On the 7th August edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
It’s been a week of Councillor and CEO news in Victoria;
The 2026 Commonwealth Games at the centre of advocacy activities around the state;
There’s a distinct awards flavour to the news this week, with winners in NSW, finalists in Victoria, and a call to vote for the national local government awards;
Redland Councillors still making news;
And a special guest appearance from the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire, Cr Laura Binks.
Listen now on your preferred podcast app: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1726495/share
Transcript (with links, where available)
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup for the 7th August. I’m Chris Eddy.
In today’s program:
It’s been a week of Councillor and CEO news in Victoria – I’ll have the details in a moment;
The 2026 Commonwealth Games at the centre of advocacy activities around the state;
There’s a distinct awards flavour to the news this week, with winners in NSW, finalists in Victoria, and a call to vote for the national local government awards;
Redland Councillors still making news;
And my special guest later in the program is the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire, Cr Laura Binks.
All that and so much more ahead on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Councillor and CEO developments are leading this edition, starting with the former….
A councillor at Horsham Rural City Council resigned on Friday afternoon, with immediate effect.
Di Bell posted a statement to her Facebook page saying her resignation was, quote, “the final straw in a challenging journey.”
It’s the latest development in a recent string of issues surrounding the council, which recently requested and was granted a municipal monitor by the Local Government Minister.
Ms Bell is the subject of a recent referral by the Council to the Local Government Inspectorate over an alleged conflict of interest, which according to the ABC remains under consideration by the inspectorate.
The Council has also been targeted by union allegations of bullying of staff and a toxic workplace culture.
Ms Bell told the ABC the environment for councillors in Victoria needed to change, and that it was affecting her health and family, leading to her decision to resign.
As Horsham is an unsubdivided municipality, the resignation will trigger a countback on a date to be advised by the Victorian Electoral Commission. Two unsuccessful candidates remain from the October 2020 election to contest the countback, assuming availability and eligibility.
Horsham Rural City councillor Di Bell resigns citing workplace culture concerns – ABC News
Yarra City Councillor Gabrielle de Vietri has announced she is taking a leave of absence while she contests the state election as a candidate for the Greens.
In a statement, Cr de Vietri said while it was not a requirement that she take a leave of absence, it has become common practice, and she is doing so in the interests of community confidence.
She will also forgo her councillor allowance for the term of her period of leave.
Statement from Cr Gabrielle de Vietri | Yarra City Council
Now to the week’s Victorian CEO appointment and resignation news:
Mansfield Shire Council has chosen its next CEO, having announced the appointment of Kirsten Alexander to the position.
Ms Alexander is currently the council’s GM of Infrastructure and Planning, and she will take over from interim CEO Bill Millard in early September on a four year contract.
https://www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/Community/Latest-News/Council-Appoints-Kirsten-Alexander-as-CEO
And at Latrobe City Council, the CEO Steven Piasente has been reappointed for a further five years. Mr Piasente was first appointed to the position three years ago, after five years as General Manager of Infrastructure and Recreation.
Greg Burgoyne, the CEO at Glenelg Shire since 2014, has resigned his position.
Mayor Anita Rank said the council had regrettably accepted Mr Burgoyne’s resignation and signed off on a recruitment process.
Mr Burgoyne is staying on until a replacement commences, which is likely to be early in 2023.
Burgoyne bids farewell | The SE Voice
The most visited page on the Roundup website is our running list of Victorian Council CEO appointments, and that has been updated with these developments. You can find it a www.lgnewsroundup.com
The Regional Cities Victoria advocacy group has launched its State Election platform, highlighting key priorities to build strong regional communities.
Mayors and CEOs from across the state’s 10 largest regional cities converged on Parliament House on Thursday evening to highlight the call for targeted investment into Regional Victoria.
RCV Chair Cr Andrea Metcalf said a minimum $700M investment is needed to relieve critical land and housing shortages and to enhance liveability and the visitor economy.
With regard to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, she said the group wants to see the legacy of the games extend beyond just the four cities hosting events and athletes.
And on that note, the Liberal candidate for the seat of Shepparton at the upcoming state election has announced that Shepparton will be a Commonwealth Games hub in 2026 if the Coalition is elected in November.
