Hello and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup. I’m Chris Eddy, and this is episode 12, recorded 14th April 2021
Coming up:
A Victorian Council to take on the state government decision in the Supreme Court;
New figures confirm the fastest growing municipalities in the country;
A new councillor for Mornington Peninsula, and a new SOuth Australian CEO announced;
I speak with the Mayor Monash City Council about that Council’s social housing priorities;
Plus 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.
Hume City Council has resolved to take action in the Supreme Court against the decision by the Minister for Planning to amend the Hume Planning Scheme, which will pave the way for contaminated spoil from the West Gate Tunnel project to be stored at a site in Bulla.
Hume’s Mayor, Cr Joseph Haweil says the Council was not given the opportunity to provide input beyond its initial objection to the proposed amendment in September last year.
The Council is objecting to the use of the site which is close to a growing residential area, and has concerns about the impact of increased truck traffic on local roads and potential delays to road and rail crossing removal projects.
The cost to the Council of the Supreme Court action is estimated to be a minimum of $100,000 to $200,000.
With the release of the latest regional population statistics by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wyndham City Council in Melbourne’s west has called on all state and federal government for greater investment to assist with growth.
The data released at the end of March shows that Wyndham experienced the largest population increase in Victoria, and the third-largest in Australia behind Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The municipality’s population grew by 4.7% in 2020, to just over 283,000.
Wyndham Mayor Adele Hegedick says the Council wants to see the North and West Melbourne City Deal finalised, funding for four new regional rail link stations, and the urgent construction of five new schools.
A countback to fill a vacancy on Mornington Peninsula Shire has been conducted this week by the VEC, with Susan Bissinger likely to be confirmed as the Council’s 11th elected representative.
The countback result is subject to Ms Bissinger completing the necessary declarations of qualification.
Ms Bissinger will join Cr Sarah Race as councillor for Nepean Ward, after the resignation in March by former councillor Hugh Fraser.
Brimbank City Council endorsed a plan to unlock $8 billion of investment and development in Sunshine, creating up to 50,000 jobs between now and 2050.
The priority precinct vision centres on the Sunshine CBD becoming a key visitor destination with the development of a super-hub in tandem with the Melbourne Airport Rail project.
In adopting the vision, the Council wants to make sure that the airport rail project doesn’t simply funnel tourists between the airport and other centres. It wants to see state and federal governments use the vision to guide future investment and planning decisions for the area.
14 new CCTV camera units are to be installed in locations around Southern Grampians Shire, as part of a joint initiative between the Council and Victoria Police.
The installation of the cameras is to meet a dual aim, in supporting community safety and providing data on movement and usage of public spaces.
The cameras will be placed in Hamilton CBD, Dunkeld and Coleraine, and will assist police in responding quickly to security or criminal issues and community requests.
The rollout is phase one of a project outlined in the Council's Smart Community Framework and roadmap.
With Councils across Victoria being asked to identify suitable land for the state government’s $5.3B Big Housing Build, Monash City Council is offering three Council-owned sites for consideration for social housing.
The Council will advocate for the sites at Clayton, Mount Waverley and Chadstone to be considered, along with a potential VicTrack controlled site in Oakleigh.
Monash Mayor, Cr Brian Little, explains why social housing is currently one of the Council’s top priorities.
“It’s a perfect storm at the moment…”
Cr Little says it has been challenging to find the right sites.
“So we have to identify spaces that are not encumbered, that generally speaking are available…”
If funded, the Council would contribute the land, with construction costs borne by the state and ongoing site management by a community housing agency.
As a local government news roundup extra, you can listen to the full interview with Cr Little on the Local Government News Roundup website, www.lgnewsroundup.com
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the only independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors in achieving the highest standards of governance on behalf of their communities.
The VLGA provides opportunities for councillor networking, professional development and information exchange and actively engages with key policymakers and broader stakeholders to inform, influence and lead the conversations that determine the priorities for the sector.
All councillors and staff at a VLGA Member Council can access the VLGA’s programs and services. Membership is also open to non-council members and individuals interested in local governance.
If you’d like to know more about VLGA membership, call (03) 9349 7999 or email vlga@vlga.org.au
Now for the national news roundup
With the Tasmanian state election campaign in full swing, the Mayors of the Greater Hobart region have issued a joint statement calling on candidates to commit to improving public transport in Hobart.
