New legislation announced to tighten councils’ financial hardship arrangements…
That story heads the Roundup for the 8th June 2022.
Also today: the Hanging Rock East Paddock sale to proceed after an unsuccessful rescission motion; a regional mayor steps down to clear the way for a run at State parliament; a Queensland boundary battle gets more acrimonious; a Council rejects a pay rise; and the councillor who threatened to “tear the place apart” in a heated council meeting.
And lots more local government news, on the Roundup – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
Transcript with links:
New legislation announced to tighten councils’ financial hardship arrangements…
That story heads the Roundup for the 8th June 2022.
Welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. I’m Chris Eddy.
Also today: the Hanging Rock East Paddock sale to proceed after an unsuccessful rescission motion; a regional mayor steps down to clear the way for a run at State parliament; a Queensland boundary battle gets more acrimonious; a Council rejects a pay rise; and the councillor who threatened to “tear the place apart” in a heated council meeting.
And lots more local government news, on the Roundup – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for all things local government.
The Victorian state government has this morning announced new legislation that will require councils to provide fairer financial hardship policies.
The government is responding to recommendations from an Ombudsman investigation released in May last year which called for stronger laws, capped interest rates and improved oversight of debt collectors to protect ratepayers in financial hardship. It also follows a review of the local government rating system released in December 2020.
The new legislation will require early engagement by councils with ratepayers on financial hardship matters, and will make the use of debt collectors or legal action a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.
The Minister, in consultation with the Essential Service Commission, will be able to set a maximum amount of interest levied on unpaid rates and charges
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/giving-ratepayers-fair-go
Ombudsman urges greater protection for ratepayers in financial hardship
A process to sell the East Paddock at Hanging Rock to the Victorian Government will continue, after a rescission motion was unsuccessful this week.
The motion to rescind was submitted after the Macedon ranges shire Council recently voted to negotiate a sale which would bring the entire Hanging Rock precinct under single ownership.
A list of conditions will guide the sale process, related to factors including valuations, retention of public open space in perpetuity, and current practice limiting the staging of concerts, events and markets.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson said community consultation has been a vital part of making the decisions about the site, and the council will work closely with the state government to ensure the site is protected and remains as open space.
At Greater Shepparton City Council, Cr Kim O’Keeffe has resigned the mayoralty, effective Monday night, and a special meeting has been scheduled to elect a new mayor later this week.
Cr O’Keeffe’s resignation from the mayoral position was expected, following her recent announcement that she will be a Nationals candidate in the seat of Shepparton for the State election due in November of this year.
Cr O’Keeffe was in her fourth term as mayor, having previously served in the role in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
An additional council meeting will be held on Thursday evening to elect a new mayor, and Cr O’Keeffe is expected to apply for a leave of absence from the council at that meeting.
Deputy Mayor Cr Anthony Brophy remains in the deputy position, unless he is elected Mayor, in which case an election for deputy mayor will be held at a future meeting.
Cr O’Keeffe resigns position as Mayor – Greater Shepparton City Council
Mitchell Shire Council is taking its No Quarry Campaign to the steps of Parliament, in support of community members from Beveridge and Wallan.
A petition with more than 1100 signatures will be handed to the State Government at a rally planned for the steps of Parliament this morning.
The Council has twice rejected a planning permit for a proposed quarry at Wallan over concerns about extra truck traffic, dust, noise and health impacts for residents, and fears it will stifle the delivery of essential infrastructure in the years to come.
A planning panel has recommended the quarry be included in the Beveridge North West Precinct Structure Plan, which is being considered by a Ministerial appointed panel currently. The ultimate decision will be made by the Planning Minister, Richard Wynne.
No Quarry campaign heads to parliament | Mitchell Shire Council
Victoria’s first inner-urban community battery has been launched in Yarra City Council.
The battery was unveiled by Minister Lily D’Ambrosio along with council and community representatives on the weekend in Fitzroy North.
Delivered by the Yarra Energy Foundation, the battery enables consumers to store and redistribute excess solar energy from local roofs and is expected to lower energy prices for the community, including renters, apartment dwellers and small businesses.
The project has been partly funded by the state government’s Neighbourhood battery initiative.