Cheryl Hammer said the regional games initiative was born in Shepparton and she will be fighting to see that sports are hosted there..
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6961257416277598208/
Strathbogie Shire is also keen to get a share of the games action and has launched an advocacy push to have rowing events hosted at Lake Nagambie in 2026. Later in the program I’m joined by Strathbogie Mayor Laura Binks to talk about that and to get her reflections on the experience of having a municipal monitor in place since last year.
On to other news now…
Hepburn Shire Council has expressed strong opposition to newly announced overhead transmission lines as part of the Victoria – New South Wales Interconnector West project.
Deputy Mayor Cr Jen Bray said while the council is highly supportive of renewable energy, it is not happy about the above ground lines and the proposed location of a terminal station at Mt Prospect, near Creswick and Daylesford.
She said the infrastructure as proposed will bisect the shire from north to south, and have a significant impact on agricultural land and community health and wellbeing.
Council concerned with proposal from more high voltage power lines
Four Victorian councils are among the finalists for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards, which are in their 20th year.
Greater Geelong is a dual finalist with its bin inspection program up for the industry leader award in the waste and litter reduction category; and for the thriving environment category with a 500 hectare reserve revitalisation project.
It will have competition from the City of Darebin in the latter category for its urban rewilding program.
Gannawarra Shire Council is an industry leader finalist in the “healthy and fair society’ category for its role as an NDIS provider; and the Greater Bendigo has made the finalist list in the Community Champion category for its Circular Greater Bendigo project.
Winners will be announced on the 20th September.
Golden Plains Shire Council has made a strategic land purchase that has gone over well with the Smythesdale community.
It has bought the former St Mary’s Catholic Church building which is adjacent to the Council’s Customer Hub and service centre.
The $384,000 purchase has been welcomed by the Smythesdale Progress Association. Its secretary Bill MacNeill told the Ballarat Courier it was a real win for the community,
Mayor Gavin Gamble said the future of the site, which has been unused for some time, is yet to be determined.
https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/news/council-secures-strategic-land-purchase
(Ballarat Courier, 4-8-22)
Here are the Victorian Briefs:
The City of Ballarat has opened nominations for the 2022 Senior of the Year Awards. Deputy Mayor Amy Johson said the awards are a way to recognise and acknowledge the valuable contributions that older people make to life in Ballarat.
Nominations close on the 4th September.
https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news/nominate-special-senior-ballarat-senior-year-awards
The Mainstreet Australia conference has been held this past week in Victoria, with a metropolitan session in the city of Boroondara, and a regional program in Castlemaine. The organisation is looking to grow its relationship with local government by partnering on the success and vitality of main streets and town centres.
Head to the Roundup website to hear my interview with Mainstreet Australia VP Sam Choudhury.
More Council stories in the news this week:
The ABC has reported on the disappointment of local traders after learning that Greater Shepparton’s $17M redevelopment of the Maude St Mall has been delayed due to supply chain issues.
There was an expectation the works would be completed by the end of July. A new completion date is yet to be confirmed.
The council is working with contractors on attempts to minimise the impact on the project timeline.
Shepparton’s Maude Street Mall redevelopment delayed due to supply chain issues – ABC News
Moyne Shire will write to the state planning minister objecting to a proposed wind farm development after a unanimous vote at its August meeting.
A report in the Moyne Gazette quotes Cr Damian Gleeson as saying the Willatook Wind Farm is an opportunity for the Council to draw a line in the sand, and face down developers and the state government.
59 of 62 community submissions to the proposal opposed the $800M project on the basis of environmental, visual and noise concerns.
(Moyne Gazette, 4-8-22)
And in Warrnambool, a mobile phone tower proposal has been refused by the city council on the grounds of adverse impacts on character and appearance of the area and on adjacent land.
Officers had recommended that the application be supported as it met the requirements of the planning scheme. According to the Moyne Gazette, Councillors voted 6-0 to refuse the application, with one councillor declaring a conflict of interest.
