On the Local Government News Roundup today:
A series of conduct complaints against a former Frankston mayor have been dismissed; Port Phillip decides against selling three early years centres; a coastal bid for the Commonwealth Games marathon; a move to get the conversation going again on constitutional recognition for local government; and much more from around the world of local government.
Listen to the latest episode here, and access all 152 episodes of the Roundup here.
Transcript (with links where available)
Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. This is the bulletin for the 21st August. I’m Chris Eddy.
Coming up in this edition: a series of conduct complaints against a former Frankston mayor have been dismissed; Port Phillip decides against selling three early years centres; a coastal bid for the Commonwealth Games marathon; and a move to get the conversation going again on constitutional recognition for local government.
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.
A series of complaints made by Frankston councillor Steven Hughes against former mayor Kris Bolam have been dismissed by a Councillor Conduct Panel.
The application from last December alleged intimidating, harassing, offensive and disrespectful behaviour over a period of approximately 9 months.
In evidence provided to the panel, Cr Bolam and three other councillors described the behaviour of Cr Hughes as disrespectful, inflammatory, aggressive and at times intimidating.
The panel found that Cr Bolam’s actions were consistent with the role and functions required of him in his capacity as mayor, and dismissed the application.
The Frankston Standard Leader reported this week that the dispute had cost the council in the order of $30,000 in legal fees, including an amount of more than $4,000 incurred by Cr Bolam in his defence, which the Council will reimburse.
Port Phillip City Council has decided against selling three community-run early years education and care centres, subject to the finalisation of funding arrangements with the State Government.
The future of the three centres in St Kilda, Balaclava and Elwood had been subject to community consultation, including with their operators.
Mayor Marcus Pearl acknowledged the significant community interest in the future of the centres, thanking those who provided feedback through the process.
The Council intends to rebuild or renovate the centres if sufficient funding is secured.
Kingston City Council has become the first metropolitan council in Victoria to introduce a shared parental leave policy.
Under the new policy, both parents of children born after 30th June this year can access up to 104 weeks of parental leave, including 16 weeks paid leave.
Acting Mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said the move was part of the council’s commitment to gender equality, and creating structural change to achieve a safe and equal society.
The move is a key initiative from the council’s 4 year Gender Equality Action Plan.
Glen Eira City Council has unveiled its community priorities ahead of the state election, and is calling on the next Victorian government to partner with local government on critical community projects and urgent policy reforms.
Mayor Jim Magee said the council is advocating on projects that Glen Eira residents have said are important to them, and the policies they want to see changed.
Local candidates from all political parties are being asked to support the improvement of community assets and infrastructure, development of new open space, transport network improvements, and support for urgent and tangible climate action.
Staff members will soon be moving into new headquarters at Greater Geelong City Council, following the completion of the Wurriki Nyal building in Mercer Street, in central Geelong.
The five storey, $102.5M project was delivered within budget, and has injected an estimated $39M into the G21 region.
The building includes a new customer service centre, which will open to the public on Monday 5th September.
The name Wurriki Nyal means ‘speak and talk together’ in the language of the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Warrnambool City Council has submitted a 2026 Commonwealth Games proposal that includes a joint bid with Moyne Shire to host the marathon event.
The southwest region bid also includes the potential to host practice and demonstration events, as well as provide training bases for some sports.
Warrnambool Mayor Vickie Jellie told the Warrnambool Standard that the bid was a cooperative effort with local sporting groups and political representatives.
Here are today’s Victorian Briefs:
Victoria’s Bass Coast Shire Council has extended the tenure of its CEO Ali Wastie this week, announcing a new five year deal which would see her stay at the helm until February 2028. This follows the announcement last week that Ms Wastie will Chair the new Alpine Resorts Victoria board which comes into existence on the 1st October.
At Horsham Rural City Council, vandals are being asked to rethink their actions after gates at a rural river crossing were damaged after being chained to a vehicle and ripped out this week.
