Episode 161, 21st September 2022
In this episode, confirmation of a new railway station for Melbourne’s west; two councils celebrate wins in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards; a Victorian regional affordable housing summit announced; a Northern Territory mayor steps down after being charged with drug-related offences, and a former NSW mayor censured over alleged caretaker period breaches.
Listen to this episode here, or to any of the 161 episodes to date on your preferred podcast player (links here).
Transcript (with links where available):
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is your update for the 21st September. I’m Chris Eddy.
In this episode, confirmation of a new railway station for Melbourne’s west; two councils celebrate wins in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards; a Victorian regional affordable housing summit announced; a Northern Territory mayor steps down after being charged with drug-related offences, and a former NSW mayor censured over alleged caretaker period breaches.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; and by the Local Government Show 2022 – on the 8th to 10th November at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.
A new railway station for Melbourne’s west is set to be included in updated plans for the Melbourne Airport Rail project, expected to be released today.
The Herald Sun says the plans will reveal an extra station at Keilor East, with the support of the state and federal governments which are each putting $5B into the project.
The article in this morning’s paper says the new station will be the first link to the rail network in the City of Moonee Valley, which along with Brimbank City Council has been lobbying for an additional station as part of the airport rail project.
Greater Bendigo and Darebin City Councils were the local government winners at this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards announced last night in Melbourne.
The awards, which are in their 20th year, recognise sustainability-focused activities and achievements that align with global best practice.
Greater Bendigo was awarded the Industry Leader award in Circular Economy Innovation for its Circular Greater Bendigo program which encompasses a number of solutions to handle, reprocess and recirculate end of life material resources.
Darebin is the Industry Leader winner in the Thriving Environment category, awarded for its work to integrate natural landscape elements into urban spaces for the benefit of both public health and the conservation of biodiversity.
Council representatives will come together with government, community and business sector people next month to explore innovative ways to deliver more affordable housing in regional areas.
The government has announced a Regional Affordable Housing Summit will take place on Tuesday 4th October in Creswick, with the purpose of identifying challenges and opportunities to meet the needs of regional Victoria’s burgeoning population.
Housing for workers and opportunities for local businesses will be key topics on the agenda for the summit.
Campaspe Shire Council in the state’s north has embarked on a process to review current and future residential land in the shire.
A draft residential land review has been released for community comment, looking at townships across the shire that offer a range of services and housing opportunities.
Mayor Chrissy Weller said that focus is to ensure appropriate land is earmarked for residential purposes and that there is adequate supply to meet future demand.
In today’s Victorian briefs:
56 Victorian councils are set to share in $2.86M of state government grants to prevent the spread of invasive weeds and pests on roadsides.
Each council will receive between $5K and $75K to tackle weeds and pests, which cost the Victorian economy over $900M each year.
Casey City Council has been recognised for change management excellence at the Australian Business Awards.
The award recognises the success of a project to engage employees in the development of organisation and transformation strategies through art-making.
And at Baw Baw Shire, community members can now make virtual submissions to Council meetings under the Council’s new Governance Rules.
Under the new provisions, community members can address Council either in-person or via electronic means. A number of other changes have been made to the rules following a period of community consultation.
In Hume City Council, a brand new softball centre has been officially opened at Craigieburn.
The new centre has two softball diamonds and sports lighting to cater to the growing popularity of the sport, especially among women and girls.
A joint investment of $7.2M from the council, the state government, and developer Stockland has also funded a sports pavilion, an all-ages play space and other facilities at the new Aitken Recreation Reserve.
Just ahead, the National Roundup: a Northern Territory mayor steps down after being charged with drug-related offences; a former NSW mayor censured over alleged caretaker period breaches; and Wagga Wagga speaks up over Inland Rail concerns.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 21st September 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
In the lead up to the Victorian State Election, VLGA Connect is presenting a series of live panels and interviews on a wide range of topics.
Last week, Local Government Minister Melissa Horne participated in a live panel event with many mayors and councillors taking the opportunity to put questions about important issues directly to the Minister. That session is now available for playback on the VLGA YouTube and podcast channels.
While you’re there check other episodes in the series, including an interview with Dr Jonathan Spear from Infrastructure Victoria about the state’s infrastructure needs and priorities; and a panel session with the shadow ministers for local government, housing and planning.
And standby for more from the 2022 State Election Series, brought to you by the VLGA.
Now for today’s the National Roundup:
In western Sydney, a councillor has reportedly been censured for breaching the council code of conduct.
Cumberland Councillor and former mayor Steve Christou could potentially be suspended or disqualified over the matter, after using council premises during the caretaker period for last year’s election to discuss campaign matters with a local community group.
The Parramatta Advertiser has revealed the contents of a confidential document that was considered by the Council in a closed session earlier this month. It’s understood the Mayor Lisa Lake used her casting vote to refer the matter to the Office of Local Government for further investigation.
To the Northern Territory next, where the mayor of a remote community has taken personal leave after being charged with drug driving, as well as possessing, cultivating and supplying cannabis.
According to the ABC, 42 year old Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin was arrested and charged on Monday.
In a statement, he said he would step down to avoid the issue detracting from the work of the Council.