(Moyne Gazette, 4-8-22)
Coming up: the latest from Redland as the mayor goes back to work and councillor conduct complaints are dismissed; a Tasmanian council to hire a respectful conduct officer; a big field contesting the Mayoral election in Wanneroo; and later, my special guest Cr Laura Binks, the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 7th August 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
This week I spoke with Kathryn Arndt, CEO of the VLGA, about the association’s concerns over recent examples of council culture in the news.
Interview excerpt – Kathryn Arndt
I’ll have more of my chat with Kathryn on Wednesday’s program, when we talk about the outcomes the VLGA wants to see from the sector’s Culture Review project.
Heading the National Roundup today:
As Redland Mayor Karen Williams prepared to return to work this week after pleading guilty to drink driving, a local newspaper reported that she had lost the support of a majority of her fellow councillors.
The Redland City Bulletin conducted a survey of all 10 councillors, with six indicating they believe she should resign the mayoralty.
Two councillors did not respond to the survey, while two others declined to take a position on the matter.
Cr Williams has vowed to win back the community’s trust.
(Redland City Bulletin, 4-8-22)
Meanwhile, it’s understood that a number of complaints lodged with the Office of the Independent Assessor against Redland councillors have been dismissed.
The allegations related to the consumption of alcohol after meetings; the sharing of confidential information with the media; and actions by individual councillors that allegedly caused reputational damage to the Council.
The Redland City Bulletin that the OIA decided there was either no reasonable suspicion of inappropriate conduct or misconduct, or that pursuing the matters would be an unjustifiable use of resources.
(Redland City Bulletin, 5-8-22)
Destructive and unprofessional behaviour at Clarence City Council in Tasmania has led to a decision to hire a respectful conduct officer.
The behaviour, by two aldermen in particular, is highlighted in a workplace culture report.
The Council has passed a motion calling for the appointment of an officer to referee bickering and infighting amongst the aldermen – a move that Deputy Mayor Heather Chong hopes will pave the way for a less fractious council after the upcoming elections.
The Hobart Mercury has a report on this story, and I have to share with you this quote: “Alderman Tony Mulder is convinced he’s one of the councillors referred to in the report, but he says the other councillor is the one that started it.”
(Hobart Mercury, 4-8-22, p.4)
District Council of Grant
The Mayor of the District of Grant Council in SA has delivered an apology to the Council, two fellow councillors and the family of one of those councillors at a Council meeting last week.
Richard Sage was required to give the apology after being found in breach of the code of conduct over comments made on multiple occasions at council meetings that were deemed to be inappropriate.
But in a twist, the Border Watch reports that neither of the councillors who were owed the apology were present at last week’s meeting.
(Border Watch, 5-8-22)
In WA, the City of Wanneroo mayoral race is on, with 9 of the 14 sitting councillors throwing their hats in the ring.
Perth Now.com reports that three non-councillors have also nominated for the election, which is to replace Tracey Roberts who was elected to Federal Parliament earlier in the year.
It’s a first past the vote system to be conducted by post, with the count scheduled for the 2nd September.
The successful candidate will complete the current term, which runs out in October 2023.
Nine Wanneroo councillors join race of 12 to become new mayor | PerthNow
Local Government Extraordinary Postal Election – Election Notice – City of Wanneroo
Councils from across NSW have been recognised for outstanding achievements at the annual Local Government Week Awards, handed out in Sydney on Thursday night.
The big winner was Woollahra Municipal Council, which took out three awards including two Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture awards and a LGNSW Planning Award.
Other councils to win multiple awards including Gilgandra Shire, Murray River, and Fairfield City Council.
https://www.lgnsw.org.au/Public/Media-Releases/2022/0805-Winners-of-LG-Awards-2022.aspx
Voting is now open for the 2022 National local government awards, with 11 award category winners to be decided by popular vote.
Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister Kristy McBain has called on communities and local governments to cast their votes for the awards, which are in their 36th year.
Voting closes on the 14th September, and the winners will be announced in October.
City of Swan
Here are today’s National Briefs:
A councillor at WA’s City of Swan has resigned this week. Andrew Kiely will step down from the position on August 10, leaving a vacancy for the term which expires in 2025. The Echo newspaper says no explanation has been given for the resignation.
An update on the Hobart statue story from last episode… the Hobart Mercury reports that a council committee has unanimously voted to remove the statue of former premier William Crowther.
