On the Local Government News Roundup for Wednesday 30th October:
- A tight race unfolding for the next Lord Mayor of Melbourne
- Vandals cause extensive damage to trees across Glen Eira
- Calls for government schools to open their grounds to communities
- A Sydney council to fly the Greek and Lebanese flags
- A dire funding outlook for a major pool project in North Sydney
- Queensland mayors welcome a new state government
- A council employee wins a workers comp case after tripping at home
- A Western Australian mayor to step down for a run at state parliament
- and a UK council under fire for ordering employees to work from home
Plus more news from across the world of local government in Australia and beyond.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Davidson recruitment and business advisory services.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 390:
Victorian Roundup:
The Melbourne Lord Mayoral race is becoming somewhat clearer thanks to scrutineers and media reports.
The Age and the Herald Sun have reported that on first preference votes counted so far, incumbent Lord Mayor Nick Reece is leading with around 24% of the vote, followed by Liberal candidate Mariam Riza and former AFL star Anthony Koutafides.
As all votes are not yet in, the complete first preference count will not be known for a few days yet, but it does appear likely that the final result will come down to the distribution of preferences.
Insiders are tipping that Mr Reece and Mr Koutafides will fight out the finish, potentially along with independent Jamal Hakim.
Mr Koutafides’ team told The Age that he would win if voters followed his how to vote cards
Former deputy mayor Arron Wood, considered a top contender in the lead-up to the vote, has conceded defeat after a poor showing.
And he says he will not contest a lord mayoral election in future.
Despite a stronger than expected result for the Liberal candidate, Ms Riza is not expected to figure in the finish once preferences are distributed.
Voting for the Greens and Labor candidates were also well down on expectations.
In the battle for councillor positions at the City of Melbourne, the Herald Sun is predicting two seats for the Liberals and two from Team Reece, along with veteran councillor Kevin Louey and former MP Gladys Liu.
Official results are not expected before 7th November. Herald Sun$; The Age
Meanwhile, in the City of Yarra it’s reported that former Greens mayor Edward Crossland may not win re-election.
The Herald Sun reported that he has has a slender lead in early counts for Curtain Ward, but that his main opponent Dr Alan Tse will likely secure more preferences from other candidates.
In Boulevard Ward, there is a clear leader in independent Sharon Harrison, while counting in other wards is either just under way or yet to start. Herald Sun
While a nervous wait continues for candidates across 78 council areas, the result in Yarriambiack Shire Council election has been declared.
All six positions have been filled, with two candidates standing in each of three wards – matching the number of vacancies exactly.
Comprising the new council are Melinda Keel, Corinne Heintze, Andrew McLean, Chris Lehmann, Karly Kirk and Kylie Zanker. Victorian Electoral Commission
Extensive tree vandalism has been reported across eight parks and reserves in Glen Eira.
Young trees and shrubs have been deliberately damaged or destroyed, resulting in significant environmental and financial costs, including some rare trees that are potentially irreplaceable.
The council estimates the total damage at nearly $200,000.
It is working with Victoria Police to investigate the incidents and urges anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or the council directly. Glen Eira City Council
There are calls for more government schools to open their grounds to local communities, potentially saving councils from spending millions of dollars on developing small pocket parks.
Infrastructure Victoria CEO Jonathan Spear said it seems crazy that councils are forced to spend money on parks when there was already 450 hectares of open space on government school grounds in Melbourne, worth around $6.6B.
Infrastructure Victoria is calling on the government to support schools to share more outdoor areas with the community. Jonathan Spear – Infrastructure Victoria
Corangamite Shire Council has proposed a name for a new 19-kilometre trail between Timboon and Port Campbel.
“Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng,” meaning “Travel through Country” in Keerray Wooroong language has been put forward in collaboration with the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.
It aims to reconnect the local landscape with indigenous language and culture.
The council is seeking community feedback on the proposed name until November 27, with a final recommendation to be presented at the December council meeting. Shire of Corangamite
Victorian Briefs:
Bass Coast Shire Council is partnering with Phillip Island Nature Parks on a beach safety campaign ahead of the Melbourne Cup weekend.
The campaign is emphasising the importance of beach safety, particularly on unpatrolled beaches, following tragic incidents last summer, while also promoting the region’s safe beaches for tourists and locals to enjoy. Bass Coast Shire Council
Greater Shepparton will host Rounds 1 and 2 of the AusCycling BMX Racing National Series over the ANZAC Day long weekend next April, showcasing a new multi-use events pavilion and track upgrades.
