On the Local Government News Roundup for 27th November:
- The latest mayoral election results from Victoria
- A Council CEO announces their resignation
- Councils and communities fight for better and safer roads
- Demands for transparency at Shoalhaven in the wake of the departure of senior executives
- The “scary” legal fees bill at Kiama
- A Queensland council cancels NYE midnight fireworks
- Councils prepare for a new statewide pet registration system in WA
Plus Fabian Dattner on why culture should be front and centre in the induction of incoming Councillors
And more of the latest local government news from around Australia and beyond.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, with support from Davidson recruitment and business advisory services.
Listen to this episode here, and find the link for your podcast player here.
Transcript for episode 404:
Victorian Roundup:
Final mayoral election results:
Alpine – Cr Sarah Nicholas has been elected as the new mayor of Alpine Shire Council unopposed. Cr Nicholas is a former mayor of the shire, and was the only incumbent councillor to stand for re-election in October. Cr Peter Smith was elected as deputy mayor unopposed, after a second nomination for the position lapsed for want of a seconder.
Benalla – Cr Bernie Hearn returns to the mayoralty, two years after the last time she held the position. Cr Justin King was elected deputy mayor.
Central Goldfields – Cr Grace La Vella has been elected as mayor of Central Goldfields Shire, returning to the role that she last held in 2022/23.
East Gippsland – Cr John White is the new mayor of East Gippsland in a two way contest with Cr Arthur Allen. Cr White last held the mayoralty in 2019/20. Cr Sonia Buckley was elected to the office of deputy mayor in a two way contest with Cr Jodie Ashworth.
Glen Eira – Cr Simone Zmood was elected Mayor and Cr Luca Ragni was elected Deputy Mayor. Cr Zmood is a second term Councillor and immediate past Deputy Mayor and Cr Ragni is a first term Councillor and Glen Eira’s youngest ever Deputy Mayor at 20 years of age.
Greater Geelong – Cr Stretch Kontelj has been elected mayor of Greater Geelong, unopposed, for a two year term. Cr Kontelj is a former mayor of the city, in 2012/13, and resigned from the council in 2015 before returning at this year’s elections. Cr Ron Nelson was elected unopposed to the deputy mayor position.
Hepburn – Hepburn Shire’s longest serving councillor, Don Henderson has been elected as mayor of the shire unopposed. He has served as mayor twice before. A second nomination for former mayor Brian Hood did not receive a seconder. Cr Lesley Hewitt has been elected to the role of deputy mayor.
Mansfield – Mayor Cr Steve Rabie has been re-elected to a second consecutive term as mayor of Mansfield Shire Council. Former mayor Cr James Tehan was elected deputy mayor for the next 12 months.
Moonee Valley – Cr Ava Adams has been elected the new mayor of Moonee Valley in a two way contest with former mayor John Sipek. Cr Fran Cosgriff was elected deputy mayor in a two way contest with Cr Hamish Jones. Both elections were determined by a margin of one vote.
Mount Alexander – Cr Rosie Annear, last year’s deputy mayor, returns to the mayoralty, a position she held in 2022/23. Cr Toby Heydon was elected unopposed as deputy mayor.
Moyne – Cr Karen Foster returns to the mayoralty after a year as deputy mayor. Cr Foster was last mayor of the shire in 2022/23. Cr Jordan Locket has been elected deputy mayor.
Queenscliffe – at the Borough of Queenscliffe, Cr Di Rule has been elected as mayor for a one year term. Cr Rule is a first term councillor, as is Cr Brendan Monahan, who was elected to the deputy mayor position.
Swan Hill – Cr Stuart King has been re-elected as mayor of Swan Hill for a second consecutive term; and after a year of not having a deputy mayor, the council has reversed its position on the office and installed former mayor Cr Les McPhee to the role.
