The Victorian local government sector is in mourning after the death of a serving mayor.
That leads this edition of the Local Government News Roundup.
Also today: a former mayor sentenced after an IBAC investigation; the outgoing Geelong CEO pulls no punches in a speech to the development industry; the mayor of Redland sentenced and subject of a conduct investigation; and a London council found liable for 5 deaths in the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
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Transcript (with links where available):
Sad news in the sector this week with the death of Cr Tony Driscoll, Mayor of Northern Grampians Shire Council.
Cr Driscoll passed away on the weekend after a short illness.
He was serving his third term as mayor, having previously held the role in 2017 and 2018. He was first elected to the council in 2012.
Northern Grampians Shire Council has postponed all scheduled meetings until Monday 15th August to allow for a period of mourning, and flags at the Stawell and St Arnaud Town Halls are being flown at half mast.
In a statement, the council said Cr Driscoll will be remembered for his dedication and integrity, and the many achievements for the shire for which he played an integral role.
The City of Ballarat expressed deep sadness at Cr Driscoll’s passing, with Mayor Daniel Moloney commending passion for serving his community.
On LinkedIn, former Northern Grampians CEO Michael Bailey described Cr Driscoll as a boss, a leader, a mentor and most of all a mate who provided unquestionable support.
https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news/northern-grampians-shire-council-mayor-cr-tony-driscoll https://www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Home/Tabs/Latest-News/Condolence-Message-to-our-Mayor-Cr-Tony-Driscoll
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michael-bailey-gaicd-434a5a36_condolence-message-for-our-mayor-cr-tony-activity-6959738637479546880-PMvt
The former Mayor of Melton Council Justin Mammarella and his father Umberto Mammarella, a former electorate officer, have been sentenced on charges including conspiring to attempt to pervert the course of justice and perjury, following the IBAC investigation Operation Naxos.
The investigation looked at allegations of misuse of taxpayer funded resources within the electorate office of former Labor MP Khalil Eideh, relating to Justin Mammarella’s preselection campaign for the 2018 state election.
Both were sentenced to a three year Community Correction Order. In addition, Justin Mammarella will be required to do 375 hours of community work, and Umberto Mammarella was fined $12,000.
Greater Geelong City Council
Outgoing Greater Geelong CEO Martin Cutter has given a speech to a development industry event, with some of his comments making news in the city.
Mr Cutter has spoken out on ‘festering sores’ and an addiction to cars in the Geelong CBD that he says needs to be resolved to prepare the city for its continuing population boom.
He said the city needed to concentrate on active transport and attract investment in paid, private parking.
The comments have made headlines in the Geelong Advertiser, and come just weeks after Mr Cutter announced he is stepping down from the CEO position in September.
Still in Geelong, and there are concerns for the future of a local charity serving people in need, as the Council moves to sell the site it has operated from for more than 20 years.
The Geelong Advertiser reports on the efforts of two councillors to push for a solution to ensure The Outpost, the city’s only non-referral after hours service for meals, clothing and personal hygiene items can remain in operation.
Outpost Geelong: Councillors probe leads to find charity a new home
Corangamite Shire Council has had to rethink its approach to its Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project, after not receiving any suitable submissions to its second attempt to tender the works.
Councillor Jamie Vogels said just one tender was received, with elements at such a high cost it didn’t represent best value for money.
While the council explores other options, several small components of the works package will proceed, overseen by a recently appointed project manager.
Briefs:
The VEC has set the date for a by-election in Buloke Shire, after the recent resignation of David Vis. The election will be held by post, with Saturday 15th October prescribed as election day.
Upper house Liberal MP, and former Yarra Ranges Shire Councillor, Cathrine Burnett-Wake has lost the no. 1 spot on the ticket for the Eastern Victorian seat, after a ballot that saw prime position go to Renee Heath.
https://twitter.com/paulsakkal/status/1553567410002993157?s=21&t=MoE94Htmyrl_Ax3XZhNjHw
Brimbank City Council
A new briefing paper from University of Melbourne has highlighted the need for urgent upgrades for bus services in Melbourne’s west.