The event is expected to attract over 1,500 participants, officials, and visitors, and contribute more than $1 million to the local economy. Greater Shepparton City Council
Campaspe Shire Council’s animal shelter is offering reduced adoption fees for cats and dogs for one week to encourage pet adoption.
Adoption fees are temporarily lowered to $100 for dogs, $150 for puppies, $80 for cats, and $100 for kittens. Campaspe Shire Council
National Roundup:
NSW:
Canterbury-Bankstown Council has unanimously voted to fly the Greek flag in recognition of Oxi Day, an annual celebration commemorating Greece’s refusal to allow Italian troops to invade during World War II.
The decision highlights the significant Greek and Cypriot community in the area, with over 22,000 residents of Greek ancestry in Canterbury-Bankstown.
The Council has also unanimously decided to fly the Lebanese flag at Bankstown and Campsie on November 22, Lebanon’s Independence Day, as a gesture of support for Lebanese Australians and to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
The council will also support an interfaith prayer vigil and is calling on Australian leaders to increase aid to the country.
Canterbury-Bankstown City Council is also warning residents about the dangers of improperly disposing of hazardous items after four garbage truck fires occurred in a month.
In the latest incident, a large lithium battery was thrown in a recycling bin at an apartment block and then sparked a blaze in a truck on the way to a safe dumping location.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayak urged residents to think about what they are putting in the bin to avoid putting the community and drivers at risk. Canterbury Bankstown Council
North Sydney Council is considering raising rates to fund the escalating costs of rebuilding the North Sydney Olympic Pool, which has now reached $91 million and could potentially hit $110 million.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the project has been plagued by numerous issues including cost blowouts, delays, heritage concerns, and legal disputes.
Mayor Zoe Baker has warned that without action, the council’s 10-year outlook is unsustainable.
Various funding options, including special rate variations, will be presented to the public for feedback later this year. Sydney Morning Herald
Blacktown City Council has been recognised as a leader in environmental sustainability, winning the ‘Overall Sustainable Cities Winner’ award at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW awards.
The Council also won the communication and engagement category for a project promoting best practice recycling and waste management to people living in apartments and units. Blacktown City Council
The latest State of the Beaches Report has rated 100% of Central Coast beaches as Good or Very Good, with Terrigal Beach notably improving to Good after three years of Poor ratings.
The report, part of the NSW Beachwatch Program, assesses water quality at designated swim sites and provides daily forecasts to help the community make informed decisions about swimming.
The Council says while ocean beaches and baths showed improvement, most estuary and lagoon sites were still graded as poor. Central Coast Council
QLD:
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has congratulated newly elected Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and local MPs following last weekend’s state election.
Mayor McDonald has invited the Premier to Toowoomba discuss to key priorities and challenges for the region, highlighting the potential for collaboration between local and state government.
He said he hopes the community’s loyalty to the re-elected local members is repaid when investment decisions for the region are made within the state government. Toowoomba Regional Council
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner also welcomed the election result, noting that Mr Crisafulli is a former councillor and mayor who understands the impact of government decisions on local councils.
He said he expected the new Premier to work with the council on its big challenges, especially transport. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner
Bundaberg Regional Council is calling an early halt to its FOGO trial.
The council says it has gathered sufficient data after 12 months, in which over 600 tonnes of organics were composted from 1,5000 homes in the trial area.
The official announcement follows media reports last month that community backlash about smell, flies and future costs had led to a rethink about FOGO in Bundaberg. Yahoo! News; Bundaberg Regional Council
National Briefs:
There’ll be a new deputy mayor at SA’s Alexandrina Council come the end of November.
The council has elected Peter Oliver to take over from current deputy Margaret Gardner on 30th November.
PowerFM reported that Cr Oliver defeated Lou Nicholson for the position in a secret ballot. PowerFM SA
Albury City Council is inviting community input on the redevelopment of Lavington Swim Centre, which is nearing the end of its useful life.
The consultation process, running until November 19, includes surveys and face-to-face sessions to gather public opinion on the future design of the facility. Albury City Council
A $1.8M rehabilitation project is set to commence in the Lockyer Valley to improve flood resilience and protect Mount Sylvia Road and surrounding areas from flood damage.
