On the Roundup today… a new member of State Parliament creates a Councillor vacancy at Yarra Ranges; the South Gippsland Shire monitor has been appointed; mayoral election results from Victoria - and one from New South Wales; a Sydney council loses its light rail service; and a councillor calls out abuse against elected reps and council staff.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Link:
Yarra Ranges Councillor resigns following appointment to Upper House
Liberal Party selects woman to replace veteran upper house MP
South Gippsland Shire Monitor appointed
Council appoints Heather Green as short term CEO
Victorian Mayoral election roundup
Message for construction operators: Don’t skip on our environment
Huge landfill diversion in Melton Recycling Facility upgrade
Cr Penny Flynn: Abusing Councillors is not okay
Caretaker mode for NSW councils signals final stretch to elections
NSW Electoral Commission - work at an election
Incumbent John Connors elected uncontested as Dungog Shire Council mayor
Let's Get Moving! SEQ Mayors urge action on transport and liveability in time for 2032
Media release: Inner West Mayor responds to light rail debacle - Inner West
Inspections continue on inner west trams after line decommissioned for up to 18 months
Liverpool City Council’s Senior Environmental Heal
Support the Roundup and get access to special episodes and regular breaking news updates by becoming a subscriber for around $5 per month. ($3 USD) Click here to subscribe now.
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.
On the Roundup today… a new member of State Parliament creates a Councillor vacancy at Yarra Ranges; the South Gippsland Shire monitor has been appointed; mayoral election results from Victoria - and one from New South Wales; a Sydney council loses its light rail service; and a councillor calls out abuse against elected reps and council staff.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Link:
Yarra Ranges Councillor resigns following appointment to Upper House
Liberal Party selects woman to replace veteran upper house MP
South Gippsland Shire Monitor appointed
Council appoints Heather Green as short term CEO
Victorian Mayoral election roundup
Message for construction operators: Don’t skip on our environment
Huge landfill diversion in Melton Recycling Facility upgrade
Cr Penny Flynn: Abusing Councillors is not okay
Caretaker mode for NSW councils signals final stretch to elections
NSW Electoral Commission - work at an election
Incumbent John Connors elected uncontested as Dungog Shire Council mayor
Let's Get Moving! SEQ Mayors urge action on transport and liveability in time for 2032
Media release: Inner West Mayor responds to light rail debacle - Inner West
Inspections continue on inner west trams after line decommissioned for up to 18 months
Liverpool City Council’s Senior Environmental Heal
Support the Roundup and get access to special episodes and regular breaking news updates by becoming a subscriber for around $5 per month. ($3 USD) Click here to subscribe now.
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.
Hello, and welcome to the Local Government News Roundup for November 2021. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the Roundup today… a new member of State Parliament creates a Councillor vacancy at Yarra Ranges; the South Gippsland Shire monitor has been appointed; mayoral election results from Victoria - and one from New South Wales; a Sydney council loses its light rail service; and a councillor calls out abuse against elected reps and council staff.
Just some of what’s ahead on the Roundup, which is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, an independent governance organisation supporting councils and councillors to achieve the highest standards of governance;
And by Hunt & Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
A Yarra Ranges Shire Councillor is making the move to State Parliament, having been selected to fill a vacancy in the upper house.
Cr Cathrine Burnett-Wake has resigned from the Council this weekend, after winning a vote of the Liberal Party’s administrative committee on Saturday to fill the vacancy in the seat of Eastern Victoria created by Edward O’Donohue’s resignation in September.
The Age reports that the final vote was between Ms Burnett-Wake and Mornington Peninsula Shire Councillor Steve Holland.
Ms Burnett-Wake was a first term councillor at Yarra Ranges, representing Streeton Ward. Details are pending on a process to fill the vacancy on the Council.
Yarra Ranges Councillor resigns following appointment to Upper House
Liberal Party selects woman to replace veteran upper house MP
Experienced state and local government executive Prue Digby has been appointed as municipal monitor at South Gippsland Shire Council.
Ms Digby previously served as municipal monitor at Frankston City Council from 2017 to 2019.
The appointment at South Gippsland Shire is for 12 months, and will support the transition back to elected councillors, encourage good governance and help prevent a recurrence of the behaviors that led to the council’s dismissal in June 2019.
Local Government Minister Shaun Leane has also announced an expansion of a mentoring program to support women elected to the council, reserving up to five places for South Gippsland Shire. The mentoring program is being delivered by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/municipal-monitor-appointed-south-gippsland-council
Swan Hill Rural City Council has appointed one of its senior executives to the CEO position on a short term acting basis.
Mayor Bill Moar announced that Heather Green took up the role at 5pm on Friday, with the departure of John McLinden, who recently resigned the position.
Cr Moar said he expected the appointment would be only for 2 to 4 weeks, with an appointment of a longer term acting CEO expected to be made soon.
