Today on the Local Government News Roundup summer edition, a brief look at some of the stories making news around the sector, and then I’m joined by a special guest to look at a unique multi-council project that was recognised with a top award at the recent Premier’s Sustainability Awards in Victoria.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Stories in this episode (with links where available):
Moira Shire Council has announced the appointment of Matthew Morgan as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Morgan has 20 years of experience in the sector, including five years at CEO level. He was recently the CEO of the City of Port Lincoln in South Australia.
He has been appointed to a four-year contract, commencing Monday 22nd January.
A proposed national Vietnamese Museum may yet be built in Melbourne.
Brimbank Council will seek community feedback on a proposed sale of council land which could see the planned Vietnamese Museum Australia built in Sunshine.
Plans to build in Footscray fell through in October, following which the museum commenced discussions with Brimbank about a potential site.
A consultation period will run between January and February before the council decides on the sale.
Ballarat council will lobby against a new Powercor substation announced for Ballarat East.
3BA reports that the $30M project near homes in York Street is attracting strong community opposition, with two petitions objecting to the proposal presented to the council recently.
A five-month review has resulted in a decision by Moyne Shire Council to continue providing home and community care services.
Mayor Ian Smith said the council was confident it had a full picture of the impact of commonwealth reforms on the aged care sector, and that it continue in the space and possibly even grow it.
First-term councillor Sam Spinks has been elected the new deputy mayor at Greater Shepparton. Cr Spinks will serve in the role until elections in October, in support of Mayor Shane Sali who is serving a two year term.
A countback for Frankston City Council has been set for 10am on the 15th January.
The procedure is needed to fill an extraordinary vacancy after the resignation of Steven Hughes.
Former Port Phillip mayor and councillor Amanda Stevens will be the new CEO of the Victorian Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Ms Stevens will assume the role at IPAA Victoria in January.
The Herald Sun has reported that a former Knox councillor Emanuele ‘Manny’ Chicchiello has been pre-selected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the seat of Aston at the next Federal election.
The seat was lost to Labor in a by-election after it had been in Liberal hands since 1990.
Mr Cicchiello has previously unsuccessfully contested the federal seat of Bruce and the Victorian upper house.
The Age has reported this week on concerns in growth council areas about the ability to deliver infrastructure in light of a shortfall in developer contributions of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Wyndham in Melbourne’s outer west has identified a funding gap of half a billion dollars putting at risk nearly 50 projects needed to serve future suburbs with an estimated 180,000 residents.
At Cardinia in the outer south-east, a planned jobs and housing precinct is under a cloud due to a shortfall of least $63M, with the council warning that it does not have funds or capacity to respond in its long term financial plan.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on a heated discussion at Liverpool City Council about the potential sale of assets to fund a sporting precinct, to include a state-of-the-art aquatic centre.
Councillors were at odds over whether adequate community consultation had been undertaken on the proposal before an announcement was made just before the state election earlier this year.
Ultimately, a resolution was passed by seven votes to four.
There’s been a protest outside the Kyogle Shire Council chambers over the sudden sacking of general manager Graham Kennett earlier this month.
ABC News reported that about 150 residents gathered to demand the resignation of the five councillors who voted for the sacking, and for the appointment of an administrator.
Mayor Kylie Webster addressed the crowd and drew boos and jeers when she remained unapologetic about the council’s decision.
And Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath has given an interview to NBN News to tell his side of the story after an independent investigation cleared him of being involved in a letter-writing scandal.
He said he has no choice now but to “come out swinging” and says he doesn’t believe the scandal has impacted his performance.
Queensland has had a change of local government minister after new Premier Steven Miles announced his cabinet this week.
Meaghan Scanlon has taken on the portfolio, along with housing, public works and planning.
Peak body LGAQ has congratulated on Minister Scanlon on her new responsibilities, and thanked Premier Miles for his work in the local government portfolio in recent years.
Mayors and Councillors in Queensland will receive a pay increase after the Local Government Remuneration Commission set new maximum salaries to take effect from 1st July.
In most cases, remuneration levels will increase by between 3 and 5 per cent, except where some councils have moved into new categories that carry higher levels of remuneration.
The new levels are published in the commission’s annual report which was released last week.
A Tasmanian council has been referred to the state’s Worksafe authority by the acting director of local government, over allegations of bullying, harassment and other harmful behaviours.
The Mercury has reported that Northern Midlands councillor Andrew McCullagh was recently suspended for 21 days, having been found to have harassed the mayor and general manager – a determination that Cr McCullagh is appealing to the magistrate’s court.
There’s pushback in Adelaide against tighter regulations on short-stay rental properties that have been floated by Adelaide City Council.
Indaily.com reports that the council is considering policy options to deal with the impact of short-stay properties on long-term rental accommodation in the Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide.
Airbnb and the Property Council are speaking out against the proposals, while Premier Peter Malinauskas has confirmed the government is exploring a levy similar to that announced in Victoria.
Councils in England will receive an increase in government funding of 6.5%, or nearly 4B pounds.
The government’s announcement was eagerly awaited by the sector, but some have said it will not be enough to stop more councils going into effective bankruptcy.
The mayor of West Yorkshire has told the Telegraph and Argus that the increase will “barely touch the sides”.
The government also plans to use financial penalties to stop councils from offering four-day working weeks to their staff.
The Guardian reported on plans to block councils who use the practice from receiving the full amount of government funding in future settlements.
Meanwhile, local government in Scotland will receive a 14B pound boost plus funding to enable a freeze of council taxes.
The tax freeze has been criticised by the leaders in the sector, and worker’s union Unison has described it as fiscally reckless and bad news for local services.
And London’s Camden Council has become the fifth in the UK to ban meat and dairy products, resolving to provide fully plant-based catering at its internal meetings and events.
A free sustainable gardening program has been operating across several metropolitan councils in the Melbourne area – the number is up to 11 now – and it’s been kicking goals in supporting residents to transform their outdoor spaces into productive functional gardens.
The My Smart Garden program was announced as the Community Champion winner recently at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Let’s find out what the program does and why it’s been so successful.
Kat Lavers is a sustainability officer at Hobsons Bay City Council, and she’s been involved with the My Smart Garden project since shortly after its creation back in 2012, and she joins Chris on the Roundup to talk about the award-winning project.