On episode #332 of the Local Government News Roundup:
- All eyes are on the Victorian budget this week with delays and cuts predicted for major infrastructure projects
- Disruptions expected from industrial action at Ballarat council
- Melbourne councils in the news over waste collection issues
- A Sydney community in shock after the sudden death of a popular mayor
- Another NSW council looks at demerger options
- Townsville council chooses an interim CEO
- Adelaide council rates rises under the spotlight
- And big changes for councils in England after last week’s elections
Plus more Council news from across Australia and beyond on the Local Government News Roundup, brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association,
with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment service and business advisory practice;
and from Ventia, making infrastructure work sustainably for our communities.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 332:
Victorian Roundup:
A funding dispute between the state and federal governments has put the timeline of Victoria’s planned road projects in doubt, according to a report from The Age today.
The disagreement arises from the Albanese government’s commitment to return funding for nationally significant roads to a 50:50 split between both levels of government, rather than the 80% previously covered by the Commonwealth.
Some projects may not proceed as planned if the policy is enforced.
Councils across the state will be closely watching the outcome of this week’s budget and any adjustments to the timing of the state government’s infrastructure pipeline as a result.
The final section of the Western Freeway upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs is one project that may be delayed, according to the Age report.
Level crossing removal projects may also face delays due to expected budget cuts.
Some Council services in Ballarat may be disrupted, with staff voting to take industrial action after rejecting a revised enterprise agreement.
The union is calling for a pay increase of six per cent in the first year, according to reporting from 3BA Ballarat, and five per cent in the following two years.
They say front-line workers in Bendigo and Geelong earn around $4,000 more annually than those in Ballarat.
The city has proposed an increased pay offer of 3.5 per cent, which would require finding ongoing savings of approximately $2.5 million in future years.
Knox City Council is facing pressure to revert to weekly rubbish pick-up after complaints about overflowing bins, according to a report from 9News.
The change to fortnightly collection was made in July last year due to rising waste disposal costs.
Cr Darren Pearce is pushing for a return to weekly collection, which he says would only cost ratepayers an additional 10 cents a day.
But Knox mayor Jude Dwight maintains that the current system is cost-efficient and well received by many residents.
Port Phillip City Council has deferred a decision on the discontinuation of a private kerbside EV charging pilot and a halt to accepting new permit applications.
The Age reported last week that the council was set to abandon the trial due to concerns about costs, flood risk, and the use of public space.
The recommendation to discontinue the pilot followed a review which recognised some benefits, but found that over 90 per cent of the municipality was excluded due to eligibility requirements, which impacted the scalability of that type of charging infrastructure.
The Council has pressed ahead with its support the exploration and installation of public pole-mounted charging technology with criteria to prioritise access across the municipality.
The number of electric vehicles in Port Phillip has nearly doubled since 2019, and it’s estimated there will be about 11,000 electric vehicles in the municipality by 2030.
Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reports today on calls for action in response to two independent reports that raised concerns about accountability and governance in the council’s tender process for kerbside waste and recycling collection.
The reports investigated why some bins weren’t being collected after a change of contractor to Citywide last year.
In a statement, Mayor Heather Cunsolo said the reports suggested several oversights by the council and Citywide that led to sub-standard delivery.
The implementation of recommendations from the reports is being monitored by the council’s Audit and Risk Committee.
Swinburne University of Technology has become the first Foundation Member of the newly established Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct at Latrobe Regional Airport.
Swinburne’s Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub will play a crucial role in the precinct, contributing expertise in next-generation aerostructures for civil aviation, eVTOL aircraft, uncrewed air systems, AAM and space exploration.
The partnership aims to support the creation of new industries, generate employment outcomes, and accelerate the advancement of AAM sector technologies.
Victorian Briefs:
South Gippsland Shire Mayor Clare Williams as been appointed as the new President for ALGWA Victoria.
Cr Williams takes up the role from Maroondah Mayor Kylie Spears who will remain on the state commitee as Past President.
Nillumbik Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to name a reserve in the Civic Drive Precinct in Greensborough ‘Kirrip Park’.
The term ‘Kirrip’ is the Woi-wurrung word for friend.
The proposed name will need community support and final approval from Geographic Names Victoria.
Hume Council is holding two forums this month to discuss supporting diversity and addressing racial discrimination, following a 2023 survey by Victoria University.