The gates are used to ensure public safety when river levels rise, as occurred earlier in the week. Police are investigating the act of vandalism.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp has officially launched a new alliance of inner city municipalities, to be known as the M9.
The Lord Mayor said the nine councils had come together to tackle their communities’ biggest challenges, including waste, sustainability, affordable housing, transport and economic growth.
And the first intake of the Women Leading Locally program commenced yesterday in Melbourne. Local Government Minister Melissa Horne welcomed the first 60 participants of the state government program aimed at inspiring and equipping women to campaign successfully at the next round of local government elections in 2024.
A planned transfer of ownership of land at the Kyabram Fauna Park to Zoos Victoria is resting on an agreement regarding the site’s wetlands.
The state government announced the transfer of management last month, to be supported by $3M in funding.
Deputy Mayor Colleen Gates said this week that the land transfer agreement was about preserving the continuing use of the wetlands as a critical flood mitigation facility within the Kyabram drainage system.
Bass Coast Shire Council has passed a motion encouraging more community engagement by the state and federal governments about extractive mining.
The Bass Coast News has reported on the motion by Deputy Mayor Leticia Lang, who said the community needs a seat at the table on the issue of sand mining, which she says is not an appropriate land use in the municipality of Bass Coast.
The Council will write to the relevant ministers to highlight the impacts of extractive mining on the region.
Coming up: a move to get the conversation going again on constitutional recognition for local government; an election result challenge discontinued in WA; and Alice Springs leading the way with a denouncement of transphobia in sport.
You’re listening to the Local Government News Roundup for 21st August 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 will comprise 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.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Richard Riordan, and Shadow Minister for Planning Ryan Smith will participate in a live panel event next Friday 26th August; and coming on the 23th September, our guest will be Local Government Minister Melissa Horne.
Visit the Events page on the VLGA website for details and to register to be part of the 2022 State Election Series, brought to you by the VLGA.
Heading the National Roundup today:
The Federal Leader of the Nationals is calling for reforms to the Federation system in the wake of the pandemic experience.
David Littleproud says constitutional recognition of local government is key to removing duplication and more efficient service delivery, and that Councils should be able to effectively compete with the states to ensure the taxpayer dollar goes further.
He has written to the Prime Minister asking him to initiate a national conversation about federation reform.
A new taskforce will be formed to address ongoing issues at Coober Pedy District Council in South Australia.
That state’s local government minister, Geoff Brock, announced the establishment of a Coober Pedy Taskforce this week after briefing cabinet on the more than $10M debts still faced by the council, which is under suspension.
Indaily.com.au reports that the taskforce will comprise representatives from various state government departments, along with SA water and the Essential Services Commission.
The council has been under administration since the start of January 2019, and will remain so until late 2026.
A challenge to an election outcome from last year in the Town of Cambridge has been discontinued just prior to an expected final court hearing.
Cambridge councillor Alaine Haddon-Casey was challenging the WA Electoral Commission’s certification of the re-election of fellow councillor Gary Mack in 2021.
A final hearing set for 12th August did not go ahead after the discontinuation of the action by Cr Haddon-Casey, which Cr Mack said vindicated his position and showed that there was no merit in the attempt to unseat him.
Staffing cuts at the City of Nedlands in WA have been avoided after a tight vote on an amendment to cut $1.4M from the council budget.
According to PerthNow.com, a councillor proposed amendment to cap staff costs would have meant the termination of a number of positions.
The report describes a heated exchange around the council table, before councillors rejected the amendment by a margin of 2 votes and maintain the budget as proposed.
41 NSW councils will be eligible to apply for a share of accelerated infrastructure funding to fast-track the delivery of tens of thousands of homes in the state.
The state government this week announced a $300M plan, aimed at those council areas experiencing the highest growth. 23 regional councils can apply for a share of $120M, while 18 metro councils in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong will have access to $180M in funding.
The government says the aim is to put downward pressure on housing prices and make home ownership a reality for more people, while also stimulating the economy and creating jobs.
