Issue 117, LG News Roundup, 24th April 2022
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Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup for the 24th April 2022.
Coming up today:
a rural mayor called on to apologise for deeply offensive comments;
two councils agree to rename the creek with the racially derogatory name;
a new Ministerial Mayoral Advisory Panel announced;
the latest election campaign wins for councils around the country;
CEO appointment news from WA and NSW, and much more.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster for all things local government.
A rural shire mayor has been called on to publicly apologise for comments made after his council resolved not to fly the rainbow flag on IDAHOBIT Day.
West Wimmera Council voted three/two against a recommendation to fly the flag in Kaniva and Edenhope, on a separate flagpole annually on 17 May.
In debating the motion, two councillors argued the symbolism of flying the flag could prevent further death by suicide in the region. However, the Mayor Bruce Meyer and two other councillors opposed the motion.
Cr Meyer told ABC Radio on Thursday that he believed the council should not get involved in social issues that divide the community. But it was his comments linking the issue to the legalisation of paedophilia and allowing 12 year old girls to marry that have attracted criticism and outrage.
Victoria Pride Lobby policy advisor Sean Mulcahy said the comments were shocking and deeply upsetting and that Cr Meyer should apologise. Wimmera Pride Project spokesperson Patrick Quaine also described the comments as deeply offensive, and signalled to young gay and trans kids that they were’nt welcome the community.
West Wimmera Shire is the only council in the Wimmera not to recognise IDAHOBIT Day by flying the rainbow flag.
I discuss the governance elements to the council’s decision with VLGA Chief of Staff Stephen Cooper on the latest edition of the Governance Update on the VLGA Connect channel.
You’ll find a link to that in the show notes, along with links to the ABC Radio interview and reports on the issue including contact details for support services if you are someone you know needs help.
Breakfast – Breakfast – ABC Radio – Thursday 21st April 2022
“That’s where it jumped the shark” – VLGA Connect Governance Update
Hepburn and Mt Alexander Shire Councils have voted for a new name for Jim Crow Creek, after an extensive community consultation process.
The Jim Crow name is considered racially derogatory and offensive, and will be replaced with the indigenous name of Larni Barramal Yaluk.
The new name was put forward by traditional owners and has received strong community support, although a minority of respondents objected to the change.
The creek runs between the two shires, from Newstead to Hepburn.
The request to change the name now goes to Geographic Names Victoria, which will consider whether to accept or reject the proposal after considering any objections.
Proposed Renaming Jim Crow Creek | Participate Hepburn
Ten mayors from across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria have been appointed to the Local Government Minister’s Advisory Panel for 2022.
Minister Shaun Leane will meet with the panel four times this year to discuss and receive advice on a range of matters, including COVID-19 recovery, gender equality and strengthening relationships with First Nations Victorians.
The panel includes the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and metro mayors from Boroondara, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley and Nillumbik.
Representing regional and rural Victorian will be the mayors of Horsham, Latrobe, Bass Coast and Northern Grampians.
The first meeting of the new panel will be next Wednesday.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-mayoral-advisory-panel-named-2022
Latrobe mayor Kellie O’Callaghan has welcomed the announcement of further government support for the Latrobe Valley Authority.
An injection of $7.5M will help the authority develop a new transition plan to support the region through the planned closure of Yallourn power station.
Mayor O’Callaghan said the council was also pleased that the funding would allow the Ladder Step Up program to continue delivering tangible outcomes for young people and their long-term health and wellbeing.
Colac Otway Council will sell a former preschool site to benefit childcare and affordable housing.
The site in Apollo Bay will be offered for purchase to Homes Victoria for affordable housing for key and essential workers. Any profit from the sale will be put towards funding a new kindergarten and early years hub in Apollo Bay.
Deputy Mayor Graham Costin said the community has put a huge amount into this property, and it’s only reasonable that they get some return back for their kids.