Meanwhile, Cr Moar has announced he would not be re-nominating for the mayoralty at the election due on 16th November.
Council appoints Heather Green as short term CEO - Swan Hill Rural City Council
It is mayoral election season, and here is a roundup of results since our last bulletin:
At Glen Eira City, fourth term councillor Jim Magee, who was last mayor in 2015, has returned to the role this week, while first term councillor Li Zhang was elected deputy mayor.
At the City of Hume, Cr Carly Moore has been elected mayor for the third time, while first term councillor Sam Misho is the new Deputy Mayor.
At Manningham City, Cr Michelle Kleinert has been elected to the mayoralty for the second time; while Cr Diedre Diamante will serve as Deputy Mayor. Cr Kleinert first served as mayor in 2017
Melton City Council has elected Cr Goran Kesic as a first time mayor, and Cr Lara Carli as deputy mayor. Cr Kesic is a second term councillor, while Cr Carli is in her third term on the Council.
The mayor of Southern Grampians Shire, Bruach (bru-ak) Colliton, and deputy mayor David Robertson, have both been re-elected to the positions unopposed this week.
Warrnambool City Council has elected Cr Richard Ziegeler to the mayoralty, and Cr Debbie Arnott is the new deputy mayor. Both are first term councillors, and Cr Ziegeler served as deputy mayor last year.
Cr Ian Bye is the new mayor of Wellington Shire, and Cr Marcus McKenzie is deputy.
At West Wimmera Shire, Cr Bruce Meyer OAM has been elected for the 9th time as Mayor. Cr Meyer is in his 27th year on the council, and was the first mayor of West Wimmera following amalgamations. Cr Jodie Pretlove was re-elected as deputy mayor.
This coming week, at least 20 Councils have their mayoral elections scheduled. All the results are being compiled into one handy reference page on the Roundup website. You’ll find a link to that page in the show notes.
https://lgnewsroundup.com/?page_id=385
In other news this week from Victoria this week:
Surf Coast Shire Council and the Environment Protection Authority are calling on construction companies to help better protect the environment, by improving waste control and disposal at residential building sites.
They have launched a ‘Don’t Skip on Our Environment’ awareness campaign, over concerns about overloaded waste skips, loose styrofoam building pods and contamination of stormwater running into the sea and wetlands.
Businesses are being reminded of their obligations under the new Environment Protection Act, and members of the public are also being asked to take responsibility for their own waste and to stop illegal dumping in construction site skips.
Message for construction operators: Don’t skip on our environment
At Melton City Council, a contractor has been appointed for the next stage of a recycling facility upgrade that will divert tonnes of materials from landfill and save more than $300,000 per year in state landfill levies.
The stage two upgrade of the Melton Recycling Facility will include a new drive-through recovery building and resale shop, additional resource recovery and storage capacity, and improvements to internal and external roads.
Works are expected to begin in February, and be complete by May 2023.
Huge landfill diversion in Melton Recycling Facility upgrade
And a Horsham Rural City Councillor is calling out abuse from members of the public against elected representatives, council staff and others in public facing roles.
In a statement reflecting on her first year as a Councillor, Penny Flynn has expressed disappointment in people who believe it is okay to abuse others verbally or in writing.
She says no one in society will ever be paid enough to cop abuse, and issues a challenge to others to choose compassion over anger.
Cr Penny Flynn: Abusing Councillors is not okay
The Roundup continues in a moment with more news from around the country.
The Victorian Local Government Association will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 18th November.
The AGM will be conducted via Zoom video conference, and will feature keynote speaker, Peggy O’Neal AO.
Peggy is President of the Richmond Football Club, a specialist in superannuation and financial services law, and has been announced as the incoming Chancellor of RMIT University.
She will speak on the topic of governance and leadership, and why culture matters.
The AGM will be held on Thursday 18th November from 4.30pm.
Registrations and further details are available on the VLGA website - link in the show notes.
https://www.vlga.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=394
In New South Wales, local councils have entered caretaker mode up until election day on 4th December.
Councils cannot make any major policy decisions during this period, including limits on contractual decisions, determining controversial development applications, and matters relating to appointment or reappointment of general managers.
At the close of nominations for council elections last Wednesday, the electoral commission had received 3,864 nominations from candidates, for 1200 councillor positions across 124 local councils.
The election commission is recruiting more than 30,000 people to deliver the elections on 4th December, with thousands of jobs still available. The additional staff will support people to check in and out of polling places, as well as maintain physical distancing and strict cleaning measures.
Caretaker mode for NSW councils signals final stretch to elections
elections.nsw.gov.au/About-us/Work-with-us/Work-at-an-election
One of the state’s mayoral races has been determined, well ahead of the 4th December election date.
