On today’s Local Government News Roundup,
Councils across the country respond to the devastating events in the Middle East;
Local residents score a win at VCAT over Ballarat council without legal representation;
A new economic and tourism framework announced for Mildura;
West Wimmera Shire gets a new councillor;
Questions asked about councils’ use of Roundup;
A NSW Council fined after pleading guilty to charges brought by the EPA;
A new AI tool deployed for early detection of bushfires in Queensland;
Speculation that the NT government may be about to intervene at a troubled terrritory council, and more council news from around Australia and across the globe.
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This week’s shocking events in Israel and Gaza have prompted an outpouring of support and grief from councils across Australia. Here is a roundup of the latest reaction.
The Glen Eira City Council area in Melbourne is regarded as the city’s cultural home of the Jewish community.
The Mayor Cr Jim Magee said that Glen Eira stands with the Jewish community as we see the heartbreaking events in Israel.
Mayor Magee said the council will continue to strengthen its already strong ties with the Jewish community, and maintain a focus on creating a safe and inclusive community.
Woollahra Council in Sydney resolved on Monday night that it would fly the Israeli flag outside its council chambers to demonstrate solidarity.
The majority of Sydney’s Jewish population resides in the eastern suburbs, constituting 16 per cent of Waverley’s population, and 14 per cent in Woollahra.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Woollahra mayor Richard Shields used his mayoral minute to condemn the attacks, and to request that the Israeli flag fly in addition to existing flags in solidarity with Israel.
The Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, has expressed her deep shock at the attacks on civilians in Israel, especially on the holy festival of Simchat Tora.
“It is devastating to learn of such tragic and unprovoked attacks on innocent people, and the loss of life is heartbreaking” Mayor Masselos said.
“My thoughts are with the community at this time, and I express my deepest condolences to families who have loved ones who have been killed, injured, displaced by this dreadful violence or who are missing.
Shoalhaven Councillor Paul Ell moved an urgency motion at Monday night’s Ordinary Meeting for Council to stand in solidarity with Israel in the aftermath of the weekend’s terrorist attacks by Hamas.
The motion passed 9-2 with the support of Independent and Labor Councillors.
“We are all devastated about these attacks, and the loss of so many innocent lives, and our thoughts are with the people directly impacted. Our motion expresses Council’s support and sympathy for local residents of Israeli and Jewish heritage as they come to terms with these traumatic events.” Cr Ell said.
Key Toowoomba city landmarks have been lit up this week in solidarity with Israel following the deadly weekend attacks by Hamas in Gaza.
Toowoomba City Hall, the Victoria Street Bridge and City Hall’s Annex are illuminated in blue in what Mayor Geoff McDonald said was a show of support to Israel and the Jewish community.
Mayor McDonald said, “In time the council will explore other ways to support the Israeli community, particularly those in Toowoomba who have family back home who may have been impacted.”
The same Toowoomba City landmarks were recently lit up in support of Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
Victorian Roundup:
VCAT has overturned a hotel proposal in Ballarat after local residents mounted a campaign to reverse a decision of the council from last year.
They successfully argued without legal representation that the proposal for a 111-room on farmland would have unacceptable traffic outcomes, and that the area should remain protected for farming use.
A City of Ballarat spokesperson told ABC News that the council recognises the right of people to appeal a decision to the tribunal, and respects the VCAT decision.
The Mildura Rural City Council has endorsed a new Economic and Tourism Development Framework to enhance economic and tourism growth in the region.
The framework includes two independent advisory boards focused on economic and tourism development respectively.
The Council’s Strategy and Growth department will handle the operational functions currently managed by Mildura Regional Development.
The decision was based on an examination of how other municipalities in Victoria fulfill these functions, with most responsibility falling to local governments.
Mayor Cr Liam Wood said the new framework would continue to strengthen the existing partnership between the Council and Mildura Regional Development, combining resources and expertise.
The transition of functions and staff from Mildura Regional Development to the Council is expected to occur over several months.
The commencement of the new framework coincides with the appointment of Mildura Regional Development CEO Peter Alexander as the council’s first General Manager of Strategy and Growth.
Richard W. Hicks has been elected as a councillor for West Wimmera Shire Council, as the only eligible candidate remaining from the October 2020 general election.
