On the Local Government News Roundup for Wednesday, 21st August 2024:
- Nine councils join forces in a new waste to energy initiative
- A Melbourne Council CEO stepping down, and the new gig for a South Australian CEO revealed
- A heritage win for Indigo Shire Council
- The NSW Liberals drop their threat of legal action over the council election nomination process
- 14 NSW councils affected by insufficient candidate nominations
- A council accused of bringing in an Indigenous treaty by stealth
- A mayor’s apology heads off an investigation
- Adelaide City Council makes its decision on a request to add Breaker Morant’s name to an Adelaide War Memorial;
- and a UK council’s swearing in the street fine facing a legal challenge.
Plus more of the latest news from around the world of local government 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 378:
Victorian Roundup:
Nine councils in Melbourne’s south east have partnered on a new waste to energy initiative that will divert at least 95% of household waste from landfill.
The initiative, led by South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 270,000 tonnes annually, and create over 500 temporary and 455 permanent jobs
The councils have joined with the Maryvale Energy from Waste facility in a deal that will support the Opal Australian Paper Maryvale Mill.
Bayside Council CEO Mick Cummins, who is also Chair of South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing, said the partnership would reduce emissions, create investment and employment, and preserve land for better uses than landfill.
The nine councils involved in the partnership are Bayside, Casey, Yarra Ranges, Whitehorse, Knox, Greater Dandenong, Cardinia, Frankston and Kingston.
Darebin CEO Peter Smith has resigned after less than two years in the role and will finish at the council in mid-September.
The council announced this week that Mr Smith had resigned last month, and they have been working on transition arrangements ahead of the commencement of the election period.
Mr Smith is leaving to spend more time with family and pursue other career interests.
He joined the Council in October 2022 on a five year contract, after more than five years as CEO of the City of Port Phillip.
He is expected to continue as Chair of Placemaking X, and has taken on a voluntary role as co-President of not-for-profit organisation, “The Place Institute”.
An open process to appoint an interim CEO is underway.
Indigo Shire Council has hailed the inclusion of the Beechworth Historic Precinct on the National Heritage list.
Mayor Sophie Price said the national recognition reinforces the importance of the council’s commitment to preservation and conservation of its most significant heritage assets.
The listing is expected to have significant tourism benefits, and enhance Indigo’s place in the Victorian Goldfields UNESCO World Heritage listing bid.
Swan Hill Mayor Stuart King has raised concerns over recent acts of vandalism in the rural city, including the arson of disabled toilets at Riverside Park and the partial destruction of a playground at Apex Park.
He said the destruction tarnishes the reputation of the city, but also creates safety concerns for residents.
The Apex Park playground was set on fire and partially destroyed just two months after being installed, and ignition devices have been discovered in the park.
Cr King said the situation was unacceptable and urged anyone with information to contact Police.
The City of Melbourne, in collaboration with Victorian Trades Hall and WorkSafe, will commission a memorial to honour workers who have died on the job.
Located at the Eight Hour Monument Reserve, the memorial will serve as a place for families and friends to reflect and commemorate lost lives.
The initiative is supported by the Victorian Government, with expressions of interest open to artists until September 30.
Cardinia Shire Council has adopted an Equestrian Strategy to guide equestrian activities over the next decade.
The shire has more than 20 equestrian clubs operating, with around 1,000 club participants.
The council’s new strategy focuses on improving safety, education, partnerships, and access to public reserves to support the equestrian community.
Buloke Shire Council has recognised the significant role of online gaming in community cohesion and recovery, particularly for young people, holding some recent successful events.
Events at Sea Lake and Wycheproof not only provided entertainment but also addressed health and wellbeing concerns.
Mayor Alan Getley said gaming has been incorporated into the council’s broader community recovery strategy, and that the council had advocated strongly for improved broadband access and mobile internet coverage.
Victorian Briefs:
The City of Ballarat is seeking contractors to maintain its extensive public art collection, valued at over $20 million and comprising more than 120 pieces.
Power FM reported that tenders are open for specific conservation projects, and more information is available on the Creative Ballarat website.
Mildura Rural City Council has received an Excellence in Place Naming Award for naming local laneways after pioneering women of Mildura’s early settler community.
The initiative was supported by the Mildura Historical Society and highlights the importance of recognising pioneering women, and there are further plans to honour more women in the municipality.
Ambulance Victoria CEO Jane Miller has resigned after 18 months in the position to pursue a new opportunity in the health sector.
Former Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp has been appointed interim CEO for a six month period.
Applications are open for the City of Melbourne’s small business grants program.
The program will distribute $700,000 in funding across four streams, with applications closing on the 24th September.
National Roundup:
NSW:
The NSW branch of the Liberal party has decided not to pursue legal action after missing the deadline to nominate nearly 140 candidates for upcoming local government elections.
Despite initially threatening legal action when the NSW Electoral Commission denied an extension, ABC News reported last night that the party had taken advice from senior counsel before deciding not to proceed.
