On the latest edition of the Local Government News Roundup:
- New green wedge planning controls unveiled for Melbourne’s fringe areas
- Councils grapple with vandalism of public amenities and landfill fires
- Storm event recovery and preparedness still front and centre for some councils
- Surprise results from Queensland local government elections
- One council demerger rejected, while another continues to move forward
- The search for a new General Manager is on at Singleton after its GM of eight years resigns
- A city mourns the passing of a former CEO;
- A UK council’s “disappointing and arrogant” decision
Plus more Council news from across Australia and beyond on the Local Government News Roundup, 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 313:
Victorian Roundup:
Councils on Melbourne’s fringe will receive new guidance from the state government on green wedge land management, according to a weekend article from the Age.
A new Green Wedge and Agricultural Action Plan includes a focus on balancing competing land use needs for housing and farming on the city’s outskirts, and will set new controls on accommodation, exhibition centres and hotels, according to the report.
The new controls are aimed at protecting farmland from encroaching urban growth, with restrictions on residential and industrial development near agricultural land.
A special overlay will apply to irrigated market gardens in Werribee South and Bacchus Marsh.
Minister for Planning Sonia Kilkenny told The Age that more housing doesn’t have to come at the expense of our green wedges.
The fate of a five-storey hotel proposed for the Mornington Peninsula will be determined by the council this week.
The council’s planning department has recommended the proposal be rejected due to concerns about size and parking.
If the development were to proceed, it would be the tallest building in Rosebud and Portsea, according to the Mornington Peninsula Leader (15/3/24).
53 objections to the plan have been received, mainly due to concerns about the building’s height, scale, and inadequate parking provisions.
Moyne Shire Mayor, Cr Ian Smith, is seeking assurances from the State Government that community concerns will be considered in the approval process for renewable energy projects.
He is deeply concerned about the removal of the independent planning panel process which would erase a vital chance for community and stakeholder input on projects.
Cr Smith also highlighted the need for strategic land use planning before new developments are approved, and for developers to engage with local communities before project design.
Moyne Shire is home to 310 operating wind turbines, with another 410 under construction or in planning.
The City of Greater Geelong has launched a Capital Works projects dashboard which allows community members to explore 67 council-funded infrastructure projects at various stages of development.
Twenty projects are under construction, including the Leopold Tennis Pavilion and Bell Park Sport and Recreation Club Changeroom.
Seven projects are in the design phase, and planning is underway for new sports lighting at the Waurn Ponds Tennis Club and an upgrade of the Lara Driving Range.
Eighteen projects, including the Northern Aquatic and Community Hub, are listed as completed or being handed over.
Extensive vandalism to public facilities in Hamilton has led to a decision by Southern Grampians Shire Council to temporarily close public amenities in the town overnight.
The vandalism includes damage to heritage sites, public toilets, and street furniture, causing distress and financial burden.
To reduce nighttime incidents, amenities blocks at four locations in Hamilton will be closed from 8pm to 7am.
The public has been urged to report any incidents of damage to the Council or Hamilton police.
Swan Hill Rural City Council is trialing the playing of classical music at the McCallum Street toilets to deter vandalism.
The innovative strategy, inspired by successful implementations elsewhere, is designed to mitigate anti-social behaviour in public spaces.
The Council is also planning a comprehensive refurbishment of the toilets as part of its Public Convenience Strategy.
Staff at Corangamite Shire are said to be at their wit’s end after multiple fires at the Corangamite Landfill due to incorrect disposal of batteries, e-waste, and flares.
Three such fires occurred on one day in January alone, posing a risk of serious injuries and significant damage at a particularly dangerous time of year for fire outbreaks.
The public is being urged to properly dispose of hazardous items, and consider alternatives like electronic LED distress beacons instead of pyrotechnic flares.
Recovery and preparedness after recent storm events is still top of mind for councils across the state.
The Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, and the Emergency Management Commissioner, Rick Nugent, recently visited Murrindindi, Mitchell and Campaspe Shires seeking to understand the impacts of recent emergency events.
In Murrindindi, council representatives highlighted the challenges faced by the community, particularly in disaster preparedness and response.
Issues such as insufficient early warnings, the unpredictable nature of severe weather events, and the need for more resilient infrastructure were discussed.
The visit also included a tour of areas severely impacted by recent floods.
In Seymour, the Governor and the Emergency Management Commissioner toured flood-affected communities, spoke with residents about their experiences, and reflected on the progress made through coordination and collaboration.
East Gippsland Shire Council and Telstra are collaborating to improve telecommunications in the region, particularly since the 2019-20 fires.
Recent discussions between Telstra, NBNCo and Council representatives focused on infrastructure upgrades, the addition of 18 new mobile sites, and lessons learned from a recent storm event that caused extensive outages.
The council and Telstra are working towards recognising telecommunications as an essential service, mandating emergency roaming and infrastructure reliability, investigating infrastructure failures, enhancing system resilience, and improving reliability in remote areas.
And at Cardinia Shire, an expanded kerbside storm debris removal program is taking place over the next week across 19 townships.
