On your weekend update from the Local Government News Roundup:
More of the reaction from around the Victorian sector after the release of the state budget;
The first Victorian Council to be designated an ECO destination;
Greater Geelong’s budget deficit numbers questioned;
A NSW council reports itself to the integrity agencies;
A major restructure revealed at Gold Coast City Council;
CEO and GM appointment news;
And the latest on the Gore District Council Mayor/CEO troubles.
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:
More of the reaction from around the Victorian sector after the release of the state budget;
The first Victorian Council to be designated an ECO destination;
Greater Geelong’s budget deficit numbers questioned;
A NSW council reports itself to the integrity agencies;
A major restructure revealed at Gold Coast City Council;
CEO and GM appointment news;
And the latest on the Gore District Council Mayor/CEO troubles.
And much more ahead 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.
More budget reaction
The MAV has given the budget a mixed scorecard, with some wins and a few concerns.
It welcomed $1.2B in early years infrastructure;
A $50M investment over 4 years for local roads;
$12M to help councils create new apprenticeships and traineeships;
And a funding increase for school crossing supervisors of $15.7M.
However school crossing supervisors also make the list of concerns, given the commitment is only for a single year.
The MAV also maintains concerns about an underfunding of maternal and child health services; the cut to the Growing Suburbs Fund, from $50M to $10M; and no new library funding initiatives, with the government’s $51M contribution to libraries equating to 17 per cent.
Municipal Association of Victoria
Mixed reports out of Gippsland also, with one council releasing a scathing statement about the announced end to native timber harvesting in Victoria from next year.
Wellington Shire Mayor Ian Bye said it was a dark day for his community, with the futures of over 650 timber workers in the shire devastated by the announcement.
Mayor Bye said the announcement was the final nail in the coffin for the state’s native timber industry, and follows years of advocacy from the council and being ignored.
At Latrobe City, Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan welcomed the commitment to re-establish the State Electricity Commission in Morwell, which would generate long-term employment opportunities and support the community through a significant period of change.
The Council has called for the fast tracking of the commitment in light of the confirmation that native timber logging would cease at the end of the year, directly affecting hundreds of workers at the Maryvale Mill.
The Rural Councils Victoria group has also called for the government to work with affected workers, communities and councils to ensure areas affected by the native timber industry closure are able to create new jobs and economically transition.
It also expressed a concern that the budget investment in rural roads may be subject to the commonwealth’s review of infrastructure programs; and is disappointed with a lower than anticipated outcome for road maintenance.
The G21 group gave the budget a mixed review, saying the likelihood of any major investment for the Geelong region is now on a very delayed timetable. It said billions of dollars are required to upgrade the region’s public transport and active transport networks, and this remains a key priority.
G21 noted that the redevelopment of the Geelong Gallery has been overlooked again, losing out to arts funding which went to the Bendigo gallery. But it did concede that a sizeable amount of funding remains in place for a number of projects and programs.
The budget has been welcomed by Brimbank City Council, which is pleased to see $80M allocated to the rebuild of Albion Station, and a commitment to Australia’s first Centre for Paramedicine to be established by Victoria University in Sunshine.
However, the council is concerned about the status of funding for major projects such as the Sunshine Precinct Masterplan, and the Calder Freeway upgrade, which are not clarified in the budget, and the Melbourne Airport Rail which is in limbo during the commonwealth’s 90 day major project review.
Benalla Rural City Council is also a winner, with $15M included in the budget for an upgrade of the Benalla Indoor Recreation Centre.
Mayor Bernie Hearn said the council had been campaigning for the funding for a long time, and it will help make Benalla one of the best sporting areas in the north-east.
The new stadium is expected to cater for a range of sports.
There’s been little said about the government’s digital red tape reduction pledge, which might include local government services.
Government Services Minister Danny Pearson announced a $120M overhaul of Service Victoria, and said state and potentially local government services would be digitised to speed up licence and permit processes, and allow pilots for automatic approvals for low-risk local activities.
In other news
A rural council has become the first in Victoria to be certified as an ECO Destination by Ecotourism Australia.
East Gippsland Shire has welcomed the prestigious certification as a celebration of the region’s commitment to sustainable practices and the provision of exceptional nature-based tourism experiences.
The certification follows a meticulous independent assessment of 91 criteria, and means East Gippsland joins six other Australian regions to receive the recognition. They are Coffs Coast, Central Coast, and the Blue Mountains in NSW; Bundaberg and Port Douglas Daintree in Queensland; and Western Australia’s Margaret River region.
