Issue 113, LG News Roundup, 13th April 2022
Coming up today on the Local Government News Roundup: Councils react to the news that the Commonwealth Games are coming to Regional Victoria; *Exclusive* – the regional Mayor set to run for State Parliament; a countback result to report and another one scheduled; one Council reveals the extent of damage to its road network from recent rain and flooding; and a Council CEO and a former councillor speak out on the culture that has led to a monitor to be appointed to their councils.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, your national broadcaster for 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.
Regional Victoria has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The games will be staged across multiple regions, starting with an Opening Ceremony at the MCG, and with Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland to act as regional hubs. Shepparton will also host some sporting and cultural events.
The event is estimated to provide a $3B economic contribution to the state, and create significant employment opportunities before, during and after the games.
Councils around the state have been quick to hail the announcement as significant, with statements from LaTrobe City, Ballarat, Geelong, Bass Coast and others highlighting the economic boost that is likely to flow to the regions.
Latrobe Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan said funding for projects like the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium has set the stage for this international sporting event. Gippsland will host Rugby 7s, T20 Cricket, badminton and road cycling.
At Bass Coast, Mayor Michael Whelan believes his shire is in a unique position to showcase the natural beauty of the coast with a sport such as road cycling, and he said the shire will be fighting for its fair share of the infrastructure funding and business opportunities that will come with the games.
In Ballarat, the focus will be on athletics, boxing and T20 cricket, and Mayor Daniel Moloney said it was a once in a generation opportunity to build legacy infrastructure for sporting, transport and housing.
At Geelong, Deputy Mayor Trent Sullivan released a statement thanking everyone who got behind the bid which will see seven sporting events come to the city. They will include aquatics, gymnastics, hockey and table tennis.
He said the Eastern Beach waterfront would provide a world-class sporting landscape for triathlon and beach volleyball, and flagged a potential future use of the athlete’s hub for affordable housing.
Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Niemann took to LinkedIn to celebrate the announcement, saying it’s time to get to work to prepare for hosting a range of sports including netball, cycling, T20 cricket, lawn bowls and weightlifting.
Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe told me that the council was disappointed to have missed out on a regional hub, given the lead role it has taken in developing and promoting the concept over the last 5 years.
However, they are really excited to see the regional games model come to life and about the opportunities it will bring to regional Victoria.
Mayor O’Keeffe said Greater Shepparton will be pushing to get its fair share of the games, and is awaiting further detail on the announced sporting and cultural events that will be staged in Shepparton.
Gippsland to host Commonwealth games events | Latrobe City Council
City of Ballarat to play a major role in 2026 Commonwealth Games
Geelong to host Commonwealth Games events
Regional Victoria Hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games
While on the subject of Shepparton, the Roundup can exclusively reveal that Greater Shepparton mayor Kim O’Keeffe will announce her intention to nominate for preselection as a Nationals candidate for the upcoming Victorian state election in November.
Cr O’Keeffe has served on Greater Shepparton City Council for six years, including four as mayor.
She said Shepparton needs strong, compassionate leadership, and someone to stand strong for the community as it recovers from the pandemic.
A countback to fill an extraordinary vacancy on Queenscliffe council has resulted in the election of Isabelle Tolhurst. The countback was scheduled after the resignation and death of former councillor Susan Salter.
6 unsuccessful candidates from the 2020 general election contested the countback. Ms Tolhurst said it was both an honour and a bittersweet opportunity following the passing of Cr Salter.
The mayor of Queenscliffe, Ross Ebbels has congratulated Ms Tolhurst on her election, and thanked the unsuccessful candidates for choosing to stand for election.
Ms Tolhurst will have 48 hours to complete a declaration of qualification before being eligible to be sworn in to the role.
The VEC has scheduled another countback, this time to fill a vacancy at Glen Eira City Council, created by the resignation of Cr Neil Pilling.
Cr Pilling resigned earlier this month to focus on health and family. He had been a councillor since 2008, and served two terms as Mayor in 2014 and 2016.
A countback procedure to fill his position in Rosstown Ward will take place at 11 am on Wednesday 27 April.
Media Statement Cr Neil Pilling has tendered his resignation | Glen Eira City Council
Plans for three new parks in the west and south east of Melbourne have been released.
