The Roundup is back with another selection of local government news stories, including:
A former council executive loses a VCAT appeal against a council planning decision;
A big boost in council funding for a major regional sporting event;
A disappointing act of vandalism called out in Greater Shepparton;
NSW councils coming together to discuss potential demergers, despite a legislative roadblock;
A Tasmanian mayor calls on the Prime Minister to save a local industry;
An Australian first planning service launches in WA;
And a showdown looms in New York between its mayor and the city council.
The Local Government News Roundup is 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 296:
VCAT has rejected a controversial St Albans Park development proposal put forward by former Geelong council executive, Guy Wilson-Browne, supporting the council’s original decision.
The tribunal cited existing neighbourhood character and drainage as key issues, leading to the decision that no permit would be issued for the proposed subdivision.
Opponents argued that the proposed 3500 sqm subdivision of two lots would lead to medium-density housing that the area’s infrastructure wasn’t equipped for.
While the current proposal was deemed unacceptable, VCAT senior member Rachel Naylor indicated that the site could be developed in the future with a more acceptable design response.
Heritage campaigners have failed to stop the demolition of a 153-year-old Georgian-style mansion in Geelong.
The building is making way for the new Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, despite calls for it to be repurposed and retained within the precinct.
Mayor Trent Sullivan said the responsibility for determining the future of the building rested with the Minister for Planning, and that the council had seen value in its retention.
The Geelong Advertiser has reported that materials from the building will be repurposed in the new centre and that it will be recognised through an interactive digital display.
Kingston City Council has joined with the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Association of Bayside Municipalities in welcoming the release of the Port Phillip Bay Coastal Hazard Assessment.
The report, which took five years to complete, uses the latest science to understand current and future coastal hazards.
It highlights areas that will be affected by sea level rise and storm surges.
Mayor Jenna Davey-Burns emphasized the need for state-level action to amend planning schemes to reflect these risks.
Kingston has already implemented measures to improve climate resilience and has appointed a consultant to understand local coastal risks better.
In response to a tragic car crash that killed five people at the Royal Daylesford Hotel, the Hepburn Shire Council has installed large boulders as an interim safety measure.
The incident occurred in November when a car veered off the road and crashed through an outdoor dining area.
ABC News reported that the council is awaiting the conclusion of investigations to determine if further safety measures are required.
The incident has led to a review of the council’s outdoor dining policy and sparked concerns about the safety of outdoor dining in the town.
Northern Grampians Shire Council has committed $400,000 to the Stawell Gift athletics carnival, as part of a new four-year partnership with Stawell Gift Event Management.
The Stawell Times-News (19/1/24) reported that a partnership agreement was signed last week, with the aim of boosting community engagement, economic growth, and tourism.
Mayor Rob Haswell said the council was committed to ensuring the Stawell Gift continues to grow, and the significant increase in funding is a sign of the event’s importance to the Stawell community and the region.
A disappointing incident of vandalism took place in Greater Shepparton over the New Year period when six Callistemon trees were severely damaged.
The trees, which had been growing for over three years, were snapped off at ground level and had to be subsequently removed by the Council’s Arboriculture team.
The financial impact is estimated to be over $450 per tree, taking into account the initial watering and formative pruning that these trees underwent.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In the past, similar juvenile trees along Wyndham Street were also specifically targeted and deliberately vandalised.
The Council is appealing to the public to report any similar acts of vandalism to the police, especially if they have video footage from businesses or residences.
A delegation from Federation Council will attend a local government demerger meeting, but Mayor Pat Bourke insists it’s not indicative of a split being pursued by his municipality.
The meeting, organised by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, will discuss financial remedies and possible extra funding avenues.
Representatives of Snowy Valleys, Hilltops and Snowy Monaro councils have also been invited to the meeting to take place later this month, according to a report from the Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser (19/1/24).
While at least three members of Parliament have indicated they would attend the discussions, the Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has not said whether he would take part.
Mayor Bourke said his council saw the meeting as an opportunity to argue for financial assistance, rather than a gateway to a demerger.
While public hearings continue into a proposed demerger of Inner West Council, the Sydney Morning Herald this morning reports that change is unlikely because a demerger would be unconstitutional under current law.
The state government reportedly has advice that a key section of the Local Government Act inserted by the previous Labor government is invalid and that the legislation doesn’t provide a legal pathway to demergers.
A private members bill has been introduced to amend the act and give councils a right to demerger plebiscites, but it is unclear whether the current government will support the proposed changes.
Snowy Monaro Council has expressed gratitude for the support shown by the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, in prioritising the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct (SAP) investment for Jindabyne’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
The SAP investment is seen as a solution to the town’s water and wastewater issues, which have been a problem for decades.
Jindabyne’s current water treatment system has struggled to maintain water quality standards due to severe weather, low lake levels, and the proximity of the Mowamba Aqueduct.
This has resulted in five boil water alerts in the past two years, leaving the town without drinkable tap water for 41 days.
Furthermore, the town’s sewage treatment plant is nearing capacity, and future growth will exceed its capacity in the short term.
