In this episode, Councils step up advocacy campaigns on local issues; more councils taking action on the housing crisis; councillors attracting criticism over public comments; South Australian mayors elected unopposed, while some fail to attract any mayoral nominations at all; sector reforms confirmed in WA; a new CEO announced for the City of Swan.
Plus insights from sector leaders on where to next with the Victorian sector culture review.
You can listen to this episode here, or access all 158 episodes on your preferred podcast player here.
Transcript (with links where available):
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is your update for the 11th September. I’m Chris Eddy.
Coming up in this edition: Councils step up advocacy campaigns on local issues; more councils taking action on the housing crisis; councillors attracting criticism over public comments; South Australian mayors elected unopposed, while some fail to attract any mayoral nominations at all; sector reforms confirmed in WA; a new CEO announced for the City of Swan.
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.
Brimbank City Council has launched a campaign calling for more work on health impacts before a decision is made on a third runway at Melbourne Airport.
The campaign supports the council’s opposition to draft plans for a third runway due to what it describes as unreasonable and unacceptable health risks to the community.
Brimbank Mayor Jasmine Nguyen said the campaign calls on the Federal Government to undertake a thorough investigation into the health impacts of the proposed third runway, and to share the results with the community.
A council-commissioned independent assessment earlier this year found the runway would potentially cause increases in sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression, and cognitive delays in children.
In Port Phillip, reviews and removals of pop-up bike lanes are on the way, after the Department of Transport responded to a council request for changes to a current trial.
Concerns have been raised by council and community members over elements of 38 kilometres of pop-up bike lane routes that have been funded and delivered by the department in Port Phillip.
The council has resolved on a number of alterations and removals of routes, many of which have been supported by the department; and further reviews of routes, visual amenity, and speed cushions will be conducted with a further update requested by December.
Colac Otway Shire is stepping up its opposition to seismic testing for gas and oil exploration in the Otway Basin, and calling on its community to engage with the issue.
The council is writing to the Prime Minister and Ministers at the Federal and State level highlighting the impact of seismic testing on marine life, potentially putting the vital fishing industry at risk.
Mayor Kate Hanson said the testing, which uses high powered airguns to blast the sea floor every 10 seconds, disturbs, injures and kills marine wildlife.
She said the council is lobbying the Federal Government because its current policy supports offshore oil and gas exploration, and the regulatory body has no power to refuse seismic testing.
Moyne Shire is the latest council to actively encourage non-resident ratepayers to put vacant houses into the long term rental market.
With a regional rental vacancy rate below one per cent, Mayor Ian Smith said there was a critical need for more housing.
He is writing to non-resident ratepayers as part of a range of measures, including providing short-term accommodation for workers at local caravan parks and leading a regional project to identify solutions to address market failures.
At Mornington Peninsula Shire, the council says it needs $100M from the state government’s Big Housing Build to address the housing crisis.
The shire has one of the highest levels of housing stress in Victoria, but says it has received just 0.1% of the government’s $5.3B program.
Mayor Anthony Marsh said the shire has a desperate need for crisis accommodation, social housing and affordable housing – with just three rental properties on the peninsula classed as affordable for low income earners in the past year.
Hepburn Shire Council has welcomed a Liberal and National parties election pledge of $75M to redevelop the Daylesford Hospital.
Mayor Tim Drylie said redevelopment of the 160 year old hospital is a top election advocacy priority for the council.
He has called on the Labor Government to match the funding pledge which would deliver the first upgrade to the facility in 20 years, and reduce the need for many shire residents to travel to Ballarat and Kyneton for health services.
Here are today’s Victorian Briefs:
A new councillor has been sworn in at Horsham Rural City Council, after a countback last week. Bob Redden, a retired seed curator and non-fiction writer, took the Oath of Office on Thursday and fills a vacancy created by the resignation of former councillor Di Bell.
The pandemic and storm recovery and rebuilding efforts in Macedon Ranges Shire have been nominated for a national economic development award.