Mr Hicks was invited to declare he was still qualified to be a councillor in writing, and he returned the declaration within the required 14-day timeframe.
The VEC declared the result on Monday afternoon.
The extraordinary vacancy occurred after the resignation of Councillor Trevor John Domaschenz.
If there are more vacancies in West Wimmera Shire Council before the 2024 general election, the Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a by-election.
Frankston City Council has rejected a proposal to consider whether the use of a single faith prayer is still appropriate for its council meetings.
The motion was brought forward by Cr Sue Baker at the 2nd October Council meeting, requesting a report looking at the issue in response to “the changing landscape of councils and community.”
Bayside News reported Mayor Nathan Conroy’s comments that the prayer had been in place for 70 years, as part of a rich history of Christianity in Frankston, and he believed in preserving the status quo.
The council has not reviewed its use of the prayer since its introduction in 1953.
Monash Council is planning for the future of the Oakleigh Golf Course, and is inviting feedback on two options for the land.
The options are to retain the 9-hole golf course, or transform the site into a regional park.
Golfers are concerned about the potential change and have started a petition to protect the course, according to a report from the local Leader newspaper.
Mayor Tina Samardzija said the council understands and respects the role that golf has played at the site, but also wants to ensure they are making the most of available space in Monash.
Visual plans for the $18 million first phase of the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail have been revealed, showcasing an interactive experience that celebrates the area’s fascinating prehistoric past and promises to take local landmarks to the global stage.
The trail will span six creative sites plus a digital overlay, paying homage to the special environment inhabited by Victoria’s polar dinosaurs 125 million years ago.
The site-specific experiences will use sophisticated technology to deliver a world-class narrative of discovery and exploration, and will also feature sculptures, hectares of gardens, and a world-class adventure playground.
Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Michael Whelan said the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail will be a game-changer for tourism across the region, estimated to create more than 400 jobs and increase annual tourist numbers by almost 100,000 people a year by 2035.
Victorian Briefs:
The state government and Colac Otway Shire Council have announced the completion of the Forrest Mountain Bike Revitalisation Project.
The Forrest trail network now has over 70 km of tracks across 26 trails now open to visitors.
It is anticipated to attract up to 50,000 visitors a year.
The Rural City of Wangaratta has celebrated a grand launch of its new Ned Kelly Discovery Hub in Glenrowan.
Over 3,000 people took the chance to see the new $5.5M development, which has been hailed as a world-class tourism experience, predicted to attract an additional 20,000 people annually to the town.
Disposing of green waste in Glenelg Shire will become temporarily free as part of summer fire preparedness.
The council will waive all fees associated with green waste disposal for residents and ratepayers from Monday, October 23 – Sunday, November 5, 2023.
Baw Baw Shire Council has commenced a Significant Tree Study to protect and identify exceptional trees in the area.
The study aims to create a Significant Tree Register and make changes to the planning scheme to protect these trees.
The community is being invited to nominate eligible trees throughout the shire.
Councils in the media spotlight….
The Age has published a report this week looking at the use of glyphosate-based weed killers by Melbourne Councils.
Port Phillip, Frankston and Brimbank have reportedly reintroduced using Roundup, despite earlier ceasing its use over concerns about potential links to some types of cancer.
The herbicide, which is banned for household use in France, the Netherlands and Belgium, will soon be completely banned in Germany as it already is in Vietnam and some parts of the USA.
A survey of metropolitan councils by the Age confirmed that all 31 are using the herbicide, but sparingly and not around playgrounds or near childcare centres and schools.
There are calls for councils to stop using glyphosate, and instead hire more staff to use safer or manual alternatives.
National Roundup:
NSW:
Sydney drivers could be facing lower speed limits on local roads, after Inner West Council last night voted to put a new traffic plan out for community consultation.
The InnerWest@40 Study proposes a reduction in speed limits to 40km/h on all local roads and to 50km/h on major thoroughfares to create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
The plan also includes a call to further reduce speed limits to 30km/h in areas with schools and high pedestrian and cyclist activity.
An amendment in the chamber to the recommendation will see the rollout of the plan prioritised to areas around aged care and childcare centres.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that most roads in the City of Sydney already have a 40km/h speed limit.