Community feedback is being sought on the proposed parks for Wyndham Vale, in the city of Wyndham; Deanside, in the City of Melton; and Clyde in the City of Casey – some of greater Melbourne’s fastest growing areas.
The plans for the three new parks have been developed using ideas gathered through community consultation last year, and represent more than 700 hectares of green open space.
Parks Victoria is working with local councils and other stakeholders on the projects, and community feedback is invited by 15th May through the Engage Victoria website.
Creating new parks for Melbourne’s growing communities
Victorians who are leading the way to a sustainable future are set to be recognised as part of the 20th year of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
The awards are run by Sustainability Victoria, in partnership with the Banksia Foundation and Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria. There are six categories recognising community champions, industry leaders and two Premier’s Recognition Awards.
Councils have performed well in the awards previously, with Cardinia Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire and Latrobe City Council among those recognised last year.
Entries for this year’s awards close on 1st May – more details in the show notes.
Premier’s Sustainability Awards
Port Phillip City Council will spend up to $150,000 to buy a permanent mobile CCTV trailer, following the success of a trial.
The use of a rented trailer has driven down hooning complaints, and it will continue to be used until a permanent vehicle arrives.
The Council has used the trial to address community concerns about hoon driving behaviour from Elwood to Port Melbourne.
Mayor Marcus Pearl said police had welcomed the trailer as a useful tool for spotting and deterring bad behaviour.
The council is also considering a hoon by-law to assist police with addressing issues on the foreshore.
Keeping an eye out for hoons – City of Port Phillip
Now for the Victorian Briefs:
The City of Ballarat has finalised a funding agreement with Western United Football Club and the state government. In addition to A-league matches being played in Ballarat, the city will host the inaugural Western United Cup, a tournament for junior girls to be held at the end of September.
Western United partnership expands Ballarat’s sporting leadership
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has welcomed a Federal Labor Party election commitment to Stage 2 of the shire’s regional sports precinct project. The funding would supplement $15M in state government funding, and $11M from the council. While stage one works commence next month, a planned second stage remains contingent on further funding of $21M from state and federal governments.
Federal Labor Party pledges $15 million for new sports precinct – Macedon Ranges Shire Council
And the City of Whittlesea has opened its first repair cafe, where residents can bring broken household items to be fixed rather than being thrown out.
Skilled volunteers will run the service at the Mernda Community House. Administrator Peita Duncan said the idea is part of a broader plan to tackle the ‘throw-away culture’.
Repair café ready to give broken items a new life – Whittlesea Council
On our last episode, I reported that Local Government Minister Shaun Leane is set to appoint monitors to three more Victorian Councils. Among those councils are Moira Shire and Wodonga City.
(Snippets of interview with Clare Keenan and Kat Bennett)
Still to come –
Shoalhaven Council reveals the extent of damage to its road network from recent rain and flooding; a new local government minister in Tasmania; Northern Beaches taking its concern about employment zones reform to the government; and a new cat local law comes into effect today at a WA council.
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Now for some stories making news around Australia in local government this week:
Shoalhaven City Council has revealed the extent of damage to its road network after the unprecedented recent rainfall.
Council teams have logged 2,600 sites of damage across more than 250 kilometres of road – more than the civil infrastructure damage experienced in the 2019/20 Currowan bushfire.
A major cause of the road damage has been landslips – over 150 of them, including 48 categorised as major.
Add in four damaged or destroyed bridges and eight causeways washed away, and the damage bill is at $35M and climbing.
Mayor Amanda Findley has called for patience from motorists while council teams prioritise safety works, and seek disaster relief funding from the state and federal governments.
Extensive Damage to Shoalhaven Road Network
Tasmania has a new Local Government Minister this week. New Premier Jeremy Rockcliff announced his cabinet on Monday, with Nic Street taking on the local government portfolio, in addition to responsibilities for sport and recreation, hospitality and events, and community services and development.
Former local government minister Roger Jaensch now takes on education, children and youth, and skills, training and workforce growth.
Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson has infrastructure and transport, and planning.
