In episode 220 of the Roundup,
The Wodonga municipal monitor report attracts criticism;
As does Greater Geelong’s organisation restructure;
A call for state government help to deal with council meeting disruptors;
Public toilets become a divisive topic;
A new mayor for Canterbury Bankstown, and a new GM for Moree Plains;
A major milestone in WA;
And a controversial NZ mayor called on to resign by colleagues.
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 (with story links where available):
Hi, this is Chris Eddy, coming to you from the land of the Wadawurrung People with the latest from the Local Government News Roundup.
On the podcast today:
The Wodonga municipal monitor report attracts criticism;
As does Greater Geelong’s organisation restructure;
A call for state government help to deal with council meeting disruptors;
Public toilets become a divisive topic;;
A new mayor for Canterbury Bankstown, and a new GM for Moree Plains;
A major milestone in WA;
And a controversial NZ mayor called on to resign by colleagues.
That’s all ahead, and more, in the latest update from the Local Government News Roundup.
Thanks for joining me for today’s podcast – brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Here are some of the Victorian council related stories making news in recent days.
The recently released final report from the Wodonga council municipal monitor has been criticised by one its councillors.
Former Mayor Graeme Simpfendorfer told the Border Mail that ratepayers have been shortchanged by a five page report that lacks details and doesn’t name names.
He has compared the report to the Darebin monitor’s report, released last month, which ran to 19 pages in length.
Cr Simpfendorfer said he feels the council is becoming dysfunctional since the departure of the monitor and plans to write to the local government minister about his concerns.
Source: Border Mail, 11-5-23
Geelong MP Christine Couzens has taken another swipe at Greater Geelong City Council, after its Acting CEO Kaarina Phyland confirmed an organisation restructure which will see 19 redundancies.
Ms Phyland said the restructure was needed to hone in on the core services expected by the community.
But Ms Couzens told K-Rock radio that the restructure should not have happened without a permanent CEO in place, and that the changes would hit the most vulnerable in the community.
The council said the changes which are now in effect followed a two and a half year research and design process.
Source: K-Rock; Greater Geelong City Council
Yarra Ranges Shire Council has passed a late motion for the upcoming MAV State Council in response to recent disruptions of Council meetings by some members of the public.
The council recently closed its public gallery until further notice in a bid to uphold health and safety, and the integrity of council business.
The new motion asks the MAV to call on the state government to work with the sector in state wide measures to support councils in managing disruptive and unsafe behaviour; and on a coordinated response to an increasingly aggressive cohort that has been targeting councils in recent months.
The MAV State Council meeting is scheduled for 19th May.
Source: Yarra Ranges Shire Council
The renaming of Jim Crow Creek in Hepburn and Mt Alexander Shires has been finalised, with the gazettal of the new name taking effect.
The creek will now be known as Larni Barramal Yaluk.
The former name had its origins in racial segregation and anti-black racism. The new name means home or habitat of the Emu Creek.
Source: Hepburn Shire Council
Moonee Valley City Council is investigating the provision of an off-leash area specifically for greyhounds.
The Age reports that the council has identified five potential sites for the area which would be just the fourth in metropolitan Melbourne and the seventh in the entire state.
Pet greyhounds are banned from being off-leash in public spaces, except for at greyhound only sites.
Source: The Age
A divisive petition about public toilets has dominated a meeting of Hobsons Bay City Council at which a number of protestors were present.
The ABC has reported that at least one woman was verbally abused and protestors shouted outside the meeting of the council, which is considering a new public toilet strategy.
There have also reportedly been threatening messages directed at councillors via social media in the lead up to the meeting.
The provision of unisex toilets appears to be the point of contention, but Mayor Tony Briffa said the petition was inaccurate and confusing as there was no proposal to convert public toilets to become gender neutral.
Source: ABC News
Now in today’s Victorian Briefs:
The Ascot Vale Leisure Centre in Moonee Valley has been certified carbon neutral through the Climate Active Standard.
It’s the only leisure centre in Australia to achieve the certification.
Source: Belgravia Leisure
Warrnambool is home to the best new community football facility in Australia.
The AFL has recognised Reid Oval with the award, recognising the new state of the art facilities delivered as part of a $10.7M upgrade completed last year.
Source: Warrnambool City Council
Brimbank City Council and Victoria University have signed a new MOU to work together transparently and cooperatively for the benefit of the Brimbank community and Melbourne’s west.
The MOU confirms the two organisations’ commitment to a number of aims, including improving employment, education, and health and wellbeing outcomes.
And in Wyndham City, library users can now use a digital library membership card, with Apple Wallet and a Google Wallet compatibility now available.
The new functionality comes as inter library loans are again available from the start of this month with the resumption of courier services between libraries.
Source: Wyndham City Council
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Now for some of the stories making local government news from around Australia this week.
Councillor Bilal El-Hayek has been elected the new Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown at an extraordinary meeting of Council held this week.
Mayor El-Hayek, 36, was elected unopposed by his fellow Councillors after the former Mayor Khal Asfour stepped down from the City’s top job.
Mayor El-Hayek was first elected to the council in September 2017 and served twice as deputy mayor.
Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Clare Raffan, will hold their positions until the next elections in September this year.
The Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Donna Davis, who has been elected to the NSW Parliament, is resigning the lord mayoralty position effective next week.
Cr Davis will however continue in her role as a councillor until the next local government elections, which are due in September 2024.
The council has scheduled an extraordinary meeting for 5.30pm Monday 22nd May to elect a new Lord Mayor.
Source: Parramatta City Council
NSW mayors and councillors are set to receive an increase in fees from 1 July.