The NRMA is not convinced a blanket approach is necessary, and says speed limits should be based on individual road performance and factors such as traffic volumes and crash history.
Fines for speeding in school zones in the past six years total over $200 million in NSW.
The new mayor of Woollahra Council has been unable to stop his council proceeding with a ban on gas appliances in new homes and renovations.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported this week that Mayor Richard Shields was in the minority on a vote to put the proposed ban out to public exhibition.
The ban would apply to stoves, hot water systems and pools, and would bring Woollahra in line with neighbouring Waverley and Parramatta councils, which have already banned gas connections in new homes.
Newcastle City Council has been fined $110,000 and ordered to pay costs for water pollution following an incident at Summerhill Waste Management Facility (SWMF) in 2021.
The council pleaded guilty in the Newcastle Local Court in a prosecution brought by the NSW EPA for two offences after heavy rainfall resulted in leachate impacted water overflowing into nearby Wentworth Creek.
EPA Director Operations David Gathercole said the two offences related to the pollution of a waterway and the proper management of equipment.
The council was convicted of a similar offence in 2019.
The Court ordered Newcastle City Council to pay the EPA’s legal and investigation costs totalling more than $60,000 and publish details of the conviction in the Newcastle Herald and on its social media accounts.
Wollongong City Council will make a submission on the Australian Government’s offshore wind development proposal, expressing support for clean energy and job creation.
However, they have requested further consideration of the visual and environmental impacts on the coastline, as well as clarity on the expected benefits for the local community.
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbury acknowledged community concerns regarding marine life, coastal amenity, and pollution and has called for an extensive environmental assessment and potential adjustments to minimize visual impact.
Food recycling has been expanded to all free-standing homes in Inner West Council this week.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said the council is determined to make food recycling a success in Inner west, predicting the annual carbon emissions savings to be the equivalent of an entire month’s electricity emissions for an average household.
The new food recycling service will include a weekly collection of the green-lid bin, with red-lid bins to be collected fortnightly.
Queensland council delegates will next week debate a call for state MPs to be captured by Right to Information legislation.
The Cairns Post has reported on the motion from Redland City Council to the LGAQ state conference seeking an overhaul of legislation so that documents held by MPs and their electorate officers could be forcibly released.
The legislation currently covers government agencies and local governments, but not MPs.
Supporters of the proposal say it would be an improvement to the integrity regime in a state that is seen to be particularly sensitive to issues of corruption and lack of transparency. (Source: Cairns Post, 10/10/23)
With severe bushfire threat due to El Nino this coming summer, Sunshine Coast City Council is using Artificial Intelligence to help prevent them.
InQueensland reports that the council has partnered with local firm exci, which uses cameras and satellite imagery to spot fires and notify emergency services.
The system can detect bushfires within minutes using machine-learning algorithms.
exci will collaborate with Landwatch Australia to install cameras at a number of new sites around the Sunshine Coast.
TAS:
Hobart City Council has been overruled by the Tasmanian Planning Tribunal in its refusal to allow the conversion of a unit into short-stay accommodation.
The appeal of the council’s decision hinged on whether a remaining long-term occupant would suffer an unreasonable loss of their ‘residential amenity’ by being surrounded by short-stay accommodation.
As the Hobart Mercury reported, the council and the applicant argued different interpretations of residential amenity, with the tribunal concluding the answer was somewhere in the middle.
It has ordered the council to issue the permit, but said the case should not be seen as a value judgment on the issue of housing availability as compared to short term accommodation.
Clarence City Council has voted to put a proposed Tasmania AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre in the Rosny Parklands out for community consultation.
The consultation will gather community views on having a centre in Clarence and specifically at the Rosny Parklands.
Council wants an indication of the level of community support before proceeding with the proposal.
NT:
Controversy is swirling around the NT’s Barkly Regional Council, after video emerged of its mayor making a citizen’s arrest and sitting on an Aboriginal child.
Jeffery McLaughlin says the youth was attempting to break into his family’s home, and that his actions were not illegal, according to a report from the NT News.