The research, part of a VicHealth-funded project, focused on barriers to reporting racism and the need for support after such experiences.
The forums on the 9th and 16th May, will discuss the research findings and explore ways to foster community support and improve avenues for reporting racism or accessing support.
National Roundup:
NSW:
The Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Tony Bleasdale has died while on the way home from a study tour to China and South Korea.
The news was revealed via multiple news reports on Friday before being confirmed later in the day in a statement from the Council.
77 year old Mr Bleasdale had been mayor since 2019, re-elected last year, and served as a Blacktown councillor since 1996.
Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Quilkey expressed condolences to Tony’s wife Nina, his children and their extended family.
He said, “Tony was loved by his community and he loved it back, with a generous heart and a genuine commitment to a bright future”.
News of the death of Mayor Bleasdale was reported earlier on Friday by media outlets including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph.
Vale Tony Bleasdale OAM
The councillor who lost her position on Upper Hunter Shire Council says the decision to remove her was “unreasonable” and she will challenge it.
The Newcastle Herald (3/5/24) reported that Elizabeth Flaherty says her requests to join council meetings online were regularly refused by the council, which she says is an abuse of power.
Her position has been vacated due to missing three consecutive ordinary council meetings without a leave of absence.
She intends to challenge the ruling through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Herald reports that Ms Flaherty’s removal follows that of former councillor Nick Jones at Lake Macquarie council last year for the same reason.
The Northern Beaches community may get a say on a potential demerger into its former bodies — Manly, Warringah, and Pittwater councils at the September local government elections.
The Northern Beaches Council was formed in 2016 from the compulsory amalgamation of the three former councils.
The council last week resolved to seek an urgent briefing on a preliminary desktop analysis of the financial implications of a demerger, and more information on the cost of conducting a poll in conjunction with the elections in September.
Ku-ring-gai Council is threatening legal action against the Minns government over housing reforms it claims will destroy heritage and tree canopy in Sydney’s north shore suburbs.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported on the council’s opposition to the Transport Oriented Development program, a key part of the state government’s plan to build 377,000 homes by 2029.
The council’s mayor, Sam Ngai, describes the government’s approach as a one-size-fits-all approach with a lack of planning and has expressed concerns about heritage, urban canopy, wildlife, and climate adaptation.
Revelations by former Transport executives that traffic chaos at the Rozelle Interchange was identified a decade ago have been pounced on by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne as proof that the planning of WestConnex was one of the great infrastructure debacles of NSW history.
Mayor Byrne said the evidence given to a NSW Upper House Inquiry showed the former government knew that the design of the project would result in unprecedented traffic congestion.
He has supported calls for compensation for the Inner West community, urgent investment in new public transport services, and new surgical solutions to fix the structural problems with the interchange.
QLD:
Townsville City Council has identified a preferred candidate, known as ‘Candidate Z’, for the acting CEO position, following the resignation of Prins Ralston.
The Townsville Bulletin reported that the candidate will undergo reference and criminal history checks before formal approval.
Meanwhile, Mayor Troy Thompson’s attempt to add three political advisers to the payroll was denied when no councillor was prepared to move the proposal.
Alternate motions for two advisers and then one adviser also failed for lack of a seconder.
NT:
The City of Darwin has disputed claims by Darwin International Airport (DIA) that it offered to pay full rates to the council.
In a report from Australian Aviation, a council spokesperson said airport owes more than $1 million in rate equivalent payments, and that the airport had suggested paying a discounted amount based on its own calculations.
The airport argues that it does not receive the same services from the council as other ratepayers, and that paying full rates would make businesses in the airport precinct worse off than other businesses in the city.
Discussions between the council and the airport on the rates issue have been ongoing for over three years.
SA:
The Adelaide Advertiser has reported on proposed council rate increases this year, with Burnside Council proposing the highest increase of any metropolitan council at 14 per cent.
The increase would add $299 a year to the average residential rates bill.
Onkaparinga is proposing a 6.8 per cent increase; 6.5 per cent is likely at Playford, and Holdford Bay proposes 7.1 per cent.
The lowest proposed rise is 3.75 per cent at Unley Council.
TAS:
It appears likely that there will be two mayoral vacancies in Tasmania after the weekend’s upper house by-elections.
The Advocate is reporting today (6/5/24) that Sorell mayor Kerry Vincent leads the count in the rural seat of Prosser, while Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas has a lead in the the count for the seat of Elwick.