The project is a partnership between Lockyer Valley Regional Council and Resilient Rivers SEQ, which will involve creek bank stabilization, revegetation, and the use of 12,000 tonnes of rock. Lockyer Valley Regional Council
Byron Shire Council and partner organisations are working to protect endangered shorebird species nesting along the Byron coastline, including critically endangered Beach stone-curlews.
Beach-goers are urged to stay off sand dunes, avoid disturbing nesting areas, and keep dogs in designated areas to help preserve the vulnerable bird populations. Byron Shire Council
SA:
An employee of the City of Charles Sturt in South Australia has won a workers compensation claim after tripping over a pet fence while working from home, resulting in a broken arm and knee injury.
The South Australian Employment Tribunal ruled that the incident occurred during an authorised coffee break, considering it part of her employment despite the unconventional home office setup.
ABC News reported that the amount of compensation is yet to be determined. ABC News
The LGA South Australia has opened an expression of interest round for coastal councils to apply for a share of $1.3 million in funding for coastal hazard adaptation projects.
Part of the SA Climate Ready Coasts program, it aims to accelerate planning for coastal hazards and promote a more strategic approach to coastal management in South Australia, with applications closing on December 5. LGA South Australia
WA:
Rhys Williams, the mayor of Mandurah has been announced as Labor candidate for the seat of Mandurah and will step down from his council position in December.
PerthNow reported that the City of Mandurah has not yet confirmed the process for installing a new mayor.
The next mayoral election isn’t due until 2025. PerthNow
The City of Albany is urging dog owners to take greater responsibility for their pets following a series of concerning dog attacks, including a significant incident in McKail.
With 25 dog attacks reported between July and August 2024, and seven more in early October, the city says it is vital that owners take measures to contain pets and keep them under control in public.
In the McKail incident, an owner was fined nearly $5,000 across eight offences when two escaped dogs harrassed two children and attacked a woman and her two dogs, resulting in the death of one of her pets. City of Albany
At the City of Wanneroo, residents are being urged to help combat the invasive Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), a tiny wood-boring beetle first detected in Perth in 2021.
The City is working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to prevent the spread of the beetle, and is encouraging residents to report suspected sightings using the MyPestGuide app.
Residents must follow specific guidelines regarding the movement of wood and plant materials to help contain the pest and protect the city’s urban forest. City of Wanneroo
Global Roundup:
Castle Point Council has voted to pursue legal action against the estate of their late chief executive David Marchant to recover £281,155 in potentially unlawful payments.
The Echo News reported that council is writing off £872,173 as unrecoverable, but will seek to reclaim money paid to Mr Marchant through flexible retirement schemes and performance-related pay.
The decision comes after an investigation into over £1.1 million in payments made to senior staff between 2012 and 2022, which external auditors were unable to sign off on. Echo News
Leeds City Council will be asked to formally approve a recommendation to appoint Ed Whiting as its new chief executive officer next month.
Mr Whiting is currently a senior government executive based in Leeds, and is working on place based economic growth partnerships across the sector. Insider Media
Shropshire Council is facing criticism after ordering staff to work from home with only one week’s notice, in an attempt to save £100,000 in running costs during winter.
Opposition groups and unions told BBC News that the short notice and lack of preparation will negatively impact team working and staff morale.
The council is facing significant financial challenges, with its leader warning that the authority is close to declaring effective bankruptcy. BBC News
The City of Venice in Italy has extended its €5 tourist entry fee to 2025, doubling the number of days it will be charged to 54 days between April and July.
It’s part of efforts to manage overtourism by discouraging visitors on peak days.
BBC News reported that the city collected €2.4 million in fees during the initial trial period in 2024. BBC News
The province of Alberta has announced a pilot program allowing golf carts on select municipal roads in seven rural communities, including the Town of Coaldale.
The five-year initiative aims to enhance mobility options for residents and gather data on safety implications for future policy decisions.
Alberta joins British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan as the fourth Canadian province to permit golf carts on certain municipal roads. Medicine Hat News
Central Otago District Council is set to choose a new mayor from within their ranks at a meeting this week, following the resignation of Tim Cadogan.
The interim mayor will face significant responsibilities, including leading the council through the drafting and adoption of a Long Term Plan, before facing re-election in October 2025.
Crux News has reported on speculation about who might be in the running for the role. Crux News