Now some of the latest advocacy outcomes and council-related news from the federal election campaign:
Glen Eira Council has achieved funding commitments from two parties for its $52M redevelopment of the Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool. The Liberal Party and the Greens have each committed $10M towards the project, pending the outcome of next month’s federal election. The new facility will be a 6 Star Green Star development, and feature indoor and learn to swim pools, and a 50 metre outdoor pool.
Liberal Party announces funding commitment | Glen Eira City Council
The Greens promise $10 million funding contribution for Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool
Brimbank Council has adopted a new Transport Priorities Paper to support its advocacy for state and federal government investment. The paper is an update of an earlier version developed in 2013 which the Council says was successful in achieving a number of transport improvement outcomes. The focus areas of the new papers include Melbourne Airport Rail, Sunshine Super Hub, upgrades to the Calder Freeway, future and upgraded train stations, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/mr/transport-priorities-revealed
The City of Ballarat has launched a new campaign seeking support from state and federal governments for six transformational projects for the region.
The campaign brings together nine key organisations representing the health, education, tourism, commercial, local government and advocacy sectors. The six projects would inject $372M into the local economy, and include a mental health facility, further development of Sovereign Hill and a circular economy precinct.
And a former Council officer has been endorsed as the Labor Party candidate for the state seat of Pascoe Vale. Anthony Cianflone has worked in senior advocacy roles at Brimbank and Darebin councils, and has extensive experience as a ministerial advisor.
The State Government has announced a $5M plan to plant a further 180,000 trees in Melbourne’s west – adding to the 30,000 planted since last spring.
The mature and young trees will be planted outside schools, along trails, in parks, and on residential streets in the Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham council areas.
The plantings will contribute to increased tree canopy in the west which has the lowest cover in metropolitan Melbourne at just 5.5% of urban tree cover. That compares to 17.4% in the inner south east and 25.9% in the east.
The success of the Stawell Gift over the Easter weekend has been celebrated on a number of local government fronts.
Northern Grampians Shire Council and its partners have been congratulated on staging a successful and well attended event, with equal prize money offered for both men’s and women’s events.
The other strong local government link was in the winner of the men’s event – Harrison Kerr. Harrison is an engineering cadet at the City of Manningham. He recorded the fastest winning time in 27 years. His success has been met with much excitement from his local government colleagues, including a congratulatory message on LinkedIn from Manningham CEO Andrew Day.
Now for the Victorian Briefs:
- The Easter Paddle charity event by the mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire has been hailed a great success. Cr Anthony Marsh paddled around Port Phillip and Westernport Bays over the Easter long weekend, and raised $35K for local SES groups and the Coast Guard.
- The countback result for the extraordinary vacancy on Mildura Rural City Council has been confirmed. Troy Bailey is the new councillor, replacing former deputy mayor Cyndi Power. He is expected to be sworn-in at the next Council meeting on Thursday 28th April.
https://www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Latest-News/Troy-Bailey-successful-in-VEC-countback-to-fill-Councillor-vacancy
- Gannawarra Shire Council will receive $500K from the state government to support planning for a rail trail between Kerang and Koondrook. Shire CEO Tom O’Reilly said the trail will link with the Murray River Adventure Trail, and connect the Murray River to the Ramsar-listed Kerang Lakes. The council will use the planning work to support bids for state and federal government funding for construction of the project.
Kerang to Koondrook Rail Trail planning boost – Gannawarra Shire Council
Still to come – more election campaign advocacy wins for councils;
CEO appointment news from WA and NSW;
Qantas delivers big news for Albury;
And the merger of two English councils called off due to irreconcilable differences.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 24th April 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Now here’s the VLGA CEO’s Kathryn Arndt with a preview of an upcoming event for councillors:
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
Bega Valley Shire Council has appointed its Acting CEO to the role on a new five year contract.
Anthony McMahon has been the council’s Director of Assets and Operations since April 2018, and was previously General Manager of Boorowa and Hilltops Councils.
The Council changed the title from General Manager to CEO after the departure of long term GM Leanne Barnes last year. Mr McMahon has acted in the role for nine and half months.
Anthony McMahon appointed Chief Executive Officer – Bega Valley Shire Council
Nils Hay has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of WA’s Mid West Development Commission.
