4th April 2021 (#9)

Subscriber-only episode

In this episode:
A $2 billion development underway in Melbourne’s north;
Concept designs released for a new rail bridge for Melbourne Airport Rail;
Victoria’s new Gender Equality Act leading the way for the rest of the country;
The new Victorian Mayoral Advisory Panel announced;
General Manager movements in New South Wales;

And lots more from around the world of local government across Australia and internationally.

Links for this episode:
1. $2B New Epping development
2. Melbourne Airport Rail bridge concept design; Brimbank responds
3. Maribyrnong changes polka dot trial
4. Whitehorse disappointed in LXRP compulsory occupation
5. Greater Bendigo launches gastronomy guide
6. VLGA Connect interview with Dr Niki Vincent
7. Mornington Peninsula exiting Family Day Care
8. Kingston wants EGM cap lowered
9. Minister's Mayoral Advisory Panel announced
10. Government support to keep Mildura Airport operational
11. Broken Hill appoints General Manager
12. Dubbo CEO retires
13. Inner West interim CEO steps down early
14. Wagga Wagga Council wins court case
15. Tamworth trials new wastewater treatment technology
16. Qld government funding for landfill infrastructure
17. Redlands supports Brisbane Olympic bid
18. Cassowary Coast Council terminates Dunk Island Spit lease
19. Townsville spends $1M with Indigenous businesses
20. SA minister refers project t

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The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment and business advisory service; and from Ventia, making infrastructure work sustainably for our communities.

Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found in the transcript, or by visiting the Roundup website.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. I’m Chris Eddy, and this is episode 9, recorded 4th April 2021

Coming up:
A $2 billion development under way in Melbourne’s north;
Concept designs released for a new rail bridge for Melbourne Airport Rail;
Victoria’s new Gender Equality Act leading the way for the rest of the country;
The new Victorian Mayoral Advisory Panel announced;
General Manager movements in New South Wales;

And lots more from around the world of local government across Australia and internationally.

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, home of the VLGA Connect series of local government focussed interviews and podcasts. 

Firstly to our Victorian roundup.

In the City of Whittlesea, a $2 billion major development has commenced in Epping, bringing the promise of jobs, housing diversity, and an economic boost for the city.

The council is partnering with the Victorian government, Riverlee, Ramsay Health and Haven Home Safe to transform dormant land into 11 hectares of open space and 39 hectares of development including social housing, healthcare, commercial and hospitality.

Whittlesea Chair of Administrators, Lydia Wilson, said the project, known as New Epping, will create 5,000 jobs during construction and a further 3,000 once developed. It was also deliver a 20-minute neighbourhood, and around 150 new social housing homes.

Melbourne Airport Rail has released concept designs for a new rail bridge to be built across the Maribyrnong River as part of the long awaited airport rail project. The bridge will be the second-highest in Melbourne and span 550 metres. It will be built alongside an existing heritage-listed rail bridge.

The project says the elevated rail solution will avoid costly and disruptive impacts to major roads in the area. Brimbank City Council has responded to the release of designs by calling for more detail and further engagement and community input. The Council is concerned that the airport rail is being treated largely as a transport infrastructure project, and wants to ensure that it delivers an optimal design outcome that acts as a catalyst for future growth.

There is a link to a concept video in the show notes.

Maribyrnong City Council has made changes around its recently introduced polka dot road safety trial in Yarraville to further support pedestrian safety.

The trial has received media attention and prompted concerns from some community members. The Council has also received recommendations from an independent road safety audit.

As a result, speed cushions have been installed at each of the three locations, either side of each polka dot installation, to force traffic to slow down.

The trial is based on overseas research which demonstrates that motorists drive six to seven kilometers per hour slower when they encounter the colourful painted dots.

Whitehorse City Council has expressed disappointment at the decision of the Level Crossing Removal Project to compulsorily occupy two sports fields for up to two years. The sports fields are to be used to store machinery and equipment in relation to the level crossing removals at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert.

Whitehorse Mayor Andrew Munroe says the Council will continue to advocate strongly for  LXRP to reconsider the decision and explore options that have less impact on community amenity.