The back down comes as the electoral commission confirmed it printed ballot papers over the weekend and has started sending out more than 180,000 postal ballot packs.
A shortage of candidates in 14 New South Wales council areas will see some candidates elected unopposed, or by-elections required due to insufficient nominations to fill the available positions.
ABC News has reported that elections for Berrigan, Cobar, Cowra, Junee and Warrumbungle will not be required in September, with some of those needing later elections to fill the roles.
Another nine councils have seen a lack of interest in certain wards, including in the mayoral election for Uralla Shire where Robert Bell will be re-elected unopposed.
One uncontested ward in Penrith has been attributed to the Liberal Party’s failure to submit nominations in time.
Kiama Council has held “fruitful” discussions with United Services Union officials, according to CEO Jane Stroud.
The meeting followed industrial action with union members marching along the main street of Kiama.
Ms Stroud said the meeting had identified solutions to some significant legacy issues dating back decades.
The council said in a statement issued yesterday that concerns had centred on the impact of a former rostering system on employees, and appropriate remedial actions had been agreed.
Sydney’s Cumberland City Council has been accused of attempting to implement an Indigenous ‘treaty by stealth’ by planning a partnership agreement with three local Indigenous corporations.
Critics say the agreement, which would require consultation with Indigenous land councils for future developments and propose dual Indigenous names for signs, is despite more than two-thirds of the city’s residents voting against the Voice to Parliament referendum.
It’s attracted the attention of talk back radio, Sky News and even the UK’s Daily Mail website.
Cumberland councillor Steve Christou says he is one of at least three councillors who are against the proposal, which he says is “absolutely disgraceful”.
A tree honouring former PM Tony Abbott in the Blue Mountains’ Corridor of Oaks has been vandalised twice since its planting on August 5, 2024.
The English oak was chosen for its symbolic strength and longevity but was sawn off both times.
Blue Mountains City council is installing CCTV cameras to prevent further incidents.
Mayor Mark Greenhill told The Guardian that the vandalism was disappointing, considering the tradition was a non-political celebration of democracy.
The Corridor of Oaks is a memorial park where every Australian PM since 1935 has planted a tree.
QLD:
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has apologised for calling a fellow councillor a “ranga,” a term considered potentially discriminatory.
The Courier Mail reported that the apology has potentially headed off a full blown investigation into the matter.
The Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) assessed a complaint, noting it as a possible conduct breach due to its offensive nature.
Cr Tate initially defended the comments, and said he was disappointed the OIA had the matter further investigated.
But at a Council meeting this week, he acknowledged the language may be derogatory and offensive and offered his apology to anyone offended by the comments.
Rockhampton Regional Council has released a report card showing significant progress in environmental sustainability in the last year.
The council says it’s successes are highlighted by a focus on increasing green canopy, reducing grid electricity reliance, and engaging in community initiatives.
Key achievements include planting 500 new trees, distributing over 3,500 native plants, and completing community restoration projects with extensive volunteer support.
The Council also reduced operational emissions by installing a solar system at the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant and securing funding for solar installations at Rockhampton Airport.
National Briefs:
ALGA President and Sydney councillor Linda Scott has received the prestigious Cr Lilliane Brady OAM Award at this year’s NSW Women in Local Government Awards.
It was one of 16 awards announced yesterday at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House, co-hosted by the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Women.
Queensland’s Balonne Shire Council has appointed an experienced former council CEO as its interim, following the recent resignation of CEO Matthew Magin.
Graeme Kanofski, formerly of Calliope and Gladstone Councils, is a 50 year local government veteran who will step into the role until the end of the year and a while a recruitment process is undertaken.
Mr Magin recently announced he is returning to the CEO position at Burdekin Shire, a position he previously held between 2014 and 2016.
Hobart City Council has launched a series of online, interactive dashboards providing data on employment, economy, environment and housing.
The State of the City dashboards pull data from sources such as the ABS and id.profile to help the community understand trends and make decisions based on the latest information.
TAS:
A new Greens candidate has been elected to the Huon Valley Council to fill the vacancy left by former Green councillor Jenny Cambers-Smith’s resignation earlier this month.
The Mercury reported that a recount conducted by the Tasmanian Electoral Commission involved six candidates and resulted in the election of Lukas Mrosek, a building designer from Cygnet.
He will take his place on the Council at a swearing in this week, and serve until elections in 2026.
Glenorchy City Council has unveiled a proactive approach to dealing with graffiti by trialing anti-graffiti wraps with artwork on traffic signal boxes in its CBD.
The wraps, laminated with anti-graffiti film, incorporate fault reporting numbers into the graphic design.
If successful, Mayor Sue Hickey said the initiative may expand to more designs and involve community groups.
SA:
The next role for departing City of Burnside CEO Chris Cowley, who announced his resignation last week, has now been revealed.