While in Yarra, there are reports that an offer to buy the city’s controversial banana sculpture is being resisted by the council.
The Age reports that HBO comedian and host John Oliver has offered to purchase the Fallen Fruit sculpture for $10, and to make a $10,000 donation to a local food bank.
The sculpture was subject to vandalism attempts after its installation late last year and placed in storage shortly after.
Yarra Mayor Sophie Wade told the Age that while excited to receive the offer, the council wasn’t ready to part with it; and that it was recuperating after a traumatic decapitation attempt.
$10 to save controversial banana statue’s skin? Not a-peeling, says council
In today’s Victorian briefs:
Rachel Ollivier has been confirmed as Interim CEO at Darebin, after a period of acting in the role. She will now stay in the position while a recruitment and selection process is undertaken to determine a permanent appointment. The appointment was made at a special meeting of the Council yesterday.
A crackdown on illegal dumping in Greater Geelong has led to six recent infringements totalling more than $2,000 for dumping outside a Salvation Army opportunity shop.
The council is using a CCTV network of nearly 100 cameras to identify offenders and monitor hot spots, and reminding residents that they can access two hard waste collections per year at no cost.
https://geelongaustralia.com.au/locallaws/news/item/8da488fa4b4e0fc.aspx
The City of Melbourne will double the number of dog off leash areas in the city, with eight new designated areas totalling 3.5 hectares identified.
The additional areas will help to service an increasing pet population, with dog registrations in the city inceasing more than 20 per cent in the past two years. City of Melbourne unleashes plans for eight new dog parks
Still to come – a councillor threatens to “tear the place apart” in a heated council meeting; a Queensland boundary battle gets more acrimonious; the Mayor of Gold Coast wants to explore cryptocurrency rates payments; and South Burnett councillors reject a pay rise.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 8th June 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
A Tasmanian councillor has threatened to “go off his head” and “tear this place apart” during a council meeting that went off the rails in Kingborough this week.
The Monday night meeting of Kingborough Council, south of Hobart, was halted after Cr David Grace refused requests from the Deputy Mayor to stop interjecting during a discussion about rate relief for a developer.
According to a report from the ABC, Deputy Mayor Cr Jo Westwood told Cr Grace to leave the chamber when things became very heated, at which point he challenged her to call the police.
After a seven minute delay during which it would seem a truce was negotiated, the meeting resumed with Cr Grace apologising for being ‘very passionate’, and the Cr Westwood apologising for being unprofessional.
Cr Grace has previously been ordered to undertake anger management training, and failed to show up at a council meeting at which he was required to give a public apology.
Ahead of the release of its latest budget, the Mayor of Gold Coast has announced a move to encourage innovation and joint ventures, and a possible move towards accepting cryptocurrency for rate payments.
Mayor Tom Tate has said a chief investment officer will be hired from the private sector to explore innovative options, with a rate increase of around 4 per cent expected to be announced shortly.
The ABC reports that the council’s budget will be released on 14th June, with the highest rate increase in 10 years anticipated.
The push for a boundary change at Rockhampton and Livingstone councils in Queensland has taken a new twist this week, with concerns that the local government minister is reconsidering a public vote on the matter.
Rockhampton Council says it has received a letter from the minister seeking its position on the change process given there was no agreement on the issue between the affected councils.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said the council has written to the government stating its unwavering support for a public vote to be held on the transfer of the northern suburbs from the Livingstone to Rockhampton council areas.
Meanwhile,the debate is becoming more acrimonious, with a Rockhampton councillor calling on Livingstone Shire to be upfront with ratepayers on the cost of their northern suburbs campaign.
Cr Donna Kirkland says Livingstone has tried to make out they are only spending $10,000 on their campaign, when it is believed that they already spend around $100,000 on submissions to the review.
Livingstone Shire Council called on to come clean on costs
On the Livingstone side of the debate, Mayor Andy Ireland has asked residents if they trust Rockhampton Council to do what they say will do in terms of service, future development, and lifestyle. He has suggested that rural residential lifestyles will be under threat from smaller lot subdivisions designed to optimise revenue if the area comes under the control of Rockhampton Council.
At South Burnett council in Queensland, councillors have refused a 2 per cent pay rise at a time when they were cutting back services to the community.