A Bendigo and Region Gastronomy Guide was launched by Greater Bendigo Mayor Jennifer Alden last week, showcasing the culture and food and drink traditions in Australia’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

The guide has been developed in partnership with Bendigo Regional Tourism, and provides information for day trips and short breaks, along with cooking classes, tours and workshops.

Cr Alden said the guide is a showcase of the region with appeal to tourists and residents. You can access the guide via the link in this episode’s show notes.

In an Australian first, the new Gender Equality Act is now in effect in Victoria, bringing about new obligations on Councils and other public sector agencies to report on and improve gender equality in the workplace.

Victoria’s Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, Dr Niki Vincent, is tasked with supporting the sector in the implementation of the Act, and has developed a range of tools to assist Councils with their obligations.

I asked Dr Vincent if it was part of her role to promote gender equality action and the work that is being done in Victoria to the rest of Australia.

"Absolutely, yes Chris. Absolutely I do. At the moment we've been head down, bottom-up getting ready for this Act to come into effect, but gender equality or inequality doesn't stop at the borders, and obviously, we would love to see this kind of legislation right throughout the country. We think Victoria will act as a demonstration project."

Look for the full interview with Dr Vincent in episode 152 of VLGA Connect, available now.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has decided to transition out of Family Day Care on the peninsula and in the Frankston area. The Council says the local market has seen an increase in alternate providers over the past five years, along with a steady decline in the use of the Council-provided service.

The Council is providing support to educators in finding a preferred provider, and expects the transition to occur over a period of 12 weeks.

Kingston City Council has called on the state government to urgently reduce the number of electronic gaming machines in its area. Mayor Steve Staikos said there had been a catastrophic impact on the Kingston community, with more than $62 million lost in 2019/20.

The Council is calling on Minister Melissa Horne to reduce the current allowed cap by 268 licensed EGMs to match the current number of 945 licensed EGMs.

Kingston is also supporting calls from other Councils for gaming venue operating hours to be reduced.

The Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane has announced the 2021 cohort for his Mayoral Advisory Panel, with fifteen mayors selected to represent the sector and provide advice on relevant matters.

Councils from around the state are represented, from the largest metropolitan LGAs such as Melbourne and Wyndham, to some of the smallest like Towong and Indigo. 

The Minister says he is looking forward to this year’s panel meetings and hearing the diverse range of perspectives from members. Last year, the mayoral panel provided advice to the Minister on such broad-ranging issues as bushfire recovery, homelessness, the impacts of the pandemic on tourism, and the Working for Victoria initiative.

You can see the full list of panel appointments via the link in this episode’s show notes.

Mildura Rural City Council has welcomed government support to keep Mildura Airport operational as it recovers from the impact of the pandemic.

A combined $1.7 million has been received from the state and federal governments, and the Council has provided $150,000 in rate relief. 

The Mayor Cr Jason Modica says it is hoped the funding would help to offset the high operating costs needed to maintain operational readiness despite a significant decline in income.

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
 
The VLGA Governance Advisory Network meeting for Governance Officers will be held via video conference on Friday 16th April.

And on the 21st April, the VLGA Local Government Working Group on Gambling will host as a guest speaker, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, the Hon Melissa Horne.

For more details on these and other events, keep watch on the Events page on the VLGA website at vlga.org.au

Now for the interstate news roundup, starting with New South Wales.

Broken Hill City Council last week appointed Jay Nankivell to the position of General Manager. Mr Nankivell was formerly the Council’s Chief Financial Officer, and has been acting General Manager since the start of the year.

Mr Nankivell brings local and state government experience to the role.

The CEO of Dubbo Regional Council, Michael McMahon, has retired after 40 years in local government. The Council’s Director Organisational Performance Dean Frost, has been appointed as interim CEO in the lead-up to September’s council elections, after which the new Council will oversee the appointment of a permanent CEO.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Brian Barrett will step down as General Manager of Sydney’s Inner West Council earlier than intended. Mr Barrett has been filling the role on a temporary basis while a recruitment process is undertaken for a permanent appointment. 

The move to step aside early comes after the Mayor, Darcy Byrne, reportedly referred staff for investigation by the Auditor General in relation to the Dawn Fraser Baths restoration project.