Brimbank Mayor Jasmine Nguyen has highlighted the new research in a further call to the state government to address a gap in services in the region, and inefficiencies that are not providing good value for money.
https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/mr/Call-for-better-bus-services
The 2022 Mainstreet Australia conference is on in Victoria this week, with a metropolitan program on Tuesday at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, before heading to Castlemaine in central Victoria for a regional event on Thursday.
The theme of the conference is ‘From Adversity to Opportunity’, highlighting ideas to ensure the continued survival of main streets and the small businesses that populate them.
https://mainstreetaustralia.org.au/conference/
More Council stories making the news this week include:
Ballarat City Council has approved a $2M contract variation for a community hub and pavilion project at the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve, after large quantities of industrial waste and asbestos were found on the site.
The Ballarat Courier reports that the contamination was not detected by two council commissioned site assessments carried out before the project was tendered.
The variation takes the overall cost of the wider renewal project at the reserve to more than $10M.
(Ballarat Courier, 1-8-22)
Melbourne City Council is expected to approve a development for the last remaining waterfront block at New Quay in Docklands.
The Herald Sun reports that the development includes a 24-storey building and a new park on the site. Council officers have recommended support for the plans, which would then need approval by the Planning Minister.
(Herald Sun, 1-8-22, p.13)
Coming up:
The mayor of Redland sentenced and subject of a conduct investigation; a Sydney councillor victim of an alleged assault; and a London council found liable for 5 deaths in the Grenfell Tower disaster.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 3rd August 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
This Friday 5th August, don’t miss the highly anticipated online session Better Disagreements, Better Teams, with Melissa Scadden of Justitia Lawyers and Consultants.
Melissa 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.
This special online session is open to elected representatives and council staff from around Australia. Register now on the events page at www.vlga.org.au.
Heading the National Roundup today:
The mayor of Redland City Council, Karen Williams, pleaded guilty to drink driving in Cleveland Magistrates Court this week.
She was charged with being more than three times over the legal blood-alcohol limit on June 23rd, when she crashed a Council owned vehicle into a tree, after crossing four lanes of traffic.
Cr Williams was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and disqualified from driving for six months. No conviction was recorded.
The ABC reported that she has resisted calls for her resignation, and said outside the court that she would be returning to work later this week.
Since her court appearance, new information has emerged confirming that Queensland’s Office of the Independent Assessor has investigated the Redland Mayor for misconduct, and may be preparing to refer the matter to a Councillor Conduct Tribunal.
Redland Mayor Karen Williams investigated for misconduct over drink driving offence – ABC News
The outcome of the re-run election in Shellharbour Ward A looks likely to be the same as last December’s election that was later voided by the Supreme Court.
The Illawarra Mercury reports that independent Kellie Marsh has a lead that is unlikely to be overtaken, and preferences will likely ensure Labor’s Maree Edwards gains the other position.
Counting of postal votes began on Monday, and preferences will be distributed on 15th August before a result is declared the following day.
Second Shellharbour council vote could bring same result | Illawarra Mercury
The Macleay Argus is following the vote count in Kempsey Shire, and reports that a four member independent group led by Dean Saul is in the lead.
There are eight positions to be filled, with six former councillors among 21 candidates.
(Macleay Argus, 2-8-22)
And for the Singleton Council by-election, we look to the Hunter Valley and North Coast Town and Country for some insights on the count – it suggests that most of the candidates elected in December should be returned, with one possible exception.
There are 13 candidates vying for 9 positions, with Danny Thompson, Mel McLachlan and Tony Jarrett leading after first preference votes.
(Hunter Valley and North Coast Town and Country, 2-8-22)
Blacktown City Council
The Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Tony Bleasdale, has reacted strongly after a councillor was allegedly assaulted on the way to work on Monday morning.
Cr Bob Fitzgerald is a long service member of NSW Police, serving currently as Chief Inspector of Blacktown Local Area Command.