Southburnett.com.au reports that the council was being asked to consider a recommendation from the Local Government Remuneration Commission of a 2 per cent rise from 1st July.
It’s the first annual review of allowances since a freeze was placed on them during the height of the COVID pandemic.
The council voted unanimously to reject the pay rise.
Councillors Knock Back Pay Rise – southburnett.com.au
Whitsunday Regional Council is expected to vote today on conducting its upcoming mayoral by-election by full postal ballot.
A report to the Council’s June meeting seeks endorsement of the CEO’s request for a postal ballot for the poll, which has been triggered by the Mayor Andrew Willcox’s election to Federal Parliament in the central Queensland seat of Dawson.
Mr Willcox has won the seat for the LNP, and replaces sitting MP George Christenson who had held it since 2010. He has indicated he will resign the mayoralty once the poll is declared, which will then necessitate the election of a new mayor within two months.
The council’s rationale for conducting the election by postal ballot includes voter fatigue, low voter turnout at the last attendance election, the prevalence of COVID and flu cases, cost and timing. If the council supports the request, it will require the support of the Local Government minister.
https://www.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/1218/8-june-2022-ordinary-council-meeting-agenda (p.114)
In today’s National Briefs:
Tasmania’s Waratah-Wynyard Council has reappointed its General Manager Shane Crawford for a further five year term.
Mayor Robby Walsh said he was looking forward to continuing to work with Mr Crawford to deliver improvements and outcomes in future years.
General Manager Appointed for Further 5 Years – Waratah-Wynyard Council
MidCoast Council has established an advisory group to provide advice on the development of an economic development strategy for the region.
The group will comprise Mayor Claire Pontin, and presidents of the MidCoast, Forster Tuncurry, Taree and Gloucesster business chambers, and supports the council’s stated key priority of economic development during its current term.
Council establishes economic development steering committee
Wollongong Councillors have unanimously voted for the council to draft a response to the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Illawarra Mercury reports that the motion from the Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery follows the council’s launch last week of a Reconciliation Action Plan on the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision.
(Illawarra Mercury, 7/6/22)
And Bathurst Regional Council is reportedly on track to find a replacement carrier for REX, which will cease its Bathurst to Sydney service this month. The council has called for expressions of interest from passenger airlines, which are due to be received by this week, with a review to commence immediately.
Deputy Mayor Ben Fry told the Western Advocate that some submissions from interested parties have already been received.
(Western Advocate, 1/6/22)
Wollondilly Council is investigating reports of domestic dog attacks on livestock in the Orangeville and Werombi areas.
Council rangers are carrying out patrols and will impound any dogs found to be on someone else’s property or straying.
Mayor Matt Gould said residents should be vigilant with stock on their properties and report any dog attacks to the council.
International Spotlight:
A top aide to the mayor of New York City has criticised city employees who are not showing up to work in the office.
The city’s Chief of Staff Frank Carone has reinforced a mayoral mandate that city employees return to their work sites to help support the economic comeback of the city.
According to politico.com, he said in a speech to a business association that while hybrid schedules have become more common in the private sector, city employees are required to report to work in person for every scheduled workday, and hybride schedules of any kind are not permitted.
Mayoral aide chides city employees over remote work- POLITICO
In Portland, Oregon, the city council has approved an array of alternative housing developments aimed at providing lower cost options and increasing housing density.
Oregonlive.com reports that the revised rules will allow new units to be built on lots originally zoned for one home; more types of housing; and more flexibility on the configuration and size of homes.
The move follows the passing of a state law that effectively ends single-family zoning in the state in Oregon.
And in Canada, the town of Bridgewater in Nova Scotia has changed the name of a street that honoured the founder of Halifax, Edward Cornwallis.
The local mayor told CTV that the move was not meant to rewrite history, but to avoid glorifying or honouring bad people.
In 1749, when Halifax was founded, Mr Cornwallis gave a proclamation that enabled a bounty to be paid to anyone who killed a Mi’kmaq person, in a bid to drive the First Nations people off the mainland.
The new name for the street is Crescent Street, and the old street sign will be placed in a museum along with information about its history.
Bridgewater changes name of Cornwallis Street, citing treatment of Indigenous people
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 Sunday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.