The Deputy Mayor Dianne Stokes will take on the mayoral role until further notice.
Wagga Wagga City Council has raised a string of concerns about the Inland Rail project in a submission endorsed this week.
While supportive of the project and the opportunities it will create for the community, the Council says the Environmental Impact Statement for the Albury to Illabo section of the project has not adequately addressed a number of matters.
Its submission outlines concerns about adverse impacts on the Wagga Wagga community, and the risk that there would be no avenue for rectification after the project is completed.
Acting mayor Jenny McKinnon says that an alternative route that did not go through the centre of Wagga Wagga should be considered, as has occurred in other locations.
While the council says consultation has been lacking, the neighbouring Junee Council told the ABC that while there are still some outstanding items, consultation has so far been very good.
In South Australia, the city of Whyalla is now home to the state’s first solar digital mining centre.
The centre uses renewable power to provide computing power to the blockchain network.
The data centre represents hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in the region over the next five years, which Mayor Clare McLaughlin says builds on the city’s mining focus including the existing iron ore industry base.
Mayor McLaughlin said the new centre provides yet another career opportunity for local students to explore.
The digital mining centre will employ over 30 people when fully operational.
Queensland’s Scenic Rim Council says its search for a new chief executive is well advanced, announcing this week that a decision is expected by next month.
The Beaudesert Times reported this morning that the Council received over 70 applications to replace Jon Gibbons who completed a short extension to his contract last month.
General Manager People and Strategy Caroline McMahon is currently Acting CEO.
(Beaudesert Times, 21-9-22, p.3)
The Mayor of Toowoomba Regional Council has called for options to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II with a memorial in the city.
The Toowoomba Chronicle has reported on a range of suggestions that have been put forward, including renaming the iconic Queens Park to Queen Elizabeth II Park, and erecting a statue in Coronation Park.
Mayor Paul Antonio said community consultation would be key to finding the most fitting memorial to the late monarch.
(Toowoomba Chronicle, 19-9-22)
Cessnock Council in NSW has been fined $15K over a water pollution incident.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority issued the fine over contamination levels at a dam that is used to collect and treat dirty water.
It said equipment appeared to be installed incorrectly, and that there had been a failure to check water levels leading to contaminated water discharging through the dam spillway.
The $15K fine is the largest the EPA can issue under its legislation.
In today’s National Briefs:
On the Gold Coast, the city’s sporting economy has hit $747M, the highest in the council’s history.
Mayor Tom Tate said the figure represents the economic contribution of grassroots sport as well as big sporting events, and puts the city at #26 on the list of best Sport Cities in the World.
Two border councils in NSW and QLD have signed a new memorandum of understanding to guide more effective cooperation between them.
The Mayors of Moree Plains Shire in northern NSW and Balonne Shire in southern Queensland signed the MOU on the weekend at the official opening of the Mungindi Sculpture Trail.
The trail is a 2.5km open air art gallery that crosses the border between the two states, showcasing the work of late local artist Tony Nicko McMillian.
The Local Government News Roundup is a media partner for the Local Government Show 2022, being held 8th to 10th November in Sydney at Accor Stadium.
There will be four knowledge streams on digital technology, parking, resource recovery and smart communities, with a host of knowledgeable speakers lined up to share their insights and experiences.
Some of those speakers will join us during the upcoming October Series of interviews from the Roundup.
As a listener of the Roundup, you can get 10% off the registration fee by using the VIP code LGNR10.
More details on the link in the show notes, for the Local Government Show 2022 – 8 to 10 November at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Now to today’s International Spotlight:
There’s a bit happening in the UK this week.
At Northumberland County Council, all staff have been offered voluntary redundancy in a bid to deal with a predicted budget overspend of £12M.
Localgov.co.uk reports that the overspend is due to external factors.
The budget gap was £5M higher, but it has been reduced by using funds set aside to deal with inflationary pressures.
Every service area is under review to find savings, and every staff member has been given the opportunity to access a voluntary redundancy scheme.
Localgov.co.uk also has the story of the Stockport Councillor who has been permanently expelled from the Conservative Party for sharing offensive tweets.
Cr Alanna Vine came under fire for retweeting claims that mosques had secret arsenals, and that immigration was cultural suicide.
And the MJ reports that moves to suspend the CEO of debt-ridden Thurrock Council have failed for the moment.
Lyn Carpenter has instead reportedly agreed to take two weeks’ leave while talks about her future continue.
The government recently placed the council under the financial supervision of Essex County Council due to concerns about levels of financial risk and debt.
In the Spanish city of Pamplona, investment in infrastructure and e-bikes has seen a major uptick in cycling activity.
While that might not sound unusual, it should be noted that Pamplona sits on a steep hill, with slopes with gradients over 8 per cent – a challenging proposition for even the fittest riders.
An investment in public elevators and an expansion of the city’s cycling lanes has seen a cycling boom in the city, disproving conventional wisdom that cycling is too difficult in hilly cities.
The website Politico explores the Pamplona cycling story as part of its Living Cities series – link in the show notes.
And you’re up to date with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
The program is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; and by the Local Government Show 2022, 8th to 10th November at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
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