But the community has rallied to call for his resignation, and the territory’s Attorney General and the local MP say he should step aside while the matter is investigated.
Since the matter came to light on the weekend, there has been speculation that the council could face Government intervention.
This latest incident with the mayor comes on top of unresolved issues with animal management and alcohol rehabilitation, and a well documented exodus of senior council staff.
In an updated report from NT News yesterday, Barkly’s acting mayor Greg Marlow said there was no reason for the government to intervene. He presided over a council meeting yesterday morning, with two department representatives in attendance as observers.
Cr Marlow also confirmed that the council was investigating an alleged breach of the local government code of conduct, which he was not at liberty to discuss further.
National Briefs:
The City of Canterbury Bankstown will this week launch a new program called “1,000 Books Before School.”
The program encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with young children before they start kindergarten to promote brain development, imagination, and language skills.
After reading 100 books, participants can receive a special library bag and a badge, with additional badges awarded for every 100 books read.
Local councils in South Australia are being encouraged to contribute to the development of a 20 year infrastructure strategy for the state.
A discussion paper has been prepared for feedback, with consultation open until the 13th November.
Devonport City Council has announced the return of its annual luncheon celebrating residents who have been long term ratepayers in the city.
Mayor Alison Jarman said the luncheon during Seniors’ Week is a gesture to show appreciation for residents who have been integral to the community for over 50 years.
Applications are open for the chief executive officer position at West Arnhem Regional Council, based in Jabiru.
Gem Executive is handling the recruitment, with applications due in by the 25th October.
International Spotlight:
UK:
The leader of Guildford Borough Council is facing calls to resign immediately over claims that she is deeply associated with the debacles in the authority’s housing department.
The council narrowly avoided issuing a section 114 notice recently, but according to BBC News a review of its finances has uncovered more significant issues and a notice may yet be required in the coming months.
Councillors are due to debate a request to the government for an independent assessment of the housing department, while the council says it cannot comment on specific questions relating to the ongoing investigation.
Liverpool City Council is writing off £42m in debt, which is mostly uncollected council tax dating back to 1997. The council says the debt is “clearly irrecoverable” or “not financially viable to continue to pursue”.
The council’s Liberal Democrat opposition says the decision is a “smack in the face” to ratepayers across the city, and that it will have consequences for frontline services, according a report from BBC News.
The council says that writing off the debt will free up resources that can be used to pursue more recoverable debts, and that it will also send a message to residents that the council is willing to be reasonable and understanding.
Meanwhile, Leeds City Council is considering a range of additional measures to meet the ongoing major budget challenge, including significant staffing reductions, building closures, and asset sales.
The council is facing an overspend of £29.6m for the current financial year, due to rising costs and demand for services, especially in looked after children, special care and education, and adult social care.
The council has already put forward proposals to deliver savings, but it needs to find an additional £162.8m over the next three years, including £59.2m in the next financial year.
In order to meet this challenge, the council will continue to carry out continuous service and asset reviews, along with freezes on recruitment and non-essential spending.
The council’s executive board will meet next week to discuss the financial position and options on how to meet the challenge.
USA:
Faith leaders in Cleveland are lobbying the City Council for a ban on flavored tobacco products in the city.
They argue that the products are targeted especially at and have health impacts on Black communities.
Faith leaders argue that the ban is a moral issue and that Cleveland should be a trailblazer in implementing it.
One leader told Ideastream Public Media the ban is a natural extension to the city’s determination that racism is a public health crisis.
City Council President Blain Griffin is skeptical of the ban, but is willing to listen to the concerns of faith leaders and residents.
He wants to see more details about how the ban would be implemented and how it would work with other strategies to reduce tobacco use.
In Hawaii, the western part of Maui is reopening to tourism despite opposition from the local county council.
CNN reported that Maui County Council voted unanimously on Friday in favour of a resolution urging Hawaii’s governor to delay the weekend’s planned reopening of West Maui to tourism.
The date for the reopening comes two months after wildfires killed 97 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and decimated the historic tourist town of Lahaina.
Councillors argued that reopening so soon was not trauma-informed.
However the Governor Josh Green has pushed ahead with the reopening, supported by Maui’s Mayor Richard Bissen, who said it was needed to support the island’s economy.