On the Roundup today:
Remembering two former Wodonga civic leaders who have passed away;
More councillors throwing their hat in the ring for State Parliament;
The results of a boundary change survey are in, but is there a clear winner?
A former senator confirms a run at Lord Mayor of Adelaide;
And 1 in 3 Tasmanian Mayors are calling it quits ahead of this year’s elections.
Some of the stories ahead on the midweek update from the Local Government News Roundup.
Listen now on your preferred podcast app or click here for this episode now.
Transcript (with links where available)
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is the midweek update for the 10th August. I’m Chris Eddy.
Coming up in this edition:
Remembering two former Wodonga civic leaders who have passed away;
More councillors throwing their hat in the ring for State Parliament;
The results of a boundary change survey are in, but is there a clear winner?
A former senator confirms a run at Lord Mayor of Adelaide;
And 1 in 3 Tasmanian Mayors are calling it quits ahead of this year’s elections.
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.
Two former Wodonga Councillors passed away last week, including the first mayoress, first female councillor and first female mayor.
Current Mayor Kev Poulton has paid tribute to Pam Stone OAM who has died at the age of 93. She first became involved with the Council in 1973 when her husband became Shire President. She was then elected to the council in 1977 and later served as mayor.
Mayor Poulton has also acknowledged the significant civic contribution of Ray O’Toole, a town clerk and CEO of the city in the 1980s, before being elected as councillor in 1997 and serving in that capacity for eight years.
Mr O’Toole passed away last week at the age of 86.
https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/Newsroom/Archive/ArtMID/1777/ArticleID/12029
The Victorian Greens have announced a majority women upper house ticket for the upcoming state election, featuring a number of current councillors.
Their candidates include Port Phillip Councillor Katherine Copsey in Southern Metropolitan; Maribyrnong Councillor Bernadette Thomas in Western Metropolitan ; and from Greater Geelong, Sarah Mansfield in Western Victoria .
According to the Geelong Advertiser, Cr Mansfield will commence a leave of absence from nomination day on 1st November, and has said she will not be paid her council allowance during that time.
https://greens.org.au/vic/news/greens-launch-upper-house-ticket-bid-balance-power
Geelong Advertiser, 9-8-22, p.9
Three Victorian councils have formed a consortium to develop a long range wide area network, with funding from the state government’s Rural Transformation Program.
Golden Plains, Moorabool and Hepburn Shire Councils will deliver a Smart Shires Network, with 30 gateways creating a network of over 6,000km2, and linking with Geelong and Ballarat.
The network will include the use of sensors to manage assets such as public toilets and rubbish bins with near real-time monitoring and reporting.
Community and businesses will also have access to the network to deploy sensors and gather data for their own needs.
A $750,000 grant will be distributed evenly between the three councils.
https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/news/funding-secured-smart-shires-network
A pilot project aimed at attracting skilled migrants has been launched by Central Goldfields Shire.
The council is partnering with local businesses and community leaders to look at ways to support successful relocation to the shire, as well as advocate to all levels of government on workforce and housing needs.
Mayor Chris Meddows-Taylor said there are vacant jobs that can’t be filled locally, which has serious implications for the growth of the local economy.
He said the project aims to solve the workforce issues and at the same time have a positive impact on all areas of community life.
A film documentary company will follow the progress of the initiative over a three month period later this year.
https://engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/welcometocentralgoldfields
Briefs:
This year’s MAV Technology Awards will be handed out tomorrow night at a gala event in Melbourne. 11 council projects are nominated across 5 categories, and voting is open until midday tomorrow, 11th August for a People’s Choice Award.
The awards coincide with the MAV Technology Annual National Conference, being held tomorrow at the Melbourne Convention And Exhibition Centre.
https://web.cvent.com/event/62faf8d2-3223-4750-a1f6-e264493e6348/summary
Rural Councils Victoria has commissioned in-depth research into the financial sustainability of rural councils. SGS Economics and Planning has been engaged to undertake the research, which also aims to identify alternative income sources for rural councils.
Maribyrnong City Council has won an award for its holistic approach to its road safety program at the annual Australian Road Safety Awards in Canberra earlier this month.
The award recognises the council’s overall vision to work towards zero fatalities and a decrease in all crash injuries in the city by 2030.
https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/News/Maribyrnong-City-Council-wins-Australian-Road-Safety-Award
The Regional Cities Victoria advocacy group launched its state election platform at Parliament House in Melbourne.
RCV Chair Andrea Metcalf told me that the group had narrowed its election focus down to three priority areas:
Cr Metcalf says the group is also keen to see the benefits of the 2026 Commonwealth Games shared across all parts of regional Victoria:
Head to lgnewsroundup.com to hear more of my interview with Cr Andrea Metcalf, Mayor of Greater Bendigo and Chair of Regional Cities Victoria.
Coming up:
The results of a boundary change survey are in, but is there a clear winner?
A former senator confirms a run at Lord Mayor of Adelaide;
And 1 in 3 Tasmanian Mayors are calling it quits ahead of this year’s elections.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 10th August 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
On our last episode, we heard from Kathryn Arndt, CEO of the VLGA, about the association’s concerns over recent examples of council culture that have been making headlines.
Today, Kathryn tells us about the outcomes the VLGA would like to see come out of the sector’s culture review project.
That is Kathryn Arndt, CEO of the VLGA talking about the desired outcomes from the sector’s culture review project.
Heading the National Roundup today:
The results of a boundary change survey conducted by the Electoral Commission of Queensland have been released.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said the vote confirms that Rockhampton and Northern Suburbs residents support a boundary realignment, with 78% and 58% respectively voting yes.