Mayor Bleasdale said the alleged attack was absolutely despicable, and denounced violence in all its forms.
Three teenagers have been charged over the incident.
The Mayor of Sunshine Coast has spoken out about being excluded from the organising committee for the Brisbane Olympic Games.
Mark Jamiseon and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate were expected to be part of the committee, before the state government apparently backtracked on a previous agreement, according to a report this week in Courier Mail.
Mayor Jamieson said the fact that local government was unilaterally pushed down the order is a great disappointment, and accused the Sports Minister and others of seeking to limit and minimise the involvement of local government to boost their own profiles.
(Courier Mail, 1-8-22, p.7)
The national briefs:
WA’s City of Nedlands has appointed Bill Parker as its CEO for a three year term, effective last week.
Mr Parker, an 18 year local government veteran, has been the council’s interim CEO since July last year.
https://www.nedlands.wa.gov.au/news/city-of-nedlands-announces-ceo-appointment/190
Sydney’s Bayside Council is part of a test of the use of old tyres in a new asphalt mix on a local road.
The project is investigating the use of crumbed rubber from end of life tyres in a modified road asphalt mix. The trial is being coordinated by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.
Paving the way with rubber | Bayside Council
Wollondilly Council has awarded the tender for the construction of a new 375 seat Performing Arts Centre in the Wollondilly Cultural Precinct.
The project is being funded from developer contributions and grants. Work is expected to start by the end of this year.
More Councils in the news this week:
The Courier Mail has a report on a rubbish dump dilemma at Queensland’s Gympie Regional Council.
The council’s current tip has up to 18 months capacity left, and that’s after being significantly reduced due to clean up from multiple flood events.
It has budgeted over $4M this year for an expansion, but that has yet to receive approval from the state regulator.
In the meantime, the council will enter discussions with neighbouring councils about potential longer term solutions.
(Courier Mail, 1-8-22, p/14)
And in Hobart, a new policy is being considered to cover the removal and addition of statues in the context of an over-representation of caucasion male figures.
And later this week, a council committee is set for a contentious vote on a proposal to remove a statue of former premier William Crowther.
While that discussion is occurring, the Australian reports that a historian is making the case for a new statue of Tasmania’s first governor David Collins.
(The Australian, 2-8-22, p.3)
And that brings us to the International Spotlight:
A High Court judge has ruled that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is liable for the deaths of five of the 72 residents killed in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
According to a BBC report, the Council admitted that it had failed to ensure the building, which it owned, was not defective. It also admitted liability for the effects of the fire on another four people.
The council is not however admitting that its actions caused the fire to spread.
Reports are now being prepared for the second phase of a public inquiry into the disaster.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-62354354
A major milestone this week with the UK government announcing a devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire councils worth £750M.
The leaders of both councils have signed a deal that will need to be agreed by the respective councils, and will see an elected mayor for the region, leading a new mayoral combined authority.
Public consultation on the deal is expected to occur between October and December this year, following which the Full Council will consider giving it final approval.
Yorkshire Day milestone as Proposed Devolution Deal Announced
And in Canada, a newly appointed councillor at Richmond Hill Council, near Toronto has succeeded in having a motion to affirm the compassion charter supported by her colleagues.
The Toronto Star says Raika Sheppard put forward the motion after witnessing the behaviour of elected officials toward one another at council meetings.
The motion initially met with resistance but eventually passed. It is now being suggested that a similar measure will find its way onto the agendas of other Ontario councils where relationships have reportedly been strained over the COVID period, leading to ongoing displays of bad behaviour.
Canadian author and local governance advocate Ian McCormack describes the as a pan-Canadian problem, where a few local elected officials feel emboldened to behave poorly, contributing to toxic sand in the gears of good local government.
And on that wise note, that wraps up another Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular episodes highlighting local government initiatives, plus the weekly news review on the Governance Update.
I’ll be back with more news from around the world of local government on Sunday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.