On the Monday 28th October edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- Reports of chaotic scenes as voting closes in Victoria’s council elections
- Counting gets under way this week but it may be some time before we know results
- A second CEO within a week to resign from a Victorian council
- Concerns raised about a council’s planned mosquito control program
- An experienced former mayor goes to work for a new Lord Mayor
- Brisbane council’s controversial actions to crack down on anti-social behaviour
- And the councillor who credits training for a dramatic improvement in council civility
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 389:
Victorian Roundup:
Multiple media reports on Friday of chaotic scenes at election centres as the voting deadline approached.
ABC Radio heard that long lines were forming in various locations as voters attempted to get replacement ballot packs and cast last minute votes.
The Age reported hours long waits and understaffing, with some calling for a return to in-person voting for council elections.
In Geelong, the Advertiser reported lines wrapped around the block just before 6pm on Friday with a wait time of over an hour.
With 61% of votes returned statewide by the last day of voting, there were some suggestions this was indicative of a low voter turnout.
However, the Roundup understands that was in line with VEC expectations, with many more votes to be received in the days to come as mail is delivered to election offices up until 12 noon on Friday, 1st November.
ABC News, The Age; Geelong Advertiser$
Voting is now closed in the Victorian council elections.
Ballot packs completed by 6pm on Friday evening will be accepted for inclusion in the counting of votes, which is getting under way this week.
The counting method for each election depends on the number of vacancies to be filled and the size of the election.
For single-councillor wards, the count will usually be manual using the preferential counting system.
For unsubdivided councils and multi-councillor wards, plus the City of Melbourne leadership team, a computer count will be undertaken using the proportional representation counting system.
Sadly, the VEC will not be providing progressive results as it says these can be misleading, especially in multi-councillor elections. Results information for each council will only be published once all counting has been finalised for that council. Victorian Electoral Commission
There is one council result that we already know.
A declaration ceremony for Yarriambiack Shire Council will be held today, after all candidates were elected unopposed and no voting was required.
The announcement last Thursday of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s John Baker’s appointment as the new CEO of Sunshine Coast Council in Queensland was followed on Friday with news of another council CEO resignation.
Brett Luxford is stepping down at Mitchell Shire Council.
He has been with the council since August 2020 and was reappointed on a new four year contract last year.
Mr Luxford said after careful consideration he has decided to explore new opportunities.
He will remain in the role until the end of the year to support the induction of a new team of councillors and support the Council in the process of recruiting a new CEO.
Mitchell Shire Council Media Release
The Local Government News Roundup’s Victorian CEO Appointment Watch page now lists six councils in need of a new CEO. Mornington Peninsula and Mitchell joined the list last week, alongside Horsham, Darebin, Central Goldfields and Strathbogie.
The Geelong Advertiser has reported on resident opposition to a new aerial mosquito control program proposed by Greater Geelong council.
The program uses drones to drop larvicide on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast over a six year period, along with ground based of treatment of mosquito breeding sites.
Controversy has surrounded the mosquito management program, which was investigated by a senate inquiry looking at a potential link to cancer and auto-immune cases on the peninsula from the 1980s.
The inquiry did not find a link, but residents remain concerned.
The council says strict health and environmental standards will apply to the program using approved larvicides that are not liquid-based or sprayed. Geelong Advertiser$
Included in the raft of planning and housing announcements from the Victorian government last week was welcome news of efforts to boost the supply of planners.
$500,000 will go towards a Regional Planner Cadetship Program and the implementation of Regional Planning Hubs.
The efforts, along with changes to integrate the Victorian Planning Authority, aim to deliver over 24,000 homes and create 3,700 jobs in regional Victoria.
Regional Cities Victoria welcomed the announcement of the regional cadetship program, and said it is an important step in addressing the statewide shortage of planners that is delaying decisions and slowing down construction of new homes.
Premier of Victoria; Regional Cities Victoria
East Gippsland Shire Council has responded to a government decision to renew retention and exploration licences for the Fingerboards Mine project.
In a statement, CEO Fiona Weigall said the council was not involved in the decision, and had been assured by the government that the decision is for a set period and to provide an opportunity for the proponents to address EES feedback and rescope the project.
Ms Weigall said the renewals do not permit mining, and acknowledged there would be mixed views in the community about the minister’s decision.
She said the approval for the licence renewals comes with strict community engagement conditions. East Gippsland Shire Council
National Roundup:
NSW:
A former mayor has been recruited to the office the new Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Ross Kerridge.
The Newcastle Herald reported that Kay Fraser, the recently retired mayor of Lake Macquarie, has taken on a casual job as Lord Mayor Kerridge’s chief of staff.
Cr Kerridge had recommended Andrew Piper for the position, described as a Labor party dissident, attracting accusations of cronyism from Labor councillors.
Ms Fraser was a 12 year councillor, with eight years as Mayor at Lake Macquarie.
Current chief of staff Matt Murray is on extended leave until February. Newcastle Herald$
The final piece of the NSW mayoral election puzzle is in place for this year.
Last week, Carol Oataway was elected mayor of Hay Shire Council. Martyn Quinn is deputy mayor.
A by-election will not be required to fill a vacancy at Lachlan Shire.
Only one candidate nominated for the position, resulting in the election of Judith Bartholomew, a former councillor who will rejoin the council at its November meeting. Lachlan Shire Council
There are three new members of the board of Local Government NSW.
