Today on the Local Government News Roundup:
- More asbestos discovered in parks across Melbourne’s west
- Calls for an overhaul of the Victorian disaster payments system as councils are left out of pocket
- A council to stop issuing building permits, while another opts to stay in the aged care space
- The NSW council seeks a cash injection from the sale of a host of Council properties; while another to talk to its community about its serious and ongoing deficit problem
- And the mayor who wants council rangers to be able to arrest crime suspects
Plus more Council news from across Australia and beyond on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment service and business advisory practice.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 320:
Victorian Roundup:
More asbestos contamination has been found in parks in Melbourne’s west.
Four parks in Hobsons Bay have now been found to contain asbestos-contaminated mulch, leading to closures and investigations by the Council and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Sections of Crofts Reserve, Hosken Reserve, and Lynch Reserve in Altona North have now been closed, following the first discovery last week at Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood.
In the latest development, the Age has reported that the EPA is testing for potential asbestos at the PA Burns Reserve dog park – after a report from the community.
The EPA reportedly believes the contamination may have originated from commercial and industrial waste that was not properly treated before demolition.
It has now issued remedial notices to Hobsons Bay City Council, and is requiring the council to inspect all council-managed parks and gardens that have received mulch in the past 18 months and provide a list of all mulch suppliers.
It was also reported at the weekend that the EPA is investigating asbestos found in soil at two parks in the Merri-bek Council area.
The state opposition is calling for the establishment of an asbestos taskforce, similar to one now operating in New South Wales, to prevent further contamination and ensure public safety.
Hobsons Bay City Council is providing regular updates on its website about the issue, and says it is working with a material hygienist and the EPA to conduct remediation works on all the affected sites.
Still in Hobsons Bay, and the Council has announced a pause on enforcement actions at Techno Park while it reviews its legal obligations and the best way forward following changes to state planning rules about existing use rights.
In an open letter published on its website, the council has emphasised the availability of cross-organisational support for residents, including housing and community services.
It also says it is currently reviewing the implications of Ministerial Amendment VC254, which has significantly changed state planning provisions with regard to existing use rights.
There are calls for an overhaul of Victoria’s disaster payment system, as some councils are still grappling with outstanding repairs from flood damage that occurred 18 months ago.
In Pyrenees Shire, which has been affected by both flooding and bushfires, the council is still awaiting millions of dollars in disaster recovery funding.
ABC News reports that the slow assessment process for funding claims has resulted in significant financial challenges with many councils left out of pocket, unable to complete repair works and further strained by the need to deal with damages from recent bushfire incidents.
The Municipal Association of Victoria has raised concerns about the current system’s efficiency. The association’s president, David Clark, described the disaster recovery funding claim process as “laborious” for councils, and has suggested that the system may need an overhaul.
He has specifically identified the approvals process at the state level as a weakness in the system. In the case of the Pyrenees Shire Council, nine claims have been made, but only one has been officially approved so far.
Adding to the financial strain, the recent bushfires have prompted councils to go through the claim process again for the new damages.
Gannawarra Shire Council has decided to permanently stop issuing building permits for all major projects.
The decision follows a suspension and review of the Council’s Building department’s services.
The Council will now seek approval from the Minister for Planning to cease the service.
The Council says existing permits under the Council’s management will continue to be processed with minimal delays, and that its decision will not affect its statutory building functions.
Greater Dandenong City Council has affirmed its commitment to continue providing its current range of Aged Care and Disability services, despite the significant changes coming under the Commonwealth Government’s Aged Care Reforms.
A change to the staging of the reforms means the council’s services won’t transition to the model until 2027, removing the urgency from a decision about whether Council should exit some services or adapt and participate in the Support at Home Programme.
The council says it will monitor the development of the local competitive market of alternate service providers and is considering seeking approval as a provider under the competitive market-based Support at Home Programme.
The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre has begun above-ground works, described by Mayor Trent Sullivan as a significant step in a project aimed at economic growth and prosperity.
The project is part of the Geelong City Deal partnership with the Victorian and Australian Governments, also signifies a milestone for local trainees and apprentices involved in an Early Engagement Social Procurement program.
The program provides training and qualifications to local jobseekers facing employment barriers.
EPA Victoria and Macedon Ranges Shire Council are warning local construction businesses of surprise inspections to ensure safety, environmental, and building compliance.
The focus will be on construction site management, including dust control, sediment runoff, and waffle pod containment.
The council will also ensure compliance with local laws, including secure site fencing, refuse and sanitary facilities, and asset protection measures.
The EPA has recently fined companies for environmental harm and aims to increase awareness of environmental laws in the construction and demolition industry.
Victorian Briefs:
A countback to fill a vacancy in Buckley Ward on Moonee Valley City Council, due to the resignation of Councillor Cam Nation, will be held online at 10 am on Monday 29 April.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will redistribute votes from the 2020 election to eligible, unsuccessful candidates.