The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Mayor of Clarence, Acting Mayor of Glenorchy, and Acting Mayor of Kingborough are seeking a Hobart transit centre, more buses, light rail for the northern suburbs, and a network of commuter cycleways for the Greater Hobart area.
The statement calls on candidates to commit to going beyond the Hobart City Deal commitments to ensure a strategic direction for public transport development in the region over the next 10 years. The Tasmanian state election will be held on 1st May.
A new Chief Executive Officer for the City of Marion in South Australia has been announced. Tony Harrison, an experienced state government executive and former Assistant Police Commissioner, will take up the role on 27th April.
His appointment follows the retirement of Adrian Skull last month after 5 ½ years in the role.
South Australia’s Planning and Local Government Minister, Vickie Chapman, has announced a new Heritage Reform Advisory Panel to review the state’s heritage policies, and recommend changes to better protect significant buildings, places and areas.
The six-member panel will address five key recommendations arising from an Environment, Resources and Development Committee inquiry.
To NSW, and Bega Valley Shire Council has flagged a possible end to cash payments at its tips, following a string of break-ins and thefts in recent months.
The Council’s waste transfer stations have been targeted since late last year, with the latest break-ins reported in Eden and Wolumla over Easter.
Waste Services Manager Alan Gundrill said the Council has been advised to install CCTV and to no longer offer cash as a payment method, which represents additional expense and inconvenience to the community.
Anyone with information about the break-ins is encouraged to contact Bega police or Crimestoppers.
Local Government NSW has announced this year’s recipients of the Pat Dixon Memorial Scholarship. Kerryann Stanley, an Aboriginal Liaison Officer from Dubbo Regional Council, and Rosslyn Thompson, a community officer from Muswellbrook Shire, will each receive $5,000 towards their study aims.
The scholarship was established in honour of the late Pat Dixon, the first Aboriginal woman elected to local government in Australia, serving 17 years on Armidale Council from 1983.
Midcoast Council, NSW, has received an Australian government grant to support its efforts in ensuring recovery of the Manning River Helmeted Turtle, which was severely impacted by the 2019 bushfires.
Confined to the freshwater reaches of the Manning River Catchment, the species is of significant value to the Manning community. The funding will support a project team, including the Council and local environmental groups, to implement measures to help ensure the long-term survival of the species.
The city of Ipswich in Queensland has been included in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games proposal, with the under construction Brisbane Lions training centre at Springfield under consideration for football and modern pentathlon events.
Mayor Teresa Harding says the proposal could act as a catalyst for infrastructure delivery that would serve the city well beyond the games. The Council is expected to formally decide on its commitment to the Games proposal at a special meeting later this month.
The City of Fremantle has unveiled a Masterplan for the redevelopment of historic Fremantle Oval.
The $37 million plan includes new clubrooms and grandstands, improved spectator facilities, lighting upgrades and the realignment of the playing field to reconnect the oval to the heritage-listed Victoria Pavilion.
The plan is a result of collaboration between the City and South Fremantle Football Club, Fremantle Football Club, the WA Football Commission, and the WA state government.
The four-stage plan is yet to be adopted by the Council, and will require funding commitments from state and federal governments.
And finally, some international news items that caught my eye this week.
Residents in a Minnesota city are being encouraged to call 9-1-1 on people who don’t pick after their dogs. The City of Plymouth has reminded pet owners of their obligation to clean up after their pets, and says “residents who observe violations are encouraged to call 911 immediately.”
The City says a community service officer or police officer would respond to such calls.
In the US state of Nebraska, new legislation will require local governments wanting to increase property tax revenue to send a postcard to all taxpayers and hold a stand-alone hearing for residents to voice their opinions on the proposal.
The new rules will apply to any city, county, school district or community college that wants to collect more tax revenue than they did in the previous year.
For some light reading, I recommend an article from the World Economic Forum which highlights the role of cities in curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and estimates 1 billion people now live in a city with renewable energy targets or policies.
Five cities are highlighted in the article, including the City of Adelaide, which has powered its municipal operations entirely by renewable energy from wind and solar farms since July last year. The other cities featured are Seoul, Korea; Cocody, Ivory Coast; Malmo, SAdweden, and Cape Town, South Africa. You’ll find a link to the story in the show notes.
And that’s your local government news roundup for now. Links to all of the stories referenced can be found in this episode’s show notes.
You can access episodes and related information on the web at www.lgnewsroundup.com, or you can subscribe to the show with your preferred podcast provider.
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.