Mr Cowley has been confirmed as the new CEO of the Town of Gawler.
He takes up the position in November.
Mr Cowley joined the City of Burnside in January 2020, and was previously CEO at Whyalla and Paroo after holding senior positions at Surf Coast and Moira Shires in Victoria.
Adelaide City Council has rejected a proposal to add Harry “Breaker” Morant’s name to the South African War Memorial.
Morant, who was executed for war crimes in 1902, remains a controversial figure.
The council knocked back the proposal citing potential reputational damage.
ABC News reported that the proponents are considering their options after the refusal, which could include a legal challenge.
The Crown and Anchor hotel in Adelaide has been saved from potential demolition under new government legislation aimed at protecting live music venues.
ABC News reported that a deal with the developer will see a 29-storey high-rise allowed on an adjacent site instead.
The government plans to introduce laws to safeguard other venues as well.
Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith thanked the Premier for stepping in to broker a solution, but said the saga had highlighted a problem with the planning system that has effectively downgraded heritage protection in the city.
WA:
A Local Government Amendment Bill has been introduced in Western Australia to enable a second tranche of reforms to the sector, described as the most substantial changes since 1995.
Key elements include the establishment of an independent Local Government Inspector with enhanced oversight and intervention powers, the replacement of the Local Government Standards Panel with adjudicators, and increased penalties for conduct breaches.
The Bill mandates councils to adopt a rates and revenue policy, broadens audit committee scopes, requires public access to meetings, and clarifies roles within local governments.
The Town of Cambridge has cancelled a popular beach New Years Eve fireworks show.
PerthNow reported that the decision was due to higher costs that would have meant far fewer events could be held in the town each year.
Environmental impacts were also said to have influenced the council’s decision.
Global Roundup:
UK:
Thanet District Council’s new law threatening on the spot fines for swearing in the street may be facing a legal challenge.
The Free Speech Union says it is considering a lawsuit if the council doesn’t change course.
Campaigners against the new law say it effectively criminalises free speech.
The Free Speech Union says its the worst example its seen of the use of a Public Spaces Protection Order, which were introduced by Parliament ten years ago to help deal with prostitution, begging, loitering and alcohol consumption in specific areas.
London’s Newham Council has welcomed a decision by the government to block plans to reduce a 24 hour curfew that has been in place at London City Airport since 1986.
The airport had sought to overturn a ban on Saturday afternoon flights, but has been given permission to increase its passenger cap from 6.5M to 9M by 2031 with the maximum number of allowed flights to remain unchanged.
Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said it was a major win for the council, which has stood with residents and other supporters to oppose the airport’s plans.
However, she said she remained deeply concerned about a decision to allow additional morning flights during the week and the potential increase in passenger numbers.
USA:
A Washington D.C. Council member Trayon White hs been arrested on federal bribery charges for allegedly accepting $156,000 in exchange for pressuring government officials to extend contracts related to violence prevention and youth services.
Prosecutors claim White received cash payments on multiple occasions, with evidence captured on hidden cameras, according to a report from NBC News.
The councillor faces a potential 15-year prison sentence.
A Californian city will ask voters to renew a soda tax that it first introduced in 2014.
The City of Berkeley’s 1% soda tax saw a drop in consumption of sugar sweetened beverages of 52% in the first three years, and generates more than $1M USD annually for programs that promote healthier lifestyles.
The Daily Californian reported that the tax expires in 2027, and the city is seeking approval for an indefinite renewal when it goes back to voters this November.
CANADA:
In Toronto, a plan to extend a pedestrian and cycling trail is under scrutiny from councillors after its estimated cost increased from $23M in 2016 to more than $150M now.
The city says the cost increase is because the initial estimate did not factor in certain costs.
CBC News reported that the federal government is contributing an extra $23M to the project which would see the popular railway trail extended by two kilometres.
Construction would start in 2025 and take three years to complete.
NZ:
New Zealand’s Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has rejected calls from three councils for exemptions from new Māori ward legislation, according to a report from the NZ Herald.
The new law requires councils that established Māori wards without a referendum since 2020 to either remove the ward or hold a binding referendum by 2025.
He says in the three councils of Ruapehu, South Taranaki and Gisborne district, a three month period in which residents could have petitioned for a referendum was insufficient.
The government is maintaining its position on the matter despite widespread calls from councils and mayors for the changes to be scrapped.
A forensic audit of Buller District Council‘s Project Management Office (PMO) has revealed inadequate management, lack of critical controls, and unauthorised cost claims.
Radio New Zealand reported that the audit found council staff acted outside policy without repercussions, and ratepayers might bear costs due to government agencies’ refusal to pay.
Recommendations were made by KPMG, who conducted the audit, including transitioning the PMO to a supportive model, enhancing oversight, and ensuring compliance with the Protected Disclosures Policy.
The audit was commissioned after allegations were made by a former staff member.
The PMO was disbanded at the end of June after costing nearly $9 million.