There is one more mayoral election to be conducted, that being in Towong Shire, one of the state’s smallest municipalities. That council is meeting this morning, and the Border Mail is tipping a return to the mayoralty for incumbent Andrew Whitehead.
Council CEOs have been asked to make sure that their incoming councillors have correctly declared their oath or affirmation of office.
As revealed on last week’s VLGA Connect TGU program, the Local Government Inspectorate has raised the issue due to concerns that some councillors-elect have not strictly adhered to the wording required under the legislation.
If strict compliance with the relevant regulation has not occurred, those councillors may not have been validly sworn in and would therefore be incapable of performing the role of a councillor.
The Roundup understands some councillors-elect have retaken their oath or affirmation to ensure compliance, with one at least council also believed to have subsequently re-elected their mayor and deputy mayor out of an abundance of caution.
Baw Baw Shire Council CEO Mark Dupe has announced his resignation effective end of 2024, with his final day to be Christmas Eve.
Mayor Danny Goss praised Mr Dupe for his inspirational leadership and successful advocacy for the community since joining the council in March 2020.
The Council will appoint an interim CEO soon.
Mr Dupe is moving on to a new phase of his career and will not be seeking further full-time CEO roles.
Chief Executive Officer tenders resignation
The reason for a lockdown at a Yarra Ranges Council building last week has been revealed to be related to a dangerous dog dispute.
The lockdown occurred when a resident attempted to discuss the seizure of his two dogs that had been involved in an attack on a pedestrian and a dog in September.
The Mountain Views Star Mail reported that the dogs may be declared dangerous, requiring strict housing conditions that the owner believes are unfeasible to implement.
Dangerous dog dispute the reason for Yarra Ranges Council lockdown
Knox City Council is demanding urgent action from the Victorian Government to address unsafe road conditions and maintenance issues on VicRoads-managed arterial roads in the municipality.
The major concerns include dangerous potholes causing vehicle damage and accident risks, as well as poorly maintained median strips creating safety hazards and fire risks.
The Council will formally communicate these concerns to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety and local state MPs, while urging residents to report road issues directly to VicRoads for arterial roads or to Council for local streets.
Council calls on state government to fix roads
Corangamite Shire Council has welcomed a decision to reduce the speed limit on the Hamilton Highway in Darlington from 80 kmh to 60kmh.
Residents gathered over 100 signatures on a petition, wrote letters, and attended community meetings to highlight safety issues including crashes, truck movements, and highway access risks.
Ward councillor Nick Cole has thanked roads and road safety minister Melissa Horne for listening to the community’s concerns and taking action.
Council thanks Minister for making Darlington safer
National Roundup:
NSW:
The United Services Union is demanding transparency from Shoalhaven City Council regarding the source of funds used to settle payouts with its former CEO and a departing director.
The Bugle reported that the union is supporting a call from Councillor Jemma Tribe, who lodged a Notice of Motion for this week’s council meeting highlighting the financial implications of the departures.
Former CEO Robyn Stevens left the organisation earlier this month after nine months in the role, and less than eight weeks after the election of a new Council.
At least one senior member of staff has resigned in the wake of her departure.
Union demands transparency over council payout funds
Blacktown City Council is claiming an advocacy win, with news that the NSW Government is moving away from a proposal that would have added 20,700 new homes to Glenwood and Stanhope Gardens without adequate infrastructure support.
Following significant community opposition and more than 5,000 submissions, the government revised its Bella Vista and Kellyville rezoning proposal, reducing the new housing target to 4,600 homes and completely removing Glenwood and Stanhope Gardens from the plan.
The modified proposal now includes enhanced provisions for parks and trees, in a decision Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting has praised as a victory for common sense and community interests.
The decision has also been welcomed by The Hills Shire mayor Dr Michelle Byrne, but she says it wasn’t all good news.
Mayor Byrne said while she’s glad the “absurd original proposal” has been scaled down, the updated proposal is still “half-baked” and does nothing to address long-standing infrastructure concerns.
