In this episode of the Local Government News Roundup,
a popular local mayor selected for a Federal by-election contest;
Disappointment in a Supreme Court ruling on a controversial powerline project;
Cost blowouts behind the rejection of major project tenders in Newcastle;
A merger of two Tasmanian councils openly considered by their mayors;
A councillor in a conduct breach for mimicking an officer’s accent;
and calls for state government action after coastal hazard assessment data shows the areas of Port Phillip Bay at greatest risk of inundation.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
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Transcript for episode 293:
Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy has been selected as the Liberal Party’s candidate for the Victorian federal seat of Dunkley.
The by-election follows the recent death of the Labor MP, Peta Murphy, who had been battling cancer.
The selection of Cr Conroy sets up a contest with Labor’s candidate Jodie Belyea at the upcoming by-election, for which a date is yet to be announced.
Moorabool Shire Council has expressed disappointment in a Supreme Court decision handed down just before Christmas, which confirmed the validity of decisions made by Victorian Minister Lily D’Ambrosio concerning the Western Renewables Link project.
The minister had sought to fast-track the proposal, and the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West, which will see a high voltage transmission line run through about 60km of the shire.
An alliance of affected parties challenged the orders on ten grounds, all of which were rejected by the court which ordered the alliance to pay the minister’s costs.
An EES for the project is expected to be put to public comment later this year.
The $66M Northern Aquatic and Community Hub in Norlane has been completed and is set to open to the public on February 19.
The facility was handed over to the City of Greater Geelong just before Christmas and opening preparations are well underway, including the recruitment, induction, and training of approximately 250 employees, installation of health club and other equipment, and securing providers for the on-site café and health consulting suites.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on February 9 with state and federal government funding partners, which each contributed around $8M to the project.
Greater Geelong Council will receive a report on the community’s attitudes towards cat confinement next month.
The Geelong Advertiser reports today that more than 2,300 responses have been received to a community survey about the effectiveness of the current curfew and appetite for 24-hour confinement.
The report also reveals that Surf Coast Shire Council has seized 12 cats and issued two fines since a 24 hour curfew came into effect in that municipality last year.
The recent heavy rains have put pressure on the stormwater networks in Gannawarra Shire.
The council said it is working to alleviate concerns about several hotspots that require urgent attention after being impacted frequently.
Up to 300mm fell in the shire during a fourteen day period from late December through early January.
Meanwhile, residents of Huntly in Greater Bendigo have been invited to meet with council staff this week to discuss concerns about flooding and drainage after being continually hit by recent storm events.
Engineering, planning and waste and recovery officers will be joined by catchment management authority representatives at the meeting on Wednesday.
Works on a revamp of the Corryong CBD will proceed after Towong Shire considered a petition calling for a redesign over parking concerns.
At an extraordinary meeting last week, Councillors voted narrowly to proceed with a slight adjustment to line marking.
The petitioners were concerned that a widening of the footpath would restrict available parking space, according to a report from the Border Mail (12/1/24).
The City of Newcastle has rescinded a $56.7 million tender with IQRenew, the chosen builder and operator for its planned materials recovery facility (MRF).
The MRF, which was to be the city’s first, was designed to process up to 85,000 tonnes per annum of recyclables at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre.
However, according to a report from the Newcastle Herald (13/1/24) the council cited “outstanding commercial, technical and contractual” issues with the project that were not sufficiently resolved to proceed with the contract.
The council also rejected all tenders for earthworks related to the MRF and an organics processing facility at Summerhill.
A confidential report indicated that the cost for these earthworks could be $10 million higher than the pre-tender estimate of $4 million.
The City of Ryde has executed a contract to acquire the Denistone Sports Club.
The property was purchased from the Carlingford Sports and Bowling Club, and the transfer of ownership to the Council is expected to take several months.
Once the transfer is complete, the Council will consult the community to determine the future use of the site.
The Council has also engaged with the lawn bowlers who currently use the site to understand their needs and expectations, and it plans to seek a suitable agreement with them to continue bowling activities at the venue.
Two Tasmanian mayors have said their councils are open to a merger, according to a weekend report from the Daily Telegraph.
Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney and Kentish Mayor Kate Haberle are both receptive to a merger, which would build on a resource-sharing arrangement they have had in place for about a decade.
A merger of the two councils was a recommendation from last year’s local government review process, but the state government has said mergers would not be forced on councils.