My Hay has been CEO of the Shire of Mingenew since 2018, and was previously the deputy CEO of Burke Shire Council in Queensland.
He will finish up at Mingenew in mid June, and a recruitment process for his replacement will begin soon.
https://mingenew.wa.gov.au/shire-news/resignation-of-ceo/
Albury City Council has welcomed an announcement by Qantas of a new seasonal Adelaide to Albury route, along with an increase in the number of return flights between Albury and Brisbane.
Deputy Mayor Steve Bowen said the announcements are a huge win for the community and local businesses, with Albury now connected to four capital cities.
The new Adelaide flights will operate twice weekly between early July and late September.; and the number of Albury/Brisbane flights will increase from seven to ten per week.
The WA government has published a report outlining how the City of Cockburn could produce green hydrogen power to replace fossil fuels in its heavy waste truck fleet.
The $325k report was jointly funded by the city and the state’s renewable hydrogen fund.
The city is aiming to be carbon neutral and transition to a zero-emissions vehicle fleet, and will now look at ways to lower the cost of hydrogen to support the project.
The study recommends a staged plant expansion which would leverage potential future cost reductions of hydrogen technologies.
The Federal Labor party has matched a Coalition commitment of $107.5M towards the Cairns Water Security project.
Acting Mayor of Cairns Regional Council, Terry James, welcomed the bipartisan support for the critical project, but expressed disappointment that a matching commitment from the state was still outstanding.
He called on the state to make the required financial commitment as a matter of urgency.
Council welcomes Labor support for water security: State commitment needed
Federal Labor has made an election commitment to fund a new outdoor pool in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The ABC reports that the $8M pool would be the first outdoor facility in the city since 1999. The council is yet to conduct consultation on the pool’s location.
Labor pitches $8 million outdoor pool to win over landlocked locals – ABC News
To the National Briefs now:
A WA councillor on a 5 month leave of absence has resigned. Cockburn Cr Chamonix Terblanche was serving a second term on the council, which was due to expire in October next year. An Extraordinary Election is likely to be held within the next few months.
A $62M federal government commitment to upgrade rural and remote Queensland roads has been welcomed by LGAQ. The peak body said eleven councils would benefit from the funding on critical links across the state.
Remote roads upgrade program welcomed – LGAQ
A new NSW state body has been set up to oversee the rebuilding flood- affected communities in the Kyogle, Weed, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Byron Bay and Ballina council areas. The new body will have the power to compulsorily acquire or subdivide land, and fast track building and planning proposals.
New coordination body to lead Northern Rivers communities flood rebuilding effort | NSW Government
Now for the International Spotlight, with stories from NZ, England and California:
In New Zealand, the Local Government Minister has reappointed four commissioners to Tauranga City Council.
Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the reappointment was about ensuring continuity and stability before a return to locally elected representatives in July 2024.
The commission was appointed after an independent review in 2020 identified significant governance problems at the Council. The commissioners have been in place since February 2021.
Commissioners reappointed to Tauranga City Council | Beehive.govt.nz
In England, a planned merger of two councils has been called off, due to irreconcilable differences in the approaches and ambitions of the two councils.
The two Warwickshire councils have issued a joint statement which describes a breakdown in communication which led to the leader of one of the councils, Stratford-on-Avon District, writing to the government requesting a delay in the process.
The letter was sent without the agreement of the leader of the other council, Andrew Day of Warwick District, triggering an end to the merger process.
The two councils formally agreed to merge last December, with a plan to have a new joint Council by May 2024. Both councils are expected to consider a formal recommendation to cancel the process next month.
Future of the proposed merger between Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils
In California, the community is being asked to help the City of Pasadena with its search for its next City Manager – the equivalent as Australian Council CEO or GM.
PasadenaNow.com reports that recruitment for the position opened last month, and a community survey has been launched seeking views on the characteristics, experience and background they would like to see in the next city manager.
The city has a $900M budget, 2,000 staff, and pays the city manager in the order of $300K USD.
City Asking Public to Complete Survey on Next City Manager – Pasadena Now
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.