrastructure is critical for the acceleration and success of private and government investment, and she wants the city to negotiate a funding deal to support the region’s growth over the next decade and beyond.
Mayor Calls For A Federal Regional City Deal
In related news, Mayor McLaughlin recently received an award for outstanding service to the local government sector in South Australia. She is the 2022 recipient of the Joy Baluch Award, honouring the contribution of women serving as elected members in the state.
Mayor Clare McLaughlin Named The Joy Baluch Award Recipient | Whyalla City Council
To the National Briefs now:
Thirty NSW councils will share in almost $3M in EPA grants to improve food and organic waste recycling. 24 councils will receive funds as part of the Scrap Together FOGO education campaign, while six councils – Hay, Port Macquarie Hastings, Canada Bay, Penrith, Bayside and Kyogle – have been funded to introduce FOGO services to their residents.
The City of Subiaco in WA will fly the Ukrainian flag in place of the city flag, every day for a month, to express support for Ukrainian people affected by war. The city has also made a financial donation and written to the Ukrainian Embassy expressing condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine.
The City of Newcastle has welcomed an announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce of an additional $55M for the expansion of Newcastle Airport terminal. The terminal will need to accommodate more than 250,000 international passengers expected to fly into Newcastle annually as a result of a planned runway upgrade.
And Vonda Malone has been announced as the next CEO of the Torres Strait Regional Authority. The former Mayor of Torres Shire Council has 22 years of experience working at all levels of government, and was named the McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year in 2017.
Vonda Malone to Lead the Torres Strait Regional Authority | Ministers Media Centre
Now for the International Spotlight, with stories from the UK, the USA, and Venezuela!
Councils in England and Wales have issued a warning to residents to be aware of scammers taking advantage of the government’s £150 energy rebate.
The Local Government Association says criminals are cold calling residents asking for bank details in order to pay the rebate.
It said councils are working hard to ensure eligible residents receive the rebate payments quickly, and that they will never ask for bank details over the phone.
Since the onset of the pandemic, one in three residents in Britain have been targeted by a scammer.
Don’t be fooled by new scams, councils say | Local Government Association
In the US state of Kentucky, the Mayor of Louisville, Greg Fischer, has signed into law a new measure that makes it illegal to randomly shoot guns into the air.
The so-called ‘gun discharge’ law has been introduced as part of efforts to reduce gun violence in the city, and according to a report from WDRB TV it has come as a surprise to many who thought it would already be illegal.
Last year, police received nearly 6,000 calls about shots being fired with limited ability to take action against those responsible.
Those prosecuted under the new law face a $500 fine and potentially a one year jail term.
Louisville mayor signs ordinance making random gunfire illegal in city | News | wdrb.com
In Venezuela, the mayor of Libertador – a municipality in Caracas – has sparked controversy with a tweet announcing that the city was changing its anthem, coat of arms and flag.
The move is being justified as necessary to remove symbols associated with the city’s colonial legacy, and follows similar changes made at the national level.
The Caracas Chronicles reports what it calls an erasing of a city’s historical legacy – link in the show notes.
Chavismo Goes After the Caracas Lion
Now back to the United States, an increasing number of local governments are attempting to make streaming video services pay the same fees as those levied on cable television operations.
The Associated Press reports that the Ohio Supreme Court is hearing a debate on whether services like Netflix and Hulu are covered by a state law that requires cable operators to pay to install cables in a public right-of-way.
Their argument seems to be that because the service is delivered over the internet, which uses cable and wires, they should be subject to the same fees.
As you might imagine, the streaming giants are fighting the move and have already won arguments in at least four states. Currently Tennessee, Missouri and Ohio are among those pursuing the same aims.
Gives new meaning doesn’t it to the idea of searching for new revenue ‘streams…?’
Cities ask Netflix, Hulu, stream services to pay cable fees | AP News
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.