The Australian Services Union claims a deficit of $8M in Greater Geelong’s draft budget has been grossly underestimated.
The ASU says it has reason to believe the deficit is more in the order of $15 to $20M, which it says is really concerning.
A report from K-Rock radio quotes the mayor, Trent Sullivan as being happy to entertain pay cut or pay freezes for councillors and executives.
Greater Shepparton has extended its feedback period to hear community views on how the city will mark January 26 in future.
It has provided an additional week for feedback in having a community celebration on an alternate date. The council previously resolved to advocate to the commonwealth government for a change of date for Australia’s national holiday.
Greater Shepparton City Council
And a life sized bronze sculpture celebrating the leadership of three Kurnai women was unveiled in Drouin this weekend.
Baw Baw Shire Council Mayor Annemarie McCabe welcomed the state government ‘s support for the significant art piece that now stands at Drouin Civic Park, and pays homage to the recent history of First Nations people.
The sculpture is the fourth of six permanent public artworks to be unveiled around Victoria acknowledging and celebrating women’s achievements.
Now in today’s Victorian Briefs:
Brett Luxford has been reappointed as CEO at Mitchell Shire for a further four years.
Brett moved from Greater Geelong to Mitchell in August 2020. The new deal will see him remain in the role through 2026.
Nillumbik Shire Council has joined the podcasting world, launching a 10 part series to help local businesses get off the ground.
The series includes interviews with internal subject matter experts on the planning, start-up and expansion phases of small business, highlighting the council’s planning and business concierge service.
Strathbogie Shire Council has commissioned an Australian Magpie sculpture to be located in the Seven Creeks Parkland area in Euroa.
The sculpture was selected from a shortlist of five artworks after a public expression of interest process.
Local artists Steve Tobin and Tank will complete and install the work, expected to be completed by the end of July.
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Now for some of the stories making local government news from around Australia this week.
The City of Ryde in Sydney is reviewing its plans for a $110M civic and community development, amid allegations that $35M in developer contributions have been misspent.
The Council’s new CEO, Wayne Rylands, announced this week that details of the transfer of funds from restricted reserves have been referred to ICAC and the Office of Local Government, who are now undertaking inquiries into the matter.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mr Rylands had ordered an internal investigation after being alerted to the funds transfers, identifying three transactions of concern that occurred in mid-2020.
The Ryde Central Project has been contentious amongst councillors, including Mayor Sarkis Yedelian who said he opposed the plans in 2020 because funding sources had not been properly identified.
The Council is cooperating with the OLG and ICAC inquiries, and Mr Rylands says no further comment will be made until they are concluded.
Ryde City Council; Sydney Morning Herald
The new general manager of Maitland City has been announced.
Jeff Smith will make the move from Northern Beaches, where he is currently director of corporate and legal.
He has previously held senior roles at Port Stephens and Randwick councils.
His five year term will commence on the 3rd July.
A report from the Illawarra Mercury says an investigation into the cause of financial troubles at Kiama Municipal Council might still be on the cards.
The council is working to a Performance Improvement Order issued by the Office of Local Government last year, with the Minister due to consider a final compliance report after June 30.
A spokesperson for the minister told the Mercury this week that the minister would then determine whether further action is needed.
Mayor Neil Reilly has been quoted as saying there is a belief by the council that some things have been done unlawfully, but the immediate focus is on steadying the ship.
At Queensland’s Hinchinbrook Shire, where CEO Kelvin Tytherleigh recently resigned to take up the GM role at Moree Plains, the council has appointed an interim chief executive.
Michelle Webster commenced in the position, effective last Thursday.
Michelle is a 26 year local government veteran, and recently retired after 11 years at the senior executive level at Central Highlands Regional Council to focus on interim executive roles.
Gold Coast City Council has unveiled a draft restructure that it says will save $5 million a year.
Mayor Tom Tate described it as the most significant change to the organisation in nearly 30 years.
The new structure includes 7 new departments, including one dedicated to environment, heritage and resilience.
CEO Tim Baker said there will be no job losses as a result of the restructure.
Staff will be provided with full details of changes and will have five weeks from 7th June to provide feedback.
Changes at Queensland’s Toowoomba Council have been described as a major shake up under a new general manager.
The Toowoomba Chronicle says several high ranking managers have left the organisation, leaving a vacuum of decades of experience.
It quotes insiders who alleged the staffing changes are due to disagreements with new GM, Dr Nikola Stepanov, a former Queensland integrity commissioner.