Following the announcement of the cabinet, the Tasmania Shadow Minister for Local Government, Anita Dow, called on the new minister to act to stem the flow of councillors leaving their elected positions – including completing a culture review, and reviews of the code of conduct and the Local Government Act.
Premier of Tasmania – Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry
https://taslabor.com/latest-local-government-minister-must-finally-act/
Northern Beaches council is taking its concerns about employment zones reform to the state government and local members.
The Local Environment Plan reforms have been described by Mayor Michael Regan as a recipe for disaster that could undermine the local character of communities.
He said the changes will reduce the Council’s power to strategically plan for the future and may negatively impact surrounding residential areas.
Mayor Regan said the Department of Planning and Environment had ignored key elements of the council’s submissions, such as the removal of distinction between light and general industry particularly where industrial areas adjoin residential developments.
The President of LGNSW, Darriea Turley, has used her latest President’s Message to highlight the lack of disaster mitigation funding the federal budget – especially in light of the natural disasters experienced in the last five years.
Cr Turley has encouraged councils in the state to support ALGA’s national ‘Don’t Leave Communities Behind’ campaign in the lead up to the federal election.
Among the campaign requests is $200 million a year in disaster mitigation funding, and a similar amount for a new Local Government Climate Response Partnership Fund.
In Western Australia, a new Cat Local Law has come into effect today in the City of Kwinana.
The new law limits the number of cats allowed on a premises without a permit or exemption to two, and all cats must be under effective control in public. This means they must either be held, securely tethered or in a cage – or other means to prevent escape.
Mayor Carol Adams says an education first approach would be used in the coming months to help cat owners meet the new obligations, before moving to warnings and enforcement if necessary in the future.
Cat Local Law Introduced in Kwinana
To the National Briefs now:
Wagga Wagga Council will review its recruitment processes to see how it can attract more veterans to apply for work at the Council. It has also encouraged the Riverina and Canberra Joint Organisations of Councils to consider doing the same.
Summary of Council’s 11 April 2022 Ordinary Meeting
Regional NSW councils are invited to apply for a share of a $25M state fund to deliver local events. The Reconnecting Regional NSW program is promoting social and economic recovery of regional communities and providing a revenue boost to local businesses. Applications close on the 24th June.
Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program
And the General Manager of Bland Shire in NSW is stepping down after 12 years in the role, and 51 years in local government. The ABC reports that Ray Smith is retiring having worked for at least seven different councils in that time, including holding the GM role at Grafton, Cobar and Bland for a combined total of 29 years.
Now for the International Spotlight, with stories from
In Wales, the BBC reports that councillors are resigning due to abuse they have faced online and from colleagues.
With council elections due on 5th May, there are fears that potential candidates are choosing not to stand for fear of being subjected to personal attacks.
A high number of council seats in Wales will be uncontested – up to 40 percent of some wards will be determined without an election due to receiving only one candidate nomination.
The rise in the number of uncontested seats has been described as a ‘democratic deficit’ due in part to social media abuse.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-61068256
In England, the government is looking at scrapping waste disposal fees at council recycling centres in a bid to combat illegal dumping, also known as fly-tipping.
The cost to councils of dealing with illegal dumping in England is estimated at £400M last year alone.
The government is seeking community views on allowing householders to deposit DIY waste for free, and the impacts of booking systems at household waste recycling centres.
The UK Local Government Association says Councils are best placed to decide what works best for their areas, and that money raised from disposal charges goes back into providing disposal facilities.
It says its own polling shows that 8 out of 10 people are happy with the way their local council collects their rubbish.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61061736
Household waste recycling centres: DIY waste disposal charges and booking systems – GOV.UK
LGA responds to Government waste charge consultation
And check a fascinating article from the BBC’s Future website about a small town in France that is testing a new form of street lighting using living organisms.
In Rambouillet, about 50 kms out of Paris, cylindrical saltwater-filled tubes containing bioluminescent marine bacteria are being used to light walkways, using virtually no energy at all.
A start up company called Glowee is running the trial, with the goal to change the way cities use light by providing an energy-efficient, sustainable alternative.
They plan to produce street furniture with in-built lighting next. You can read more about this fascinating initiative from the link in the show notes.
The French town where the lighting is alive – BBC Future
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.