Hobart councillor John Kelly is currently in second place in voting for the seat of Hobart, some 15 per cent behind former Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.
WA:
The City of Belmont council has adopted a tree preservation order, prohibiting individuals from cutting, removing, or destroying trees without council approval.
According to PerthNow, the policy applies to trees of significant environmental, biological, cultural, or historical value.
However, Mayor Robert Rossi says the policy doesn’t go far enough and called on the State Government to do more to protect trees.
He has also suggested rewarding homeowners who retain trees on private property.
National Briefs:
Bayside Council in Sydney is investigating the use of local streets in Wolli Creek by rideshare operators, who are creating an unofficial ‘rank’ for airport passengers, causing traffic congestion and safety concerns.
The council’s Transport Committee has been tasked to find solutions in collaboration with Sydney Airport.
Former Isaac region Mayor Anne Baker has been announced as the Australian Labor Party’s candidate for the state seat of Burdekin.
The Townsville Bulletin reports that Ms Baker, who served in local government for nearly 20 years, says she aims to combat cuts by the Liberal National Party and protect regional towns.
Nominations are open for the 2024 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government in NSW, recognising the achievements of women in local councils.
The awards, co-hosted by Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison, will be presented on August 20, 2024.
Categories include awards for breaking gender stereotypes, supporting women’s participation, advancing the position of female representatives, increasing female participation in leadership roles, exceptional innovation, young achievers, and the Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award.
Nominations close on June 14, 2024.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Most results are in from local council elections across England last week, with some taking days to finalise.
There’s been a clear shift in political power, with the Labour party gaining more than 180 council seats and taking control of eight councils, according to reporting from the BBC.
The Conservative party has lost over 470 councillors – nearly half of the seats that it held – and has lost control of ten councils.
Incumbent Tory mayor Ben Houchen won a third term as Tees Valley mayor; Labour picked up three newly created regional mayor positions in the North East, East Midlands and York and North Yorkshire; and London mayor Sadiq Khan won a historic third term in office.
The BBC reported that Labour lost votes in wards with large numbers of Muslim voters due its stance on the Israel-Gaza war.
EUROPE:
Barcelona City Council‘s 2024 budget of €3.8 billion has been automatically approved due to a council deadlock.
Catalan News reported that the mayor submitted himself to a motion of confidence, which failed.
But the opposition couldn’t agree on an alternative mayoral candidate.
The budget represents an increase of 5.9 per cent on last year, and the mayor Jaume Collboni says it will create 10,000 jobs directly in Barcelona.
CANADA:
Saint John councillor Paula Radwan has been sanctioned for breaching a code of conduct, according to a report from Saltwire dot com.
The council has accepted the findings of an investigator’s report, but the details of the allegation and the sanction are being kept confidential.
Cr Radwan has acknowledged the breach and called for changes to the process, which she says tends to be one-sided.
NZ:
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark says he will not participate in the investigation of a code of conduct complaint against him, sparked by his conduct in a television interview and his use of offensive language, according to a report from Stuff.
Mayor Clark has already issued a public apology, but two councillors felt he should apologise for breaching the council’s code of conduct standards.
Mayor Clark said the councillors should have addressed their issues with him directly before lodging a formal complaint.
The investigation will be conducted by a Dunedin-based lawyer, with the final decision on any outcomes to be made by the full council.
Waimakariri District Mayor Dan Gordon has been named New Zealand’s most popular mayor in a poll conducted by Curia Market Research for the Taxpayer’s Union.
Mayor Gordon, who has served on the council for over 20 years, told the Otago Daily Times that the result was a reflection of the community and the trust placed in the council.
He initially thought the news was a joke, but says he is humbled by the result and appreciates the support for the work done to make the district a great place to live and work.
JAPAN:
While some international tourist destinations are introducing taxes to combat over-tourism, one Japanese town is taking a different approach.
Fujikawaguchiko, a town known for its scenic views of Mount Fuji, has begun constructing a large screen to block the view due to misbehaviour by foreign tourists.
The Associated Press reported that attempts to control crowds with signs and a security guard have been unsuccessful in stopping as littering, ignoring traffic rules, and trespassing on private properties .
The screen, expected to be completed in mid-May, will almost completely obstruct the view of Mount Fuji.