Cr John Connors has been elected mayor of Dungog Shire for a second term, as he was the only person to nominate for the position. Cr Connors has been mayor since March 2020 following the resignation of former mayor Tracy Norman.
Incumbent John Connors elected uncontested as Dungog Shire Council mayor
South East Queensland Mayors have joined forces this week to call for action on key transport and liveability projects in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Let’s Get Moving campaign was launched in Brisbane this week, highlighting the pressing need to get started in planning for the event.
The mayors are calling for a detailed plan for investment and infrastructure to ensure the games deliver an economic and social dividend for all residents.
They are urging the State and Federal Governments to sign on to the SEQ City Deal, which would deliver many of the elements needed.
Let's Get Moving! SEQ Mayors urge action on transport and liveability in time for 2032
Inner West Council in Sydney is demanding alternative and free transport for its residents, after the announcement that the Inner West light rail service would be decommissioned for up to18 months.
Mayor Rochelle Porteous said the state government announcement was crushing news for the inner west. She has criticised government decisions that she says have been more focused on privatising the route than delivering a safe and reliable light rail service.
Transport Minister Rob Stokes announced the decommissioning last week, after routine inspections discovered cracks in the vehicles used on the line. The cracking is said to be extensive and likely due to a design flaw.
Media release: Inner West Mayor responds to light rail debacle - Inner West
Inspections continue on inner west trams after line decommissioned for up to 18 months
Liverpool City Council’s senior environmental health officer Neil Ramsay has been named the Environmental Health Professional of the Year by Environmental Health Australia at their annual excellence awards.
Mayor Wendy Waller has congratulated Neil on the accolade, which recognises 15 years of commitment to protecting and promoting positive environment and health outcomes for the general public.
In South Australia, a new partnership between the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and WNBL basketball team Adelaide Lightning will see the team play all of its games at the Lights Community and Sports Centre for the coming season.
The team was left without a home stadium after its previous home base was sold.
The Council is excited to have an elite women’s sport team in the heart of the suburbs, providing opportunities for new fans to attend games at its world-class stadium in Lightsview.
The Lights will also be home base for the North Adelaide Rockets Basketball Club.
https://www.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/connect/media-hub/latest-news/adelaide-lightning-move-to-lights
In Western Australia, the City of Busselton’s Performing Arts and Convention Centre will proceed despite the state government declining further financial support.
The ABC reports that the cost of the project has grown from $30 million to more than $44 million.
Residents were surveyed about the project, with 53 per cent of respondents saying that it should not proceed.
The council is taking out a loan of $26.7 million from Treasury to allow the project to proceed.
Busselton ratepayers to foot $26 million bill for performing arts centre
The Roundup continues in a moment with the international spotlight falling on the US, South Africa and the UK
But first, a word about our valued sponsors, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers.
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Now some stories of interest under our international spotlight….
In New York, about 9,000 municipal workers have been placed on unpaid leave for refusing to comply with a COVID 19 vaccine mandate that took effect last Monday.
The Associated Press reports that thousands of city firefighters have also called out sick in an apparent protest over the requirement.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said around 90 per cent of city workers have been vaccinated, and there have been no disruptions to city services as a result of staff shortages.
It’s estimated that 1 in 4 of the city’s firefighters are yet to be vaccinated, along with around 1 in 6 police personnel. There is a pending legal challenge to the mandate from the city’s largest police union.
9,000 NYC workers on leave as vaccine mandate takes effect
In South Africa, a wage freeze has been announced for top municipal workers in the country.
The Business Tech website reports that a 0% cost of living adjustment has been gazetted this week, meaning the wages last updated in April 2020 will remain in effect.
The freeze applies to a range of positions including mayors, deputy mayors, council executives. South Africa has more than 9,000 councillors across 278 municipalities.
Here's how much mayors and other top municipal workers earn in South Africa
And in the UK, a Cheshire parish council that gained notoriety last year when a confrontational meeting over Zoom went viral, has changed its name.
The Guardian reports that Handforth Parish Council has become Handforth Town Council, in a bid to move on from its toxic past.
Since the notorious meeting, which has been viewed more than 6 million times, two of the councillors have resigned, and there is a new Chair.
The stand in chair at the now-famous meeting, Jackie Weaver, who had her authority to run the meeting challenged, has now launched a podcast called ‘Jackie Weaver Has The Authority” which purports to answer all of the big, unanswered questions.
And why not? Everyone has a podcast these days, don’t they!?
Handforth parish council changes name to move on from ‘toxic’ past
And that’s it for this edition of the roundup. Visit www.lgnewsroundup.com for more on each episode, including show notes, links to the stories referenced and extra features.
The Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the home of VLGA Connect - an ever growing library of interviews, updates and panel discussions on YouTube and podcast
And by Hunt and Hunt Lawyers - providing advice to help Councils achieve the best for their communities.
Join me next time for more local government news. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.