Here are the stories that featured in the Victorian Roundup segment of episode #76 of the Local Government News Roundup.
Yarra City Council has selected Chris Leivers to be its Acting CEO when current CEO Vj Vaidyanath steps down next month.
Mr Leivers is the council’s Director of City Works and Assets, and has nearly 20 years experience in local government. He is also a director on the board of LGPro Victoria.
Mr Leivers takes up the Acting CEO role on 17 December. As previously reported, Ms Vaidyanath will be the inaugural CEO of Homes Melbourne from early in 2022. Source
The winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards for 2021 have been announced, and two Victorian Councils have cause for celebration.
Cardinia Shire Council is a winner in the Sustainable Places – Industry Leader category. Its Deep Creek Reserve project, turning 48 hectares of former farmland into a community park, has beaten out ONE20 Group Architects, Our Future Cities, Rail Projects Victoria and The Cape for the award.
Macedon Ranges Shire has been named winner of the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award for its Healthy Landscapes for Healthy Livestock project, which was initiated in response to poor land management outcomes observed across the shire.
Macedon Ranges was also a finalist in the Healthy Environment – Industry Leader category, while Latrobe City Council was a finalist in the Clean, affordable and secure energy – Industry Leader category. Source
We’re into the final week of mayoral elections around Victoria, and now here’s a roundup of results since our last program.
Boroondara City Council has elected Jane Addis as Mayor, and Wes Gault as Deputy. Cr Addis is in her third term on the Council, while Cr Gault is a first term councillor.
At Macedon Ranges Shire, it’s a second consecutive mayoral term, and fifth overall for Cr Jennifer Anderson. Rob Guthrie has been elected as deputy mayor.
Wangaratta Rural City has re-elected its Mayor Dean Rees to a further term, and also reappointed Harry Bussell as the Deputy Mayor.
Indigo Shire has a new Mayor, after Jenny O’Connor declared she would not seek another term. Bernard Gaffney is back as mayor, after serving in the role in the previous council term. Peter Croucher is the new deputy mayor of Indigo Shire, and will serve a 2 year term in the role.
Corangamite Shire has re-elected Ruth Gstrein as Mayor. Cr Gstrein is a fifth term councillor, and this will be her fifth time as Mayor. Geraldine Conheady is the new Deputy Mayor.
And at Stonnington City Council, Jami Klisaris is back in the mayoral robes for the second time, having last served as mayor in 2017. She is in her third term on the council. Long serving councillor and former 4 time mayor Melina Sehr has been re-elected as deputy mayor for the coming year.
Yarra City has deferred its election of the mayor yet again. A fourth attempt will be made at 8pm on Thursday 25th November.
You can keep track of the results as they come in on the Local Government News Roundup website. List of Mayoral election results
A new public wifi network will soon be installed in Ararat and Lake Bolac, activating smart city and internet of things capability.
The state government is investing $1.56 million in a partnership between Ararat Rural City Council and Telstra to connect key economic, tourism, recreation and cultural places in the region.
Ararat Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison says the government investment has enabled the design of one of the most advanced public wifi networks in the world, capitalising on the first public trial of OpenRoaming technology in Australia.
The network underpins the Council’s plans to be Australia’s rural innovation capital, showcasing the latest technology for businesses, tourism and community users. Source
A proposed new interactive wetlands centre in Hobsons Bay is seeking state government funding of $16 million.
The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, to be located near the RAMSAR listed Cheetham wetlands, will be a regional wellbeing and environment centre of immersive teaching and learning, and will promote ecotourism and community participation in nature.
The centre has been designed by internationally renowned Grimshaw Architects, and will feature a wetlands viewing tower, learning laboratories, research facilities, and nature and water-based play spaces.
The project will take up to 2 years to complete and is expected to create 40 full time jobs. Attracting government funding for the project is a key advocacy priority for Hobsons Bay City Council. Source
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A new Orange Door Network location is now operating in Outer Gippsland. The network is providing coordinated family violence and family wellbeing services to families across East Gippsland and Wellington Shires.
Face to face service is up and running in Bairnsdale, with a site in Sale due to open early next year. Source
The latest round of the Animal Welfare Fund grants program is open for applications from animal shelters, foster carers, and not for profit and community vet clinics. Grants of up to $100,000 are available for equipment purchases and service upgrades; and up to $200,000 to establish new, low-cost vet clinics.
Applications close on 24th December. Source
And the new Shepparton Art Museum is now officially open, after a virtual ceremony was held on Friday night. The $50 million museum was supported by a $12.5M investment from the state government, along with support from Greater Shepparton City Council, the commonwealth government and philanthropic partners.
Its first major exhibition is a presentation of work by legendary Yorta Yorta artist Lin Onus, called The Land Within. Source 1 ; Source 2