The award submission, Bouncing Back – It’s A Collective Effort is a finalist for the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence, with winners to be announced in October in Sydney.
Bass Coast Shire is holding a Women Leading Locally Forum next month, aiming to inspire women to become successful community leaders.
A number of current and former councillors will share their insights and experiences at the event. Deputy Mayor Leticia Laing said the forum is an opportunity for women who are curious about council as a way to contribute and explore their leadership skills.
A councillor at Gannawarra Shire is in the news this week over comments made on social media about a news item about the behaviour of an AFL player.
According to the ABC, Cr Garner Smith has been criticised for remarks that have been described as abhorrent and appalling.
A local anti-violence activist is believed to be writing a complaint to the Local Government Minister about the incident.
It’s not the only example of councillors in the news over inappropriate remarks.
The Deputy Mayor of Queensland’s Toowoomba Regional Council, Geoff McDonald, has apologised after making comments about breast checks at a fundraising event.
The ABC says the remarks have drawn criticism from community leaders and the local cancer charity which hosted the event; and for which Cr McDonald was the emcee.
Just ahead, the National Roundup: South Australian mayors elected unopposed, while some fail to attract any mayoral nominations at all; sector reforms confirmed in WA; a new CEO announced for the City of Swan.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 11th September 2022, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
With a state election looming, VLGA Connect is presenting a series of live panels and discussions with key players over the coming weeks.
The series comprises moderated live panel discussions, with audience Q&A so that you can ask your questions of panellists on issues of relevance to the local government sector.
The first live panel featured shadow ministers for Local Government, Housing and Planning; Richard Riordan and Ryan Smith; and it’s available for playback on the VLGA Connect YouTube and podcast channels now.
You can watch an interview now with Dr Jonathan Spear from Infrastructure Victoria about the state’s infrastructure needs and priorities.
And on the 16th September, Local Government Minister Melissa Horne will participate in a live panel event which you are invited to be part of.
Visit the Events page on the VLGA website for details and registrations for the 2022 State Election Series, brought to you by the VLGA.
Heading the National Roundup today:
With the passing this week of Queen Elizabeth II, councils around the country have been paying tribute to the long serving monarch.
Many have provided access to condolence books for local community members to express their grief, and flags on council buildings are flying at half-mast during the mourning period.
ALGA President Linda Scott expressed sympathies on behalf of the nation’s 537 councils, and provided advice on impacts on council activities.
She said advice from the office of the Federal Minister for Local Government was that Citizenship Ceremonies should continue, and the Queen’s portrait continue to be displayed.
Advice on future protocols would follow the proclamation of King Charles III as the new sovereign in the coming days.
Council meetings can go ahead as scheduled.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the re-establishment of the Australian Council of Local Government, and committed to direct re-engagement between national and local government.
Government News reported the comments made at an event in Canberra on Thursday, during which the Prime Minister said he would bring together every local government in Australia with the national government to talk about the delivery of priorities and programs.
He also said a reframing of infrastructure funding arrangements would take into account that local government is best placed to make decisions on community infrastructure.
ALGA President Linda Scott said she was delighted with the comments, which demonstrate the respect the new federal government has for the hard work and commitment of Australia’s mayors, councillors and local government staff.
Nominations have closed for the upcoming local government elections in South Australia, resulting in 12 mayors being returned unopposed, and two councils without any nominations for mayor.
The Adelaide Advertiser reports that Port Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Campbelltown are among the 12 councils where the incumbent mayor was the only candidate for the position, and those mayors will serve a further four year term.
However, at Robe and Kingston in the south east of the state, there were no nominations for mayor, which means those councils will have the expense of running supplementary elections after the November council elections.
In the event of insufficient or no nominations, the Local Government Act requires a supplementary election to be held as soon as practicable. The office of mayor will remain vacant until then.
(Adelaide Advertiser, 10-9-22, p.48)
The direct election of mayors in larger WA councils will be mandated under new local government electoral reforms in the state.