543 roads across the shire are included the program for the collection of tree branches and trunks and other storm-related waste.
Victorian Briefs:
Mornington Peninsula beaches will undergo a 12-month trial of hand cleaning after investigations showed mechanical rakes only removed 40% of litter and often broke plastic into smaller pieces.
The trial aims to determine if hand cleaning is more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
Moira Shire is actively encouraging visitation from the self-contained Recreational Vehicle (RV) market, a growing segment of tourists.
It has designated the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve as a 48-hour camping area for self-contained RVs, which is expected to benefit both locals and tourists.
The City of Ballarat estimates more than 44,000 people attended this year’s Begonia Festival, held over the March long weekend.
An economic boost of around $3M for the local economy was supplemented by around $2.3M in media attention for the event.
Applications are open for the CEO position at Glenelg Shire.
GEM Executive is handling the recruitment for the role which is being filled on an interim basis by Greg Wood, following the resignation last year of Paul Phelan.
Applications close on 9th April.
National Roundup:
QLD:
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been returned. He said he was humbled to be chosen to serve another term, and was critical of the slow count in many of the city’s wards which remained too close to call on Saturday night.
According to the Brisbane Times, Mr Schrinner said the Electoral Commission’s performance will need to be considered after counting is finished.
On the Gold Coast, high profile mayor Tom Tate was also returned – it will be an unprecedented fourth term for him. With a little of half the vote counted on Saturday night, Mayor Tate was polling over 50 per cent of first preference votes.
Seven incumbent councillors look likely to be returned, while suspended councillor Ryan Baildon-Lumsden was struggling in third place, according to 102.9 FM with postal and preference votes expected to determine the result.
Incumbent Mackay mayor Greg Williamson was in a tight battle with challenger Steve Jackson; at South Burnett, the election for a new mayor there saw Kathy Duff with a lead on Saturday night at around 36 per cent of the vote over her nearest rival on 26 per cent.
At Gympie, incumbent mayor Glenn Hartwig has polled well and looks almost certain to be returned.
The race to be the new mayor of Douglas Shire is tight. Lisa Scomazzon has 48% of the vote, ahead of David Haratsis with almost 45%, based on the latest figures from the electoral commission.
TV personality Rosanna Natoli leads the race to be the new mayor of **Sunshine Coast,** while her husband Joe has secured more than 50 per cent of the vote to become a division councillor.
Townsville incumbent Jenny Hill has a fight on her hands to retain the role from former One Nation candidate Troy Thompson who was narrowly ahead in the count on Sunday.
Pierina Dalle Cort will be the new mayor of Burdekin Shire; and Ramon Jayo has been returned unopposed for a third term in **Hinchinbrook Shire.**
In Bundaberg, the incumbent mayor Jack Dempsey looks unlikely to win a third term, with challenger Helen Blackburn well ahead in the count as of Sunday afternoon.
A strong performance in the polls has seen George Seymour returned as mayor of Fraser Coast.
While the ABC was reporting an uphill battle for re-election for the incumbent mayors of Cairns, Scenic Rim, Southern Downs and Mt Isa.
No doubt about the result in Rockhampton, where incumbent Tony Williams has recorded a strong vote and has been returned for another four year term as mayor.
Jon Raven has secured more than 50 per cent of votes for mayor in Logan, while Frank Wilkie leads the race to be the new mayor of Noosa.
Ahead of the weekend’s elections, the Local Government Association of Queensland released an overview of candidate data.
It revealed that from a total number of candidates of 1422, 37% were female and 62% male, with less than one per cent unspecified.
128 councillors retired ahead of the elections, including 17 mayors, and the average age of candidates was 53.
NSW:
The NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission has recommended against the proposed demerger of Inner West Council, on the grounds that it will be financially unviable.
Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, has accepted the recommendation, despite a majority of 62 per cent having voted for a return to the original three council structure in a non binding poll in 2021.
Mr Hoenig said there was compelling evidence that a demerger would cost the community more than it would save.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne told ABC News that the commission had made a fair and independent assessment, and said he accepts the recommendation that the council should not be abolished.
The next step towards a potential demerger of Cootamundra Gundagai council comes up tomorrow evening when the council will vote on a detailed transition and financial sustainability plan.
The matter is up for consideration at an extraordinary council meeting, with a recommendation that the plans be adopted and referred to the Boundaries Commission for review.
The financial sustainability plan envisages a 7.5% increase in rates above the rate peg in the 2026 and 2027 financial years for a stand alone Cootamundra council; and annual borrowings of $1.5M for five years for a new Gundagai council along with a 25% increase above the rate peg in the 2026, 27 and 28 financial years.
Inner West Council is urging the NSW Parliament to enact stricter penalties for businesses and individuals responsible for asbestos contamination.
This comes after the Rozelle Parklands was closed due to asbestos-contaminated mulch, with no one held accountable to date.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said the EPA should have more power and resources to combat asbestos pollution, and has called for a systemic change in the recycled mulch supply chain.