TOD Precincts Reduced but Major Questions Remain Unanswered
Upper Hunter Shire Council will conduct random water quality tests on a small number of homes in Merriwa and Cassalis after concerns were raised about poor water quality in these areas.
Councillor Troy Stolz’s initial motion for immediate intervention was defeated, leading to a modified proposal being passed in its place.
2NM reported that the Council’s plan includes providing a report within 28 days on water testing results, conducting community consultations within 90 days, and exploring options for water filtration and treatment solutions with cost-sharing considerations between Council and residents.
Council to take steps to improve water quality – 2NM
Legal bills at Kiama Council have jumped more than $1M since May this year, according to the Illawarra Mercury (27/11/24, p.10).
The latest report on expenditure on legal fees by the Council shows an increase from $4M in May to $5M at the end of September, a situation described as “quite scary” by Cr Matt Brown.
$3.7M is related to a Federal Court case brought by a developer, which has resulted in a $1M payment from the council which is not including in the legal fees amount.
Wagga Wagga City Council is throwing its support behind a push for the nationalisation of Rex Airlines.
The Border Mail reported (27/11/24, p.5) that the council unanimously supported an amended motion on Monday to write to the federal government, highlighting the importance of the airline to regional connectivity and economic resilience.
Cr Richard Foley, who brought forward the original motion, said community leaders in regional areas need to step up over the issue.
QLD:
Sunshine Coast Council has cancelled its traditional midnight New Year’s Eve fireworks display at Mooloolaba, over safety concerns and costs.
ABC News reported that the council will maintain an early display at 8.30pm, while saving $53K by cancelling the midnight show.
Local businesses and tourism operators are reportedly unhappy about the decision.
Townsville, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are believed to be continuing with their traditional midnight NYE fireworks displays.
Queensland council saves 0.01pc of budget by scrapping popular midnight fireworks
A Brisbane City Council wage rise offer of 3% has been criticised by unions and the Labor opposition as shortchanging workers to pay for cost blowouts.
The Courier Mail reported that the council is also proposing to reduce redundancy entitlements from three weeks to two weeks per year of service.
Council management maintains the offer of 6% over two years is fair and in line with inflation.
The Mayor of the Gold Coast, Tom Tate has reportedly hired a personal bodyguard after receiving threats from anti-development residents and anti-Israel protesters, according to the Courier Mail.
A Russian-born gym trainer is being funded at ratepayer expense to protect Mr Tate after concerns were raised by Council CEO Tim Baker.
Environmental groups are concerned that Gold Coast Council is advancing plans for a cableway in Springbrook National Park.
The coalition of groups including Gecko Environment Council, Queensland Conservation Council, and National Parks Association of Queensland say there has been a lack of consultation, and the proposal is not supported by First Nations groups.
They are calling on the state government to rule out the cableway proposal.
Council urged to drop Springbrook Cableway ‘mission’; listen to locals
National Briefs:
Scenic Rim Regional Council is receiving disaster assistance through the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) following severe landslips and road damage caused by recent heavy rainfall.
The funding will support emergency repairs, reconstruction of damaged roads, and community recovery efforts.
Ministers for the of Home Affairs Website
The City of Sydney is proposing to honour the heritage of Chinatown by heritage listing three historic buildings in the area.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said consultation had highlighted the properties as warranting further investigation into their unique significance.
Once endorsed by the Council, the heritage listing will be reviewed by the state government, and then be open for public feedback.
Heritage listings to protect Chinatown icons – News Hub
The Mayor and Deputy Chair of the District Council of Mount Remarkable have been re-elected unanimously to their positions.
The council last week called for nominations for both positions, with Cr Steven McCarthy unopposed to continue as mayor; and Cr the Hon Dan Van Holst Pellekaan unopposed to continue in the Deputy Chair position.