Meanwhile, Livingstone mayor Andy Williams says the survey shows that 95% of respondents from his shire oppose any change to boundaries, and that 22% of Rockhampton respondents are in agreement with them.
The electoral commissioner is expected to make recommendations to the Deputy Premier on the boundary change proposal by the end of October.
Results of Northern Suburbs vote Rockhampton Regional Council
95% of Livingstone Shire opposes proposed Boundary Change
As widely anticipated, former senator Rex Patrick has confirmed that he will run for Lord Mayor of Adelaide in this year’s local government elections.
This week he launched an election platform centred on council transparency, better governance and a new long-term plan for the city.
Mr Patrick told InDaily.com.au that new 10 and 20 year fully integrated city plans would be the centrepiece of his campaign, with strategies for population, transport, greening and sustainability, streets and parks to be completed within 2 1/1 years of being elected.
Voting packs for South Australian local government elections will go out in October, with counting to commence on 12th November.
Rex Patrick confirms Lord Mayor tilt, calls for new 20-year city plan – InDaily
A probe into Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission, prompted in part by the flawed Logan City Council prosecution , has found a need for greater checks and balances before lodging charges.
Former judge Tony Fitzgerald conducted the probe and provided 32 recommendations to the state government this week.
According to AAP, the report found flaws in the Logan City Council matter due to a degree of groupthink amongst police who were seconded to the commission.
It’s expected that the government will accept the recommendations, with the report scheduled to go to cabinet on Monday.
(Australian Associated Press, 9-8-22)
The number of incumbent mayors in Tasmania not contesting this year’s elections has risen to at least 10. That amounts to one in 3 current mayors.
The latest to join the list is Albert van Zetten of Launceston, joining the mayors of Devonport, Central Coast, Waratah-Wynyard and at least six others bowing out at the end of the current term.
The ABC reports that most are retiring for personal reasons, ahead of the introduction of compulsory voting for the first time at these council elections.
It will be a significant changing of the guard in some of those municipalities – Mayor van Zetton has been in office for 17 years; the mayor of Clarence, Doug Chipman is stepping down after 11 years; and Robby Walsh at Waratah-Wynyard has also served continuously as mayor for 11 years.
Launceston’s Albert Van Zetten the 10th mayor not standing in October poll – ABC News
The Victorian Briefs:
Narrabri Shire Council in NSW has appointed a new General Manager.
Robert Williams was appointed last week, and brings 15 years of CEO experience to the role having led two large councils in New Zealand.
https://www.leadingroles.com.au/blog/2022/08/narrabri-shire-council-appoints-new-general-manager
The NSW Electoral Commission has set a date for a countback election, to fill a vacancy on Snowy Monaro Regional Council, created by the recent resignation of John Last.
Eligible candidates will be declared on the 24th August, with the count to take place on Friday 26th August – the result is expected to be known on that day.
Wagga Wagga City Council has voted 5-3 to dispense with a prayer at council meetings, and replace it with a reflection that does not mention God or religion.
The Daily Advertiser reports that the new more inclusive statement was voted in despite councillors receiving multiple calls and emails from members of the local religious community urging them to keep the prayer in place.
(Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser, 9-8-22, p.3)
Canterbury Bankstown Council is in the news this week after a review of its waste system confirmed the contents of 700 of its residents’ recycling bins were regularly dumped into the same rubbish truck as regular garbage bin waste.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed the practice which has been happening for decades in areas with narrow streets and laneways where the street size posed a safety risk from larger trucks.
Mayor Khal Asfour said after the review, which was prompted by the newspaper story, the council has added extra smaller trucks to its fleet for easier access to those smaller streets.
(Sydney Morning Herald, 9-8-22, p1)
Bathurst Regional Council has announced the new provider of direct flights between Bathurst and Sydney after its recent expression of interest process.
FlyPelican was one of two submitters, and will commence flights from 5th September on a reduced schedule, before increasing to twice daily flights from the end of October.
Mayor Robert Taylor welcomed the new airline, and said it was vital that businesses, health and tourist sectors have access to a daily, regular passenger transport service, and for Bathurst to identify as an important regional destination.
In today’s International Spotlight:
In Los Angeles, hotel owners have launched a public campaign to oppose a planned ordinance by the city council which would see homeless people housed in empty hotel rooms, alongside guests and workers.
A report from local news outlet, KTLA, describes the plan to have every hotel in the city notify authorities by 2pm each day of how many vacant rooms are available.
Critics of the plan say people won’t feel safe and it will hurt the tourism industry.
They are speaking out ahead of consideration later this week by the Council which could see the measure put into law or possibly referred to voters as a ballot measure later in the year.
‘Worst of all options’: Hotel owners blast proposal to house homeless alongside guests | KTLA
To the UK, where a new survey has revealed most people support full funding of local authorities.
Localgov.co.uk reports that nearly 80% of respondents to the survey, conducted by think tank New Local, believe national politicians should guarantee funding for local councils, and that the best decisions are made when the people affected are closely involved in the process.
The survey also found a majority of people lack confidence in the ability of central government to tackle cost-of-living, loneliness, levelling up and climate change.
https://www.localgov.co.uk/Poll-reveals-majority-support-full-funding-for-local-government-/54639
The mayor of a village at the foot of Mount Blanc in France is proposing to introduce a 15,000 euro fee for climbers to cover rescue and possible funeral costs.
The BBC has the story about how the heatwave has increased rockfalls, and mountain guides are refusing to take climbers up a popular route because of the dangers.
Mayor Jean-Marc Peillex said climbers who ignored warnings and went up the mountain were playing Russian roulette, and that it’s unacceptable for the French taxpayer to cover those costs.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62436466
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 Sunday. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.