Regional city mayors in NSW are urging the state government to address the urgent need for affordable housing, as the influx of new residents outpaces housing availability.
Regional Cities NSW unanimously supported a motion from Tweed Mayor Cr Chris Cherry to seek an urgent audience with the NSW Minister for Housing and the CEO of Homes NSW.
They are seeking information on the government’s investment plans for regional cities and potential incentives for private residential development.
Regional Cities NSW Chair and Dubbo Mayor Matthew Dickerson said we need to put all options on the table if we are to tackle this generational problem in any meaningful way,
After eight years of service, Jason Linnane has resigned as the general manager of Singleton Council.
Linnane, who led the community through significant changes and challenges, is heading to Maitland City Council as Director City Services.
Mayor Sue Moore praised Linnane’s contributions, particularly his focus on staff wellbeing, financial management, and continuous improvement.
The council has begun the recruitment process for his replacement.
TAS:
There’s a state election coming up in Tasmania, and a host of current councillors have put their hand up for election to Parliament.
The Mercury (4/3/24) reported that three mayors and six deputy mayors are among those who have nominated.
They include the current mayors of Southern Midlands, Central Highlands and Latrobe, and the deputy mayors of Hobart, Glenorchy and Huon.
There is no requirement for councillors in Tasmania to resign or take leave when running for higher office, but the Local Government Association of Tasmania says it will be seeking changes to make that a requirement in future.
WA:
The City of Kalamunda is mourning the passing of former CEO Rhonda Hardy, who served from July 2013 to September 2023.
Hardy’s tenure was marked by her commitment to the city’s growth, leading initiatives that contributed to the region’s development and restoring the city’s financial health.
Prior to her role as CEO, Hardy held senior positions at various institutions and local governments, and her contributions were recognised with several accolades.
National Briefs:
Shire of Morawa President Karen Chappel has been re-elected as President of the WA Local Government Association (WALGA) for her second term.
In addition, Town of Claremont councillor Paul Kelly was re-elected as WALGA’s Deputy President.
The City of Hobart has chosen Beam as the sole operator for its e-scooter program, aiming to enhance accountability, sustainability, and safety.
The program has seen nearly 800 riders per day, with data showing e-scooters as a viable alternative transport form.
Beam plans to upgrade the e-scooter fleet and introduce Hobart’s first seated e-scooters.
Shoalhaven City Council has launched an educational campaign focusing on responsible dog ownership.
The campaign, which supports the council’s zero-tolerance policy towards anti-social dog behaviour, includes five videos covering topics from microchipping to training.
The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has joined the EV network in WA, with two new fast chargers installed in Margaret River.
The network is expected to be completed by mid-2024 with 49 EV charging sites across the state.
International Spotlight:
UK:
New laws may be introduced to prevent South Cambridgeshire District Council from operating a four-day week, according to local government minister Simon Hoare in a report from BBC News.
The council, which claims the system has improved performance and staff recruitment, became the first local authority in the UK to trial a four-day week last year.
Despite government opposition and threats of financial penalties, the council recently agreed to continue the trial – a decision the minister described as “disappointing and arrogant”.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has welcomed the UK Government’s commitment of £31m to improve security provisions for locally elected representatives.
This includes a named police contact for councillors, increased private sector security for those at higher risk, and expanded cybersecurity advice.
The LGA has long called for these measures, and urges the government to also end the legal obligation for a council to publish a councillor’s home address.
Stephen Brown, the Chief Executive of Slough Borough Council, has announced his decision to step down.
Brown, who joined the council two years ago during a period of volatility, believes that the nearly completed restructure should be led by a new Chief Executive who can set the future direction.
The council has acknowledged Brown’s contributions, particularly his efforts in stabilising the organisation and setting key building blocks for its improvement.
Calls have been made for Councillor Craig Edward of West Dunbartonshire Council to resign after he pleaded guilty to making, possessing, and distributing indecent images of children.
Despite being on the sex offenders register, Edward still holds his position due to a lack of legislation that automatically terminates a councillor’s role for such offences.
The Clydebank Post reports that council is considering what actions it can take, including reviewing the Councillors Code of Conduct, if Edward does not resign.
Cr Edward is due for sentencing this month.
Meanwhile in Canada, a town councillor at Banff has been charged with sexual assault, stemming from an alleged incident in December 2023.
Hugh Pettigrew, who is maintaining his innocence, was charged on January 30, with his first court appearance on March 13, according to a report from RM Outlook dot com.
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno has expressed serious concern over the allegations, stating that the council will discuss any recourse under the council’s code of conduct bylaw as the case progresses.
Cr Pettigrew, who was elected to council in 2021, has stated his intention to continue his council and community duties.
Alberta’s Village of Andrew has been ordered to follow 11 directives by Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver, following a municipal inspection report that revealed governance issues.
CBC News reported that the report identified concerns with financial reporting, taxation, municipal bylaws, and council meeting preparation, among others.
The village, which has been struggling with financial and governance problems, has expressed intent to address the report’s findings and the minister’s directives.
The village must report monthly on its progress until all directives have been completed.