Others describe it as a belated process of cultural change, particularly in the planning area, and expect that the development and business community will welcome the changes.
Dr Stepanov took up the GM position last October, after the departure of former GM Stewart Somers.
Townsville Chronicle, 26-5-23
Briefly:
Tweed Shire has remembered a passionate community advocate in former councillor George Davidson OAM who passed away recently, aged 85.
Mr Davidson was a councillor at Tweed from 1999 to 2004, and held the deputy mayor post in 2002 and 2003.
Northern Beaches Council has elected a new deputy mayor this week.
Cr David Walton now holds the position, after the former deputy mayor Sue Heins was elected to the mayoral position recently.
Cr Walton, a former police officer, has been on the council since 2017.
Albury’s mayor, Kylie King, is encouraging community members to turn up to information sessions about the planned redevelopment of the Albury Base Hospital.
The drop-in sessions are being held by the NSW government in Wodonga next week, and expressions of interest are now open for membership of a Project Community Advisory Group.
A Western Australian Council is looking to take a big step into the 21st century, considering a motion to update its dress code to make ties optional for councillors.
Male councillors have been obliged to wear ties under existing rules, but Councillor Rob Sutton has proposed a change in an attempt to modernise the dress code in line with a growing trend across all levels of government.
Winners have been announced in the 2023 Mainstreet Australia Awards – celebrating the growing support for the revitalisation of main streets around the country.
Councils were among the winners, Yarra City Council taking out an award for its Silent Disco Walking Tours; as did City of Melbourne for its Shopfront Activation Program.
Launceston City Council took home an award for its NORTH festival, along with a joint win for the Fire and Fog Winter Event.
It was also named the best regional main street or town centre, against finalists Horsham Rural City and Mackay.
Mackay Regional Council was named winner in the Best Traditional/Digital Marketing category for its City Heart Fridays initiative, and topped the Most Sustainable Main Street or Town Centre category – beating out Ipswich City Council.
The awards were announced on Friday at an event in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, at which many of the winners were present to accept their awards in person.
Now for today’s International Spotlight:
There’s been another twist in the tale out of Gore District Council, with a senior council executive accused of misleading the media about councillor discussions about Mayor Ben Bell.
The executive is reported to have denied that there was any talk in councillors’ crisis meetings about a no-confidence motion in the 24 year old mayor.
Sources have however confirmed to Radio New Zealand that a no confidence vote was discussed at a confidential meeting leading up to a public meeting, at which the council agreed to undertake a review to restore community confidence.
The news outlet has now raised concerns about the accuracy of other responses to the media in recent months.
Meanwhile, the Council is yet to consider a petition calling for the resignation of its chief executive.
The petition circulated at the height of the Council’s mayoral/CEO controversy, and attracted more than 4,800 signatures before it was closed.
Stuff.co.nz says the petition will be considered at a meeting on the 13th June.
The independent review is expected to cost around $130,000 in unbudgeted expenditure, and according to Newsroom, it will be headed up by a lawyer and former award-winning political journalist Linda Clark.
Ms Clark recently undertook the review of Upper Hutt City Council’s management of noise complaints and alleged legislative breaches; and she previously assisted with the review of Auckland Council’s flood response.
More detail of the budget cuts at Auckland City Council has emerged this week, with confirmation that more than 500 jobs across several organisations will be axed.
And deputy mayor Desley Simpson says some nice to have services might also be lost as the council faces a budget shortfall of $325M.
The NZ Herald has reported the comments after confirmation of the job cuts, which include 160 positions at the city council – 130 of those are understood to be vacant positions that will now not be filled.
In Scotland, a council ban on the hiring of bouncy castles for health and safety reasons lasted a matter of days, before a community backlash prompted a reversal.
Highland Council said early in the week that the huge size of its council area made it difficult for staff to get round venues to make safety assessments.
An outcry from local business and residents brought councillors into the fray, and by Wednesday it announced a rethink and a new set of conditions to safeguard the use of the inflatable devices.
And finally, another item from the “Things Councils Ban” file….
A council in St Louis County, Missouri has passed a ban on sitting, standing, running or walking on county roads when a sidewalk is present.
The ordinance was introduced by a councillor and was passed by a margin of one vote, according to a report from local news outlet Fox 2 Now.
It now rests with the County Executive Sam Page who has a choice whether to sign the ordinance and thereby bring it into effect.
Avid walkers and runners are hoping that he doesn’t sign it, as they find road pavements often smoother and better on the knees than uneven sidewalks.
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That’s the latest from the Roundup for the 27th 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.