On the Roundup today… a countback scheduled for Moira Shire; a council director named on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women; the latest mayoral election results from Victoria; NSW councils recognised for environmental achievements; and an ambitious waste management plan launched for South East Queensland.
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.
Links:
Councillor resigns at Moira Shire
Outstanding Victorian Women Recognised
Mitchell Director named on women’s honour roll
Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
New Melbourne Water Managing Director announced
Strathbogie & Taungurung MOU signed
Kindergarten funding announced
Queensland Government and CoMSEQ working together to fight the war on waste
Councils Recognised for Outstanding Environmental Achievement
New behaviour framework for SA Councils
Roads and community infrastructure funding round opens
Gold Coast council close to announcing new CEO after David Edwards quit
$3 million boost for bush and border communities hit hard by pandemic
Fremantle a winner at WA Tourism Awards
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 countback scheduled for Moira Shire; a council director named on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women; the latest mayoral election results from Victoria; NSW councils recognised for environmental achievements; and an ambitious waste management plan launched for South East Queensland.
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.
Links:
Councillor resigns at Moira Shire
Outstanding Victorian Women Recognised
Mitchell Director named on women’s honour roll
Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
New Melbourne Water Managing Director announced
Strathbogie & Taungurung MOU signed
Kindergarten funding announced
Queensland Government and CoMSEQ working together to fight the war on waste
Councils Recognised for Outstanding Environmental Achievement
New behaviour framework for SA Councils
Roads and community infrastructure funding round opens
Gold Coast council close to announcing new CEO after David Edwards quit
$3 million boost for bush and border communities hit hard by pandemic
Fremantle a winner at WA Tourism Awards
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 14th November 2021. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the Roundup today… a countback scheduled for Moira Shire; a council director named on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women; the latest mayoral election results from Victoria; NSW councils recognised for environmental achievements; and an ambitious waste management plan launched for South East Queensland.
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;
There’ll be a countback next month for a vacant Councillor position on Moira Shire Council.
Cr Kevin Bourke tendered his resignation last week, following the mayoral election, after nearly ten years on the Council.
The Victorian Electoral Commission has confirmed that a countback will be conducted to fill the position at 10am on Tuesday 14th December.
A director at Mitchell Shire Council is among this year’s inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Mary Agostino, Director of Advocacy and Community, has been recognised for her role in establishing the Mitchell Leadership Alliance - an initiative that brought together local health and community service provider CEOs to coordinate the approach to helping people affected by the pandemic.
Ms Agostino is one of 23 women inducted this year, joining the more than 700 exceptional women named in the Honour Roll since its inception in 2001.
Outstanding Victorian Women Recognised
Mitchell Director named on women’s honour roll
Melbourne Water has announced the appointment of Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo as its next Managing Director.
Dr Di Lorenzo is a former local government executive, most recently serving as CEO of Moreland City Council before taking up a senior role at Melbourne Water in 2019.
She is the first female managing director in the organisation’s 130 year history, and will succeed Michael Wandmaker, who steps down at the end of this month after 7 years in the role.
New Melbourne Water Managing Director announced
Now for a roundup of mayoral election results since our last bulletin on Sunday.
Knox City Council has elected Susan Laukens to the mayoralty for the first time, and former mayor Nicole Seymour is the deputy for the next 12 months.
Kellie O’Callaghan is the new mayor of Latrobe City Council, and Dan Clancey has been elected deputy mayor.
Mitchell Shire has chosen Bill Chisholm for mayor and Fiona Stevens as Deputy Mayor.
At Wodonga, Ken Poulton was elected Mayor, with Graeme Simpfendorfer to serve as deputy mayor.
After a first attempt last week that failed to achieve an absolute majority, Moyne Shire reconvened this week and elected Ian Smith as the new Mayor, and Daniel Meade as deputy. Cr Meade did not seek re-election after two terms in the role.
At Swan Hill, Bill Moar also did not seek re-election as Mayor but is now deputy to new Mayor Cr Jade Benham.
And that trend continues at Mansfield Shire, where James Tehan is the new Mayor, and his deputy is outgoing mayor Mark Holcombe.
Chris Meddows-Taylor was last night confirmed as mayor for a second consecutive term at Central Goldfields Shire.
Hepburn Shire has had a change in both roles, with Tim Drylie elected mayor, and Jen Bray is deputy.
At Golden Plains, a three way election ultimately resulted in Gavin Gamble being elected as mayor for the first time; and former mayor Helena Kirby is deputy.
First term councillor Laura Binks has been elevated to the mayoralty at Strathbogie Shire, with Cr Paul Murray as deputy.
Surf Coast Shire elected Libby Stapleton as mayor and Liz Pattison as deputy for a second consecutive term;
And Mt Alexander Shire has elected Bill Maltby as Mayor; Rosie Annear is deputy mayor for the coming year.
There’ll be a wait of a further week for a result at Yarra City Council. Monday night’s election failed to achieve an absolute majority, with two councillors deadlocked on four votes each.
The council reconvened last night and resolved to defer the election for another week, to the 23rd November.
We’re expecting another 10 councils to conduct mayoral elections this week, including the newly sworn in South Gippsland Shire Council. You can keep track of the results as they come in on the Local Government News Roundup website.
Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
Strathbogie Shire Council has signed a landmark new Memorandum of Understanding as part of strengthening its relationship with the traditional owners of Taungurung Country.
The MoU between the council and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council is believed to be the first of its kind to involve a shire council.
It recognises obligations arising from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigneous Peoples, and will govern the interactions between the shire and the land and waters council.
49 kindergartens across the state will share in more than $3.5 million in the latest round of Building Blocks Improvement grants from the state government.
The grants are given to upgrade or improve the amenity of early learning facilities, and to fund new IT devices.
Councils and not for profit organisations can apply for up to $300,000 