And the ABC reports that the former general manager of Wagga Wagga City Council has been unsuccessful in an unfair dismissal case against the Council. The Supreme Court found that Alan Eldridge’s dismissal was justified, and he has been ordered to pay the Council’s court costs.

Tamworth Regional Council will trial a new wastewater treatment technology at its Westdale Wastewater Treatment Plant, with funding support from the NSW Government. The forward osmosis-reverse osmosis, or Fo-Ro system will include testing of process water from a local abattoir.

The aim of the trial is to demonstrate enhanced opportunities for management and recycling of process water streams from industry as well as from treated sewage effluent, which in turn would reduce industry reliance on town water supplies. 

CSIRO will run the trial with Hunter H20 as trial facilitator and technical adviser.

To Queensland, and the state government is contributing $1 million to help local governments upgrade landfill infrastructure. Grants have been provided to Toowoomba, Western Downs, Whitsunday Regional Council and the Banana Shire Councils, which Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon says is to help them manage their infrastructure and reduce the impact of waste on the environment.

Redland City Council has formalised its commitment to participating in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympic Games proposal, agreeing to enter into the required contract arrangements to be a games venue and partner. 

The mayor, Karen Williams, said the agreements are vital to the proposal to progress, giving Brisbane the ability to demonstrate the commitment from other south east Queensland councils towards delivering the necessary infrastructure for the games.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council has terminated the lease of the Dunk Island Spit, returning control and management of the site to the Council. The Council says ongoing complications with the former lessee meant that they were unable to meet the commitments of the lease. A short-term caretaker will be appointed, and a tender is expected to be advertised later this month.

Townsville Regional Council has revealed that its expenditure with Indigenous business to date this financial year has passed $1 million. More than 20 suppliers of services such as civil contracting, landscaping, training, and the provision of personal protective equipment have benefited from the Council’s commitment to making it easier for Indigenous suppliers to access tender opportunities.

To South Australia, where a proposed trail at Witton Bluff in the southern suburbs of Adelaide has been referred to the Coastal Protection Board, after the Minister for Environment and Water received complaints from the local community about how the project is being handled.

The Minister, David Spiers, has expressed disappointment with the position of the City of Onkaparinga, which he says calls into question the environmental merits of the project.

The Council’s Director of City Operations, Kirk Richardson said the Council takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously, and that the project will consider visual impact, potential impact on flora and fauna and the marine environment during the design and construction phase.

And to Tasmania, where the inaugural President of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has been announced. Mr Malcolm Schyvens will move from his current role as Deputy President of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. 

Mr Schyvens will take up a seven-year appointment to the role on 17 May, ahead of TasCAT commencing operations later this year.

And finally, some international news items that caught my eye this week.

From the UK,  the Payment Systems Regulator has alleged anti-competitive behaviour by five firms that provide councils with pre-paid cards for the distribution of welfare payments. The regulator alleges the companies agreed not to compete or poach each others’ clients, and says that three of the five parties have admitted liability and agreed to over 32 million pounds as part of settlement.

The cards are used to assist vulnerable members of society, such as the homeless, domestic violence victims and asylum seekers.

In India, the city of Ranchi has ditched cars in favour of pedestrians and cyclists every Saturday in an effort to tackle the city’s poor air quality. It has been described as one of India’s most ambitious such plans, and features pop-up cycle tracks, free cycle repair clinics and pedestrian only streets.

Bad air in India has been linked to 1.24 million deaths, and the city of Ranchi has ambient air pollution levels seven times higher than WHO recommended studies. 

And to Chicago, USA, where the city council has reportedly approved a new $30 million arena specifically for electronic sports (or esports) and virtual reality gaming. The Surge Esports stadium will have capacity for 1,000 people. Esports has benefited from a ‘surge’ in interest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And that’s your local government news roundup for now.. Links to all of the stories referenced can be found in the show notes. You can access episodes and related information on the web at www.lgnewsroundup.com, and follow us on Twitter via the handle @LgRoundup

The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association. Subscribe to the VLGA Connect series of interviews and panel discussions on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Until next time, thanks for listening.