TAS:
Tasmania’s Transport Minister Eric Abetz has called on Hobart City Council to abandon plans to install bike lanes on Collins Street in Hobart, citing a recent survey showing 56% of local residents oppose the project.
The government has already withdrawn $170,000 in funding for the project, which would remove 49 parking spaces and has faced strong opposition from local business owners, bus drivers, and commuters.
Pulse Tasmania reported that the Confederation of Greater Hobart Business is threatening to trigger an elector poll on the issue, arguing that the bike lanes would negatively impact local traders who are already facing challenging economic conditions.
Transport Minister urges Hobart City Council to abandon Collins Street bike lane plan
SA:
The District Council of Orroroo Carrieton has been recognised by the Minister for Health for its ‘Making a Splash for Health & Longevity’ project at the recent Local Government Association SA Annual General Meeting.
The project has evolved into a comprehensive effort to provide equal access to the local pool for individuals over 50 in the mid north of South Australia.
The Minister’s Excellence in Public Health Awards are held annually and celebrate outstanding contributions to public health by local councils.
The District Council of Ceduna has opened public consultation on a Representation Review process looking at the council’s current structure, comparisons with other councils, and possible alternatives to the current structure.
Submissions are due by the end of January. It’ the first representation review for Ceduna since completing a similar process in 2017.
WA:
Western Australia is moving to a new centralised dog and cat registration system next year.
The PetsWA system will mean easy updating of pet registrations with a move to another area within the state, while it also aims to help identify potential cases of puppy farming.
Local government managed animal registers will eventually be replaced with a new state-wide dog and cat register.
The City of Belmont has provided information on how the transition will work for its residents, and there’s a link in the show notes if you’d like to know more.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Sam Smith, a 27-year-old Conservative councillor and cabinet member for education, is set to become one of the youngest council leaders in the UK when he takes over as leader of Nottinghamshire County Council next month.
He was elected as the new Conservative group leader on Monday, and succeeds Ben Bradley, who is stepping down after a challenging year marked by two election defeats.
BBC News reported that the new leader faces significant challenges ahead, with a slim council majority and local elections in May that could potentially threaten his position.
Sam Smith, 27, set to become new Nottinghamshire County Council leader
The UK government has announced new powers for police and councils to impose ‘respect orders’ on persistent anti-social behaviour offenders.
Local Gov reported that the new powers could include bans from town centres and public drinking spots, with non-compliance potentially resulting in up to two years imprisonment. Additionally, police will gain the ability to immediately seize vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour without prior warning.
The new measures will be piloted before wider implementation across England and Wales.
USA:
The city of St Paul, Minnesota has expanded a pilot program that hires homeless individuals to clean light rail stations and bus stops in the city, paying workers $20 per hour for their efforts.
The program is funded by a $750,000 federal grant, and provides workers with weekly paychecks and free transit passes, helping them gain stability while making public transportation more welcoming.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that the initiative has already employed about 80 people and includes support services like helping workers obtain vital documents and background checks, though funding is set to run out by September 2025.
Metro Transit hires homeless individuals to clean light rail stations in St. Paul
JAPAN:
Municipalities in Japan are raising a “bathing tax” to deal with a surge in foreign visitor numbers.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that local governments are using their ability to raise funds by municipal ordinance to raise revenue.
The tax on overnight visitors at onsen hot spring resorts has been in place for decades, but municipalities have only recently started to lift the standard rate of around a dollar a day as they face declining spring water levels and increasing visitation.
Cities raising ‘bathing tax’ rate to deal with rising tourism | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & Japan Watch
NZ:
Details of the severance package of Stephen Parry, the former Gore District Council chief executive, have been revealed with the publishing of the council’s annual report.
The Press reported that Mr Parry received total remuneration of almost $750K in his final year, including a severance payment of $293K.
His departure followed an 18-month public dispute with district mayor Ben Bell, culminating in his resignation in September 2023 citing “untenable circumstances”.