The remuneration tribunal has determined an increase of 3% will apply for the next financial year.
The tribunal has also reviewed the remuneration categories of councils and mayoral offices, and created two new categories – Metropolitan Major, and Rural Large.
26 councils have been re-categorised into a higher or new category as a result of the review.
Source: NSW Office of Local Government
Federal Budget funding for a rain gauge network has been welcomed by Queensland’s peak body, but it has warned that other critical funding has been cut, vanished or ignored.
$236M will be spent over ten years in a rain gauge network, with work in Queensland prioritised to improve the flood warning system in the nation’s most natural disaster prone state.
LGAQ welcomed that development, but said there was disappointment that federal assistance grants had been cut as a percentage of tax revenue; and it is alarmed that the local roads and community infrastructure funding will disappear from 2026.
Meanwhile, a commitment to a Net Zero Authority has been welcomed.
Source: LGAQ
The first tranche of reforms to local government in Western Australia have passed the Parliament.
The changes come into effect ahead of local government elections in October, and include the introduction of optional preferential voting, directly elected mayors at larger councils, caretaker periods and more.
A second tranche is on the way, which will create a new local government inspector and the introduction of monitors for early intervention.
Source: Minister for Local Govt John Carey
Tasmania’s Local Government Board says perceptions of bullying and infighting at councils are discouraging young people and Aboriginal Tasmanians from running for office.
The Advocate has reported that the board believes councils need to improve how they engage with these groups, which feel local government is not representing them or giving them a say on local issues and decisions that impact them.
The board is currently leading a review of the Tasmanian local government sector, with final recommendations yet to come- and widely expected to include commentary on potential council mergers and resource sharing opportunities.
Source: The Advocate, 11-5-23
Adelaide City Council meetings will no longer include a reading of a Christian prayer.
A report from the Adelaide Advertiser reveals the prayer remains on the agenda, and it will be on screen for councillors to read and reflect during a 10 second pause.
The change has been described as a tweak of procedure by Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, and is seen as a way to avoid a contentious debate after a flood of complaints at the idea of removing the prayer entirely.
Source: Vision Christian Media
Briefly:
Kelvin Tytherleigh will make the move from Queensland where he has been CEO of Hinchinbrook Shire for three years.
Moree Plains Shire Council in NSW has appointed a new General Manager.
His five year term starts in mid-June.
Source: Moree Plains Shire
The City of Newcastle has held its largest ever citizenship ceremony this week.
More than 380 conferees from 68 countries were invited to take the pledge of commitment by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.
Source: Newcastle City Council
Townsville City Council has appointed a former top cop as an adviser on community safety.
Decorated Queensland Police veteran Clint Drew will advise the council in ways to make the city’s public spaces safer for community use, and enable the council to work even more closely with Queensland Police.
Source: Townsville City Council
Three Western Australian councils have joined forces in an agreement with the state’s Planning Commission to simplify planning processes and slash red tape.
Perth Now reports that the cities of Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham are collaborating to attract major investment to the region’s industrial precinct.
A process to standardise planning rules is expected to take about two years.
Source: PerthNow
Now for today’s International Spotlight:
Controversy at NZ’s Gore District Council, which has seen the breakdown of the relationship between the mayor and CEO, has now led to a majority of councillors calling on the mayor to resign.
Ben Bell narrowly won office at last October’s election, becoming the country’s youngest ever mayor.
Radio New Zealand reports that the councillor appointed as an intermediary between CEO Stephen Parry and the mayor is one of a majority of five councillors now calling for Mayor Bell.
Mayor Bell said he was disappointed by the councillors’ action, and he is committed to undertaking the role he was elected to do.
An extraordinary meeting of the council will be held next week at which a no-confidence motion in the mayor will be considered, along with a motion to call on the local government minister to intervene.
Source: Radio New Zealand
Meanwhile at Invercargill Council, a councillor has given in to demands for his resignation after being the subject of accusations of inappropriate behaviour.
The claims were made by a teenage staff member at a sports stadium where the now former councillor Nigel Skelt was general manager.
Stuff.co.nz reports that Skelt left the position last month citing medical grounds and personal reasons.
His resignation from the council has triggered a by-election, to be held in August, with candidate nominations now open until 8th June.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
To Spain, where the popular but largely artificial beaches at Barcelona are gradually being eaten away by erosion at an ever increasing rate.
The Guardian reports on the city’s plan to study the future of its beaches, bringing together a group of experts to come up with options.
The government is against replenishing sand, and has so far not agreed to pay any more as it believes it is a waste of money – 70 percent of the sand it has sent to the beaches since 2010 has disappeared.
There are high expectations of the experts to come up with some lasting and environmentally sound solutions.
In the meantime, local councils are doing what they can, due the value of tourism to their economy with the summer visitation period fast approaching.
Source: The Guardian
And from Scotland, a trial is underway for the month of May to highlight levels of dog fouling in the Fife council area.
And by highlighting, I mean literally making it stand out for all to see.
The council is spray—painting doggie doos with a bright white colour to raise awareness and encourage dog owners to clean up after their pooches.
The paint is eco-friendly and washes away in rain – and all sprayed dog waste will be removed after 24 hours.
A council spokesperson said the campaign is targeting those few individuals who don’t do the right thing, and comes with a reminder that failing to pick up after your pet could result in a fine of 80 pounds.
Source: Fife Council
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That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 13th May 2023.
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The Local Government News Roundup is recorded in the city of Greater Geelong, Victoria, on the land of the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation.
I’ll be back soon with more of the latest local government news. Until next time, thanks for listening, and bye for now.