The candidate achieving the quota or with the highest number of countback votes will be elected to complete the current term, which expires in October.
Hume City Council is developing strategies to address food security barriers, with input from community members and experts at the recent Hume Food Forum.
The forum, which included representatives from various sectors, discussed the need for equitable, culturally responsive, healthier, and more sustainable food systems.
Themes included challenges in accessing healthy food and the complexities of food production and consumption. Indigenous insights on resources from native plants were also shared.
The City of Melbourne has implemented 24/7 cleaning and graffiti removal, reducing response times to one hour, and monitoring graffiti hotspots daily.
The council has doubled its investment in clean city services, spending $97 million between 2021 and 2024.
The new contract is expected to reduce annual fuel consumption by over 100,000 liters, equivalent to saving 265 tonnes of greenhouse emissions per year.
Nillumbik Shire Council will host Sustainable House Day – The Nillumbik Trail later this month, where residents with sustainable homes open their doors to the public.
The event, run by Clean Energy Nillumbik and supported by the Council, showcases homes with a minimum of four sustainable features, such as insulation, double-glazing, energy-efficient appliances, and solar panels.
A candidate training program designed to equip women with campaigning knowledge will hold upcoming sessions in Bendigo, Sale and Melbourne.
The free, in-person events run for six hours, and aim to provide potential candidates with the tools and techniques to run for office. Find out more from the link in our show notes.
National Roundup:
NSW:
Shoalhaven City Council will consider a list of Council-owned properties suitable for sale as an update to its Land Sales Strategy.
The move is part of the council’s financial sustainability strategy and aims to provide a cash injection to the current budget.
The Council manages over 3,100 lots, with 1,700 classified as operational and thus sellable.
Nine properties are to be considered for immediate sale, while 15 others will be further investigated for potential rezoning or reclassification to enable sale.
Professional property valuers will conduct land valuations, and independent real estate agents will manage property sales.
Meanwhile, the Council has announced that it is implementing a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours that risk workers’ psychological health.
The council has established measures to reduce or eliminate risks causing psychological stress, such as abuse, violence, aggression, bullying, or harassment from the public.
Council meeting practices now include a preface about respectful behaviour, and workers are supported to remove themselves from escalating confrontations.
Eurobodalla Shire Council will hold a series of community sessions this month to discuss its “serious and ongoing deficit”.
The council’s general manager, Warwick Winn, and finance director, Stephanie Speedy, will lead the sessions to explain the council’s financial situation and the steps taken to address it.
The council has been working to stabilise its budgets and find a path to financial sustainability, including using grant funds to support existing works and services and conducting an internal budget reset.
The council is also urging its residents not to misuse green waste disposal, reporting an average of three contaminated truckloads weekly and significant illegal dumping in bushland.
The council says this type of green pollution leads to environmental damage and increased processing costs.
It has a plan to audit resident bins’ contents to understand contamination rates better and enhance community education on the issue.
Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly has returned to work after a month’s leave, thanking Deputy Mayor Imogen Drasima for her service during his absence.
Mayor Reilly took the break to deal with a recurring health issue.
He says his return coincides with preparation for some significant developments for the council, including the Blue Haven divestment, mid-year budgets, and upcoming local government elections and a mayoral referendum.
QLD:
The dust has settled from the recent Queensland council elections, which resulted in significant turnover across the councils of southeast Queensland.
One-third of roles at the region’s 11 councils have changed hands, according to a wrap-up by the Brisbane Times.
In Brisbane, three of City Hall’s 26 ward seats changed hands, with re-elected Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s LNP losing one each to the Labor opposition and the Greens. However, the LNP won the Wynnum Manly ward back from Labor for the first time in seven decades.
The results will see the LNP’s two-decade hold on City Hall reduced by one seat from the 2020 vote.
Elsewhere, five mayors retired bringing new faces to the position in places like Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
The mayors Gold Coast, Ipswich, Locker Valley, Moreton Bay and Toowoomba were returned, while the mayor of Scenic Rim was defeated.
36 of the 100 regular councillor roles across the region changed hands.
Council parking fines over the Easter long weekend are in the media spotlight.
Gold Coast council issued nearly 2000 parking fines, totalling over $200,000, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
It says the fines are some of the most expensive in Queensland, and were for offences including overstaying the meter, parking on nature strips, and parking on yellow lines.
The fines have come in for criticism, with suggestions that the fines are a way to capitalise on families gathering for the holiday to raise revenue.
TAS:
The Local Government Association of Tasmania has opposed a recommendation for community votes on council amalgamations, arguing it could lead to conflict between councils with different views on a merger.
The position was outlined in the association’s response to the final report by the Local Government Review Board on the future of the sector in the state.
The Advocate (5th April 2024) reported that while the association supports voluntary amalgamations, it rejects the idea of a formal proposal put to a community vote following a successful elector poll.