Here are today’s National Briefs:
At Cessnock City Council in NSW, Ken Liddell has been appointed to the General Manager position, effective early next month. Mr Liddell will move from Newcastle where he is Director of Infrastructure and Property. The Cessnock position was vacated earlier this year when Lotta Jackson resigned after 2.5 years in the job.
in Western Australia, the City of Karratha has appointed Virginia Miltrup as its new CEO this week. Ms Miltrup has senior local government and private sector experience, and is currently an executive director at the City of Vincent. She will make the move to Karratha at the end of October.
The City of Perth has been announced as the location for Australia’s pre-eminent Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum. Lord Mayor Basil Zemplas has welcomed the choice of the Terrace Road Car Park site in the city as the location for what he described as a city, state and national-shaping project.
And SA’s Yankalilla District Council is working to resolve an issue that saw more than 400 ratepayers overcharged on their rates notices. Software and administrative errors have been blamed for the mistake which came to light when a number of ratepayers questioned their bill.
Councils in the news:
Alice Springs Town Council has unanimously declared its support for diversity and inclusion in sport by adopting a statement that denounces transphobia.
The declaration came in a motion from Cr Kim Hopper, who had been contacted by members of the community looking for a demonstration of support during the federal election campaign.
The ABC has the story of how the statement is being celebrated by the local trans community, and has led to calls for a similar response from NT sporting leagues and the territory government.
In Western Australia, Stirling City Council has voted to undertake a review of its membership of the WA Local Government Association, after a councillor claimed it spends a disproportionate amount of its time supporting minor regional councils.
According to PerthNow.com, Cr Keith Sargent wants the council to look at whether there are other advocacy options that might be more relevant for Stirling, as the largest local government in the state.
The city’s annual membership for this financial year is approximately $130,000.
In today’s International Spotlight:
In Spain, city authorities are challenged by an increasing problem with large groups of wild boar scavenging in urban areas, causing traffic accidents and presenting a danger to citizens.
According to the Reuters news agency, the wild boar are roaming the streets like cats, and lying about in parks and suburban streets.
There were 1,200 incidents involving wild boar in Barcelona alone last year. The problem apparently worsened during the pandemic when urban areas became quieter due to lockdowns.
Residents are being urged not to feed the animals, and a capture and euthanisation program has commenced in some cities.
It has been estimated that the wild boar population will surpass two million by next year.
The UK Local Government Association this week released research that shows the average court fine for waste dumping offences was less than the fixed penalty notice that councils can issue as a civil action.
The LGA says tougher sentences are needed to deter the practice of fly-tipping, which is costing council’s more than £50M per year.
It has called on the government to work with councils on reviewing guidance to the courts to ensure the worst offenders face tougher fines.
In the US state of Washington, a city council is making public transport usage free for kids under 18 years of age.
Yakima City Council unanimously supported the initiative this week in an effort to provide greater opportunities for youth to participate in recreational and employment opportunities.
A long time mayor in the city of Missoula, Montana, has passed away this week from pancreatic cancer.
Tributes to the late John Engen have been pouring in from around the world, according to the missoulian.com website.
The 57 year old was in his fifth term as mayor, and it was only last month that he presented a budget for 2023 before his health seriously declined.
Montana law requires an expedited timeline to fill the position of mayor, for which applications will be taken immediately ahead of an appointment to be made by the council soon.
The finalists for the Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards were announced recently, and there are four councils in the running for recognition.
Recently I spoke with Scott Bryant from Greater Bendigo City Council about the Circular Greater Bendigo project, which is an industry leader finalist in the Circular Economy Innovation category.
Scott told me…..
Greater Geelong City Council is up for two awards, including in the Waste and Litter Reduction category for its intensive bin inspection program, which Claire Matthews told me has come a long way from its beginnings in 2015…
You can hear from Scott and Claire when they join me on a new episode of VLGA Connect, premiering tomorrow on the VLGA Connect YouTube and podcast channels.
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 Wednesday. Head to lgnewsroundup.com for breaking news updates and extra interview content.
Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.