City of Hobart
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the statue symbolised an appalling period in our history. The removal still requires the approval of the full Council, and that’s expected to be on the agenda on 15th August.
(Hobart Mercury,5-8-22, p.2)
Tasmania’s Derwent Valley Council has become the fifth in the state to declare a climate emergency. In so doing, the council has committed to preparing a climate emergency plan over the next 12 months. The other Tasmanian councils to have made climate emergency declarations are Hobart, Launceston, Kingborough and Northern Midlands.
https://www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/council/latest-news/council-declares-climate-emergency
The call is out for presenters for the upcoming Local Government NetZero Roundtable. The event to be held in Canberra in November will showcase success stories, learnings and next steps to help councils achieve emissions reductions targets. You can find out more from the link in the show notes.
https://www.ravim.com.au/call-for-presenters/
Here are some more Council stories making news:
Campbelltown City Council
The ABC reports that Campbelltown City Council (the one in South Australia) is pushing ahead with restrictions on the movements of pet cats, including a night curfew to protect native wildlife.
The Council decision to introduce the changes from next year was not unanimous, with one councillor labelling the proposal as barbaric.
Mayor Jill Whittaker has rejected rumours of mandatory leashes on cats when outside the property, saying that was just one option that people might choose along with being contained in a cage or held in a car.
The Adelaide Advertiser has reported that a local cat sterilisation service, used by a number of councils, has threatened to sever its 32 year relationship with Campbelltown, describing the proposals as unjustified, extreme and unrealistic.
https://www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/council/news-and-media/latest-news/council-meeting-update
(Adelaide Advertiser, 5-8.22, p.8)
Just ahead of my special guest, Cr Laura Binks, the Mayor of Strathbogie Shire, here is the International Spotlight:
In the US, an increasing number of cities are dealing with abandoned e-scooters after micro-mobility startup Bolt appears to have vanished.
Techcrunch.com is regularly updating its article on this issue to add more cities and counties where it’s reported the service has stopped.
It says in some cases the departure has been abrupt, with calls and emails to the company going unanswered.
The service has stopped in at least 8 cities across the country, including in Oregon, Vermont and Florida.
A joint project to plan future housing needs out to 2050 in five UK local authority areas has collapsed this week.
The leaders of Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire councils released a joint statement confirming that they had been unable to reach agreement on an approach to the plan.
Housing needs will now be addressed through individual local plans.
As recently as June, a coalition of 40 groups across Oxfordshire had criticised a lack of progress on the plan, for which the last consultation closed last October.
Oxfordshire councils fail to agree on Oxfordshire Plan 2050 | Oxford Mail
Meanwhile, Worthing Borough in Sussex, England, has won a High Court challenge against plans to build 475 homes in the Goring Gap.
It’s a win for the council against the government and a developer, with the judge finding that not enough weight had been given to the impact of the development on the setting of the South Downs National Park and the view within.
Mrs Justice Lang cited legal precedent that ‘great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty’ and that this had not happened in this case.
Worthing Council wins high court case to stop green gap housing development
And out of NZ this week is the news from the Taranaki Daily News that the chief executive of South Taranaki District Council, Waid Crockett, will be leaving to take up the top job at Palmerston North City Council in November.
Mr Crockett has been at South Taranaki since early 2018. He was previously general manager at Upper Hunter Shire Council in NSW.
South Taranaki District Council chief executive moves on | Stuff.co.nz
Roundup Extra: interview with Cr Laura Binks, Mayor Strathbogie Shire
Before I leave you today, I’d like to ask you to take a moment to check out the Roundup website, if you haven’t already.
I’m trialling some new features on the site, including bonus content such as my interview with Sam Choudhury from Mainstreet Australia, and brief daily news updates on the weekdays in between our main Sunday and Wednesday episodes.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether you find those new features worthwhile.
And in the next few weeks I’ll tell you more about a special series of episodes during the month of October on topical issues from around the sector. I’m calling it the October Series… more on that soon.
That wraps up another Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Remember to subscribe to VLGA Connect on YouTube and podcast for regular episodes highlighting local government initiatives, plus the flagship weekly news review on the Governance Update with Stephen Cooper.
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.