Mayor Chris Hanna and CEO David Hogan have been in discussions with Minister Whan and say they are committed to working with the NSW Government to address these issues.
Three regional NSW councils have launched a collaborative initiative to promote the Castlereagh River Infrastructure and the Real Country experience.
The strategic project involves Coonamble, Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shire Councils, and aims to engage the community and visitors, and support the region’s economic and social development.
The project is funded by the NSW Government and invites feedback from the public through an online exhibition.
From Queensland, the Courier Mail has reported on the costs being incurred by councils to deliver services that are the responsibility of other levels of government and the private sector.
A Local Government Association of Queensland survey found that councils are spending $360M each year on a broad range of services like education infrastructure, postal services, CCTV, rebroadcasting free-to-air television, and even running supermarkets.
It estimates the costs of providing non-core services have increased by nearly 380 per cent in 20 years.
LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said cost shifting was having a staggering impact on councils and communities, and called for a recalibration of the cost and funding structure.
The Mayor of Tasmania’s West Coast Council, Shane Pitt, has urged the Prime Minister to take action to support salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour.
The industry is awaiting a decision from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on whether fish farmers can continue operations in the harbour.
The Burnie Advocate (19/1/24) has reported on how Mayor Pitt has stressed the importance of the industry to the local community and called on the Prime Minister to visit the area and take action to end the uncertainty.
The City of Launceston has outlined plans to redevelop the NTCA Sports Complex to meet the growing needs of the Northern sporting community.
The proposed redevelopment includes expanded facilities, new indoor and outdoor cricket training facilities, improved vehicular access and parking, and a new shared function centre.
The plan also proposes to include the Launceston Tennis Centre and the Elphin Sports Stadium in the master plan.
The City expects to seek funding support from other tiers of government for the project.
The City of Vincent in Western Australia has launched a GreenTrack service to promote environmentally sustainable design in residential development applications.
The council says it’s a first for local government in Australia.
Applicants who submit a Life Cycle Assessment, which measures the environmental impact of the building over its lifetime, will receive priority assessment, cost subsidy, and expert consultation.
The service aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and construction costs while enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Meanwhile, in Stirling, a recycling trial for vapes and e-cigarettes is underway.
The six-month trial is supported by the state government and the waste authority and will contribute to a study of long-term recycling methods for e-cigarette products.
A council spokesperson told PerthNow that the results would inform local government and WALGA advocacy for a product stewardship scheme.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams vetoed two bills on Thursday that would have banned solitary confinement in city jails and required more transparency in police encounters with civilians. The City Council says it has enough votes to override the vetoes.
Adams argued that the new mandates would harm the police work that led to an overall drop in crime last year. He said that the solitary confinement ban would make it more difficult to keep jails safe and that the transparency requirements would make it harder for police to do their jobs.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams disagreed, arguing that the jail restrictions are needed to address problems at Riker’s Island, the city’s main jail complex. She said that the transparency requirements are necessary to build trust between the police and the communities they serve.
The City Council is expected to vote on the vetoes in the coming weeks. If the vetoes are overridden, the new laws would go into effect.
You can read more on this story from NBC News.
Three councils in Kent, namely Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, and Thanet District Council, have experienced disruptions to their online services due to cyber attacks.
The councils are currently investigating the incidents and have taken precautionary measures that may impact access to parts of their websites.
They are working with the National Cyber Security Centre to address the issue.
Brighton & Hove City Council issued 2,235 fly-tipping fines in a year, more than any local authority outside London, indicating its seriousness in tackling the issue.
In contrast with the increase in fly-tipping cases in Sussex, nearby Arun District Council, which had the highest number of reported incidents, issued no fines.
BBC News reported that Brighton was the only local authority not to be a London borough in the top ten councils to have issued fixed penalty notices.
A new report has revealed serious shortcomings in the handling of school provision by Renfrewshire Council.
The Accounts Commission has described the council’s “gross incompetence” in calculating the number of primary school places for a new 4,000-home settlement, which has left the community short of hundreds of school places.
The report criticises the council for its lack of transparency and appropriate engagement with the community, according to an article from localgov.co.uk.
The miscalculations are estimated to cost £60 million to rectify, further straining the Council’s financial situation.
The Commission has urged the council to implement its action plan quickly and transparently, which the council says it is doing.
The small town of Legrad in Croatia, which houses fewer than 2,000 residents, has come up with an innovative method to attract young families and boost its population. They are offering houses for a symbolic price of 13 euro cents.
The unusual initiative has been implemented before and has seen some success, with five houses already sold and three families moving in since it was first introduced in 2018.
The peculiar price of 13 cents originates from the town’s earlier policy known as “Houses for a kuna”. The kuna was the local currency before Croatia adopted the euro. At the time of the currency conversion, 1 kuna was equivalent to 0.13 euros cents.
To qualify for the deal, applicants must be under the age of 45 and should be in a marital or extramarital partnership.
Additionally, they should not have a criminal record or own any other property.
The town is aiming to create a community of young families that can contribute to its future growth and development.