Cr Danielle Mulholland (Mayor of Kyogle Council), Cr Kenrick Winchester (Mayor of Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council) and Cr Sam Coupland (Mayor of Armidale Regional Council) have been appointed as Rural/Regional Directors to the Board.
The vacancies arose after three previous directors did not contest the recent council elections. LGNSW
The NSW government has announced a $250M investment to fund 1,300 new apprentice, trainee, and cadet positions in local councils over the next six years.
The program aims to increase the local government workforce by 15% and allows councils to determine their own workforce priorities.
Applications for grants are now open until November 8, 2024, with the first round of new hires expected to start work in early 2025. Office of Local Government
The deadline is approaching for submissions on a proposed overhaul of the NSW councillor conduct regime.
A discussion paper released in September calls for a rewrite of the Model Code of Conduct and the setting of clearer expectations of councillor behaviour.
Submissions close on 15th November. About Regional
QLD:
Brisbane City Council has installed CCTV cameras at Musgrave Park in response to reports of violence, drug use, and fires at a homeless encampment.
The Courier Mail reported that the cameras were installed after a controversial council decision to turn off power at the park last week.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the decisions have been necessary for public safety, reporting hundreds of complaints from residents about fighting, fires, and anti-social behaviour in the parks.
There have been growing concerns about safety in the area, with council social workers reducing their visits and calls for a new approach to addressing anti-social behaviour in public spaces. Courier Mail$; ABC News
A comprehensive review of Brisbane’s traffic lights is among recommendations made by a coroner following an inquest into the death a 20-year-old cyclist in 2021.
Max McDowall tragically died after being struck by a council bus at an intersection in Brisbane where both had been given a green light simultaneously.
The Brisbane Times reported that the coroner has also recommended installing camera mirrors on all council buses to reduce blind spots. Brisbane Times
A long-standing legal dispute between Scenic Rim Regional Council and a developer has concluded with an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum.
The Beaudesert Times reported that the $37.5 million case was settled just before a scheduled November court date.
The developer, James Robinson, claimed that the council had reneged on 12 different infrastructure agreement promises. Beaudesert Times, 24/10/24
Queensland’s Lockyer Valley Regional Council is reconsidering plans to close its historic saleyards.
The council voted in August to close the saleyards by June next year for safety and compliance reasons.
Queensland Country Life has reported on a major backlash from producers and community, resulting in petitions and a pause by the council on carrying out its decision.
It will now conduct a deeper review and has formed a working group to look at other possible solutions. Queensland Country Life
TAS:
A councillor at Burnie in Tasmania has credited training of councillors in turning around a “horrendous” culture.
The comments from Cr Trent Aitken came as the council adopted a new Team Charter Policy setting out expected behaviours and conduct of the elected representatives.
The Advocate reported that Cr Aitken’s comments were greeted with applause from the public gallery.
He and other councillors reported a significant improvement in civility and communication since undergoing training. The Advocate$
Latrobe Council has defended its staff and the use of a policy on dealing with difficult people after police were called to its office because of alleged threatening behaviour by a customer.
The actions of council staff were called into question by a former councillor, who claimed the man had been treated unfairly and possibly discriminated against, according to a report from the Advocate.
The council said it had a responsibility to protect its staff, and said appropriate action had been taken after multiple instances of rude, disrespectful and threatening behaviour. The Advocate, 25/10/24
WA:
The Town of Bassendean is proposing a significant redevelopment of Bassendean Oval, with a view to hosting AFL and AFLW games in the future.
A draft concept plan, open for public comment until November 18, includes reorienting and resizing the oval, improving spectator arrangements, and enhancing recreational spaces.
PerthNow reported that work on the transformational project is not expected to begin for at least six years. *PerthNow; Town of Bassendean*
The City of Melville has been declared ‘owl-friendly’ by the council, adopting principles and practices to protect owls and other native predators.
It will no longer provide second generation rodenticide treatments for the community, and already requires its pest operator contractors to only use first generation rodenticide treatments. City of Melville
Global Roundup:
UK:
A new pay deal has been struck for chief executives and the wider workforce of UK councils.
Local gov dot co dot uk reported that unions have reached an agreement with employers.
Chief executives and senior officers will receive a 2.5% increase, and there’ll be a £1290 increase for other workers.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced plans to reform the local government standards framework, including potential suspension for councillors violating codes of conduct and removing the requirement to publish councillors’ home addresses.
The reforms aim to address issues of bullying and harassment, protect councillors from threats, and make local democracy more accessible through virtual meetings and proxy voting.
The Local Government Association has welcomed the measures. Localgov
CANADA:
A expansion of library operating hours in Toronto is believed to be planned by the city’s mayor Olivia Chow.
CBC has reported that the mayor intends to announced all branches will open seven days a week, at an additional cost of $8M.
Some branches are currently closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The move is in line with an election promise made by Ms Chow, and will require approval from the libraries board and ultimately the city council. CBC News
NZ:
In Dunedin, the City Council has proposed changes to its Local Alcohol Policy, citing one of the highest rates of hazardous drinking in the southern region.
The changes include reduced off-licence trading hours and on-licence opening times, to deal with concerns about late-night impulse alcohol purchases in a city with a significant student population.
The new policy is out for public comment until mid November. Dunedin City Council