Perth Now reports that Local Government Minister John Carey has confirmed about half of the state’s councils will undergo the reforms that also include the removal of wards in smaller councils and the use of optional preferential voting.
According to the report, 68 of the state’s 139 councils will be subject to the changes.
The nation’s Lord Mayors and university leaders have joined forces this week to call for changes to post-study visa arrangements to allow international students to help address skills shortages.
The Associated Press reports that the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors was in Canberra this week, along with representatives of Australia’s top universities, asking parliamentarians to allow international graduates to stay in the country for an extra two years.
Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp said the extension would be an immediate boost to available labour for critical jobs in key sectors.
(Australian Associated Press, 9-9-12)
National Briefs:
At the City of Swan in Perth, a new CEO has been appointed.
Stephen Cain, former CEO of 15 years at the City of Cockburn, will join the team at Swan in December.
He has recently served as interim CEO at the City of Canning.
Swan Mayor David Lucas said the appointment was the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the city.
Plans to create Australia’s only true global city region progressed this week with the release of the Six Cities Discussion Paper.
The paper outlines six region shapers including connectivity, housing and jobs in a region comprising more than six million people currently.
The Six Cities includes Newcastle, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Central Coast and Western Parkland.
At Toowoomba in Queensland, the council has erected signage calling for a fast rail service between Brisbane and Toowoomba.
The Council launched a formal fast rail campaign earlier in the year, and is using the tactics from its successful Toowoomba Bypass campaign.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reports that a strategic business case is currently under review by the Federal Government.
(Toowoomba Chronicle, 9-9-12)
Wollondilly Shire Council has activated a Mayoral Relief Fund to provide financial support to the families directly affected by a tragic accident at Buxton last Tuesday night.
Mayor Matt Gould said it has been an extremely difficult week for Wolllondilly, and the community is still coming to terms with the loss of five young local lives.
The fund is open for donations, with contributions to support the families, and youth mental health and driver safety campaigns.
Just ahead of the International Spotlight, I’m pleased to announce that the Local Government News Roundup is a media partner for the Local Government Show 2022, coming up in November in Sydney.
The event features four knowledge streams on digital technology, parking, resource recovery and smart communities, with a stellar lineup of speakers assembled.
Roundup listeners 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:
A local government administrator in Las Vegas has been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a local reporter.
A number of media outlets have reported that Clark County Public Administrator, Robert Telles, was taken into custody this week and later charged with the murder of a local news reporter.
The reporter, Jeff German, was found dead with stab wounds outside his home last weekend.
He wrote a series of articles earlier this year alleging mismanagement of the public administrator’s office, including bullying and an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
Mr Telles lost a bid for re-election to the post after the articles ran in June.
In Los Angeles, officials are frustrated by a series of street takeovers that have occurred over the past three years with increasing frequency.
CBSNews has reported on a trend where hundreds of people gather to witness dangerous driving stunts, sometimes leading to shootings, car crashes and property damage.
The activities are also impeding the ability of emergency services to respond to incidents.
County officials are asking the public for suggestions on how to deal with the growing problem, which has been linked to multiple deaths and significant property destruction to date.
And at Liverpool City Council in the UK, a boundary review has resulted in a recommendation to reduce the number of serving councillors in the municipality.
The Local Government Boundary Commission says in order to guarantee electoral fairness, the number of councillors should be reduced from 90 to 85, and the boundaries of all 64 wards be changed.
The changes need to be ratified by Parliament before coming into effect at next year’s council elections.
Roundup Extra:
Insights from sector leaders on next steps for the Victorian sector culture review. We hear from Cr David Clark, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria; Liana Thompson, Board President, LGPro Victoria; Cr Denise Massoud, Board President, VLGA; and Cr Mary Ann Brown, Chair, Rural Councils Victoria.
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 . Head to lgnewsroundup.com for breaking news updates and extra interview content.
Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.