A survey revealed that 57% of Tasmanians believe the state has too many councils, and 14% feel the population or state size cannot sustain the current number of councils.
SA:
The decision by regional airline Rex to withdraw from Whyalla following a dispute over costs has led to the entire council being declared “unsustainable” by the state’s economic regulator.
Australian Aviation has reported that the airport’s poor performance is the main factor behind the council’s debt, which is expected to result in a loss of $5m between 2023-24 and 2032-33.
Conflict between the council and Rex arose after the federal government stopped funding security screening operations, causing Whyalla to pass on those costs to airlines.
Mayor Phill Stone is now calling for a national levy to distribute the costs more fairly.
WA:
The Mayor of WA’s Town of Claremont Jock Barker has proposed the retraining of local government rangers, and greater powers for them to act as a local police force in response to increasing petty crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
The idea comes amid reports from local shopkeepers about rising crime rates, and frustration about an inability to reduce and combat crime.
ABC News reported that under Mayor Barker’s plan local government rangers would be given the power to arrest suspects.
He told the ABC that he had not spoken to Police about the idea, and suspected they would not be supportive.
National Briefs:
Willoughby City Council’s first Reconciliation Action Plan has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, marking the start of its implementation.
The plan, developed through a year-long consultation process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, aims to strengthen relationships and promote reconciliation.
Key actions include establishing a Yarning Circle, incorporating Aboriginal cultural awareness training for all Council staff, displaying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on Council platforms, and increasing procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses.
Rebecca Vonhoff has been unanimously re-elected as the Deputy Mayor for Toowoomba Regional Council.
The election was conducted at the council’s post election meeting last week.
Cr Vonhoff was first appointed to the deputy mayoralty in July last year.
The City of Mount Gambier is seeking expressions of interest for the Mount Gambier Beacon Art Project, inviting emerging, mid-career, and established artists to submit a design proposal for a public artwork.
The project aims to capture the unique combination of landscape, people, and history that forms Mount Gambier’s identity.
The deadline for submissions is 5:00 pm on 30 April 2024.
International Spotlight:
UK:
Four individuals were arrested and later released on bail for allegedly spraying red paint on a council headquarters due to its links to an Israeli arms firm.
The suspects, two men and two women of varying ages, were also suspected of “locking on” to a person during a protest.
BBC News reported that the council building, located in Taunton, had been the site of a second protest by Palestine Action in recent weeks.
Cumberland Council has announced the passing of Councillor Cyril Weber, a Labour Member for the council’s Harraby North ward.
Cllr Weber had a 40-year career in local politics, serving on the Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, and Cumberland Council.
He was also Mayor of Carlisle from 1988-89.
Cllr Weber is remembered for his passion and dedication to improving the lives of people in Carlisle and the wider area.
Despite a petition signed by over 7,000 people, the weedkiller glyphosate will be used again in Brighton and Hove.
The city council had previously stopped using glyphosate in 2019, but rampant weed growth has led to its reintroduction.
BBC news reported that the council plans to use a “controlled droplet” approach to target individual weeds, and that it would consider phasing the chemical out in future once the weed growth problem was under control.
Aberdeen City Council has proposed new rules for buskers, including a prohibition on songs containing “hate speech”.
The rules, developed in response to complaints about noise and the duration of performances, also propose designated “busking zones”, volume and duration limits, and a performance window between 10am and 8pm.
The National reported that members of the public are being encouraged to share their views on the proposals.
Also worth a read this week is an extended piece from The Guardian on the Council tax system in England, and calls for an overhaul.
Council taxes are still set based on property values from 1991, and don’t take into account changes to average house prices in the time since. It’s been described as a “turbocharger of inequality”.
NZ:
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has announced an additional $570,000 funding for city safety schemes, including more CCTV operators and three pilot safety coordination hubs.
The funding has been welcomed by employers, particularly those experiencing high rates of theft in downtown stores.
The Auckland Council’s CityWatch team will also be expanded.
Despite the funding boost, Radio New Zealand reported that there are continued calls for the reopening of a downtown police station, which was closed in 2013.
USA:
New York City will make 53 streets car-free for Earth Day, the largest event of its kind to date.
The event, which encourages sustainable modes of transportation, will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 20.
The Gothamist has reported on the plans, with the Department of Transportation to host performances and art installations on some of the closed streets, while Citi Bike will offer free 30-minute rentals during the event.
A solar eclipse about to occur is tipped to be a major travel event in the US, with as many as 4 million people journeying to view it.
The eclipse will be visible across a large part of the country and is expected to last longer than the one in 2017.
Numerous cities across the country are preparing for a surge in visitation, with around $1 billion in revenue expected to be generated – described as equivalent to having 50 Super Bowls.
Vox reported that eclipse-chasers, who are drawn to the rarity and communal experience of such phenomena, will be a major contributor to the surge in tourism.
While North Americans prepare to observe this rare event, Australians will have to wait until July 22, 2028, for our next opportunity to witness such an event.