A significant tree has been planted by the City of Hobart in tribute to Tasmanian native Mary Donaldson who is set to be crowned the new Queen Consort of Denmark.
Pulse Hobart has reported on a weekend of festivities in honour of the first Australian-born Queen of a European monarchy.
The council says careful and thoughtful consideration went into choosing a Tasmanian blue gum, the state’s floral emblem, in honour of the new Queen.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission has announced a by-election to be conducted by postal ballot to fill a vacancy on the King Island Council.
This follows the absence of Councillor Sarina Laidler from 3 consecutive council meetings.
As Councillor Laidler was one of 8 candidates elected unopposed in October 2022, a recount of ballot papers to fill the vacancy is not possible.
The Flinders Ranges Council has appointed Sean Holden as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Holden, currently the CEO of the Northern Territory Local Government Association, will assume his new role in mid-February 2024.
He brings a wealth of experience in local government, particularly in the areas of governance and legislation.
The Queensland Electoral Commission is seeking 10,000 people to serve as casual election officials for the upcoming 2024 local government elections, scheduled for Saturday, March 16.
This opportunity allows Queenslanders to earn extra income, with some supervisor-level positions paying over $800 per day.
The roles also include duties before and after the election, such as pre-polling, setting up booths, marking names off the roll, guarding the ballot box, and counting votes. Interested individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Redland City Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with major cricket governing bodies and local clubs to enhance cricket infrastructure in the region.
The MOU covers the Redlands Cricket Inc Masterplan, which includes various upgrades such as field lighting, change room extensions, and an indoor turf training facility.
The partnership aims to foster the growth of cricket, particularly in entry-level programs and girls’ cricket, by providing suitable infrastructure for the community.
West Daley Regional Council in the Northern Territory is recruiting for a CEO.
The council covers a mostly rural area of 14,000 square kilometres roughly 400 kilometres south-west of Darwin, with the CEO based in Darwin but splitting their time with the Wadeye office.
Nick Kelly at Gem Executive is handling the recruitment, with applications closing on the 6th of February.
International Spotlight:
There’s controversy in Vancouver surrounding Mayor Ken Sim’s proposal to remove the elected park board.
The mayor and his party want to amend the city’s charter to allow the change, arguing that it is about managing the spaces more effectively.
However, critics, including members of the mayor’s party, are concerned that the move would erode democracy and put the city’s unique public access at risk.
Municipal World has published an article that presents dissenting opinions and the potential implications of the proposed changes.
Auckland Council is set to remove approximately 30% of the region’s 10,000 rubbish bins from public spaces as a cost-cutting measure.
Stuff reports that the initiative is part of the council’s efforts to achieve an annual budget savings target and is expected to save around $9.5 million over eight years.
The council has stated that only bins with historically low use and those close to other bins will be removed to minimise disruption and prevent an increase in litter.
Removed bins that are damaged will be recycled, while others will be repurposed for new developments or to replace damaged bins.
The Mayor of Allen, in Northern Samar in The Philippines has been suspended for six months due to a road project carried out on private property without following the appropriate legal procedures.
The Philippine Star reported that the suspension of Jose Arturo Suan was ordered by the Ombudsman, citing grave abuse of authority and oppression.
The project involved the use of a private property and the demolition of a concrete fence without providing just compensation.
The mayor’s office has filed a motion for reconsideration of the Ombudsman’s ruling.
A councillor in Dorset, mimicked a senior council officer’s accent for eight or nine years.
Bill Pipe has admitted to mimicking the officer’s accent but claimed he had not realised it had caused offence, according to a report from BBC News.
He described his behaviour as “merely jovial banter” and said it had continued for years without complaint
But a panel has now deemed his actions a breach of Dorset Council’s code of conduct, describing the behaviour as unacceptable and offensive.
Cr Pipe has been told to write a letter of apology to the female officer and will be offered a mentor to guide him.
Last week, new data was released showing areas at risk of inundation around the Port Phillip Bay coast. The research suggests that the the situation will likely get considerably worse as climate change accelerates.
Many are now calling for a coordinated government-led response to appropriately manage the impacts.
Among those is the Association of Bayside Municipalities, a group of nine councils around the bay. Its President is Jonathon Marsden, a second term councillor and former mayor at Hobsons Bay City Council, and he joins me now.
(interview)
For further reading on this issue I’ve put a series of links in the show notes, include a series of articles published in recent dats by the Age, the hazard assessment data portal and more related information.
The Age articles 9th January 2024; 11th January 2024; 12th January 2024