The latest update from the Local Government News Roundup is on your podcast player now.
This episode includes reaction to sky rail plans for Melbourne’s west; flood funding for councils across two states; a Brisbane councillor announces her departure; a mayor calls for a dog ban; and staff threatened in a menacing hoax.
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 for any of the 186 episodes to date.
Transcript (with story links):
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, with a roundup of the latest stories making news on the Local Government News Roundup – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government.
Plans for elevated rail lines in Melbourne’s west have been revealed by the Herald Sun today, with mixed reactions from councils and community.
The newspaper reports that new sky rail options are under consideration in Newport and Spotswood as part of the project to remove all level crossings on the Werribee line by 2030.
Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa told the Herald Sun that community concerns have been raised about a proposed road closure and permanent traffic diversion at Champion Rd in Newport as part of the project.
Maribyrnong Council has welcomed moves to close the level crossing at Anderson St Yarraville, and replace it with a pedestrian underpass.
An alarming number of rule-breakers in the past week has led to a call from Moyne Shire Mayor Karen Foster for visitors not to bring their dogs to Griffiths Island.
The Moyne Gazette reports ($) on the danger to shearwaters and swamp wallabies if walkers bring dogs on to the popular conservation reserve, which is close to the centre of Port Fairy.
Mayor Foster says an incident last year in which more than 50 shearwaters were found dead has had long term consequences for the local bird population; and that if people continue to ignore the rule, the council will start fining them.
NSW Premier Dom Perrottet has announced a $500M funding package for councils across the state to fix the damage caused from last year’s floods.
The Daily Telegraph says ($) regional councils will share in $280M in funding, while Sydney metro councils will receive $220M.
Council advocacy groups have been calling for urgent assistance, such as the western NSW alliance of 13 councils and shires which last week said they were losing hope of ever getting funding to reconstruct road networks. Dubbo’s Daily Liberal. ($)
Wollondilly Shire Mayor Matt Gould welcomed the announcement, after advocating alongside the mayors of Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury late last year for their LGAs to be included in state funding programs.
He said road repairs remain a top priority, but that additional resources were need to provide safer roads after the damage sustained over the last 12 months.
Hornsby Shire Mayor Phillip Ruddock said he was grateful for the government’s commitment, after a joint campaign with the Hills Shire Council for more pothole repair funding.
It’s understood the money will flow soon and repairs must be completed by 31 December 2023.
South Australia’s Local Government Association has welcomed an additional $126.25 million of joint state and federal funding to aid the Riverland and Murraylands flood effort.
The LGA said all affected councils in these regions have played an integral role in preparing for and responding to this emergency, working closely with State Government authorities.
At the same time, the councils have provided ongoing support to their communities.
When River Murray water levels subside, the recovery effort will be considerable and the LGA is pleased $60 million of this latest funding package will be allocated to aid councils and Green Industries SA with waste management and clean up.
At Mildura, the region is moving from the response phase to the recovery phase of the Murray River flood event, with the closure this week of the Incident Control Centre.
Council CEO Martin Hawson says a number of levee banks are still holding back water and being monitored very closely. He has asked community members to continue to observe road closures and heed signage while safety assessments are still being carried out.
The only female Labor councillor on Brisbane City Council is stepping down in March after five years, and with a year to go before the next elections.
Kara Cook announced her decision online and has not said yet what her next career move will be.
Details on the process to fill the vacancy on the council are yet to be announced. You can read more in that story in the Brisbane Times.
Staff at WA’s City of Rockingham have reportedly been threatened with serious harm in a menacing ‘hoax’ email.
According to The West Australian, the threatening email was sent last week, and has been referred to police for investigation.
WA’s Local Government Minister John Carey says such threats will never be tolerated, and there have been calls for legislative changes to remove the requirement for councillors and candidates to publish their residential address.
It’s understood negotiations with Gympie Regional Council’s preferred new CEO are not yet complete, but according to Gympie Today they are well advanced.
The Council announced in December that Alice Springs CEO Robert Jennings would take up the position in 2023 – but according to the news outlet today, negotiations on his employment contract are yet to be finalised.
(Gympie Today, 5/1/23)
Also making news in Gympie is the council’s rejection of a plan that would have seen the council takeover the Gympie Muster site in a land swap with the state government.
The muster organisers are understood to be seeking certainty of tenure over the site, and the decisions make have major implications for the future of the popular event.
Former flood waste collection sites in Mooroopna are being used as rubbish dumping grounds, described by Greater Shepparton City Council as unsightly and dangerous.
With the flood waste collection points now closed, residents are being urged to take waste directly to a Resource Recovery Centre.
Flood damaged household items can still be disposed of without charge until 2nd March.
And the City of Greater Geelong has announced its first EV passenger vehicle had arrived, and will soon be entering its fleet.
The council is transitioning to a net zero emissions fleet by 2027.
Those are the latest news briefs from the Local Government News Roundup.
Stay up to date on the Roundup website – www.lgnewsroundup.com and stay subscribed for breaking news over summer on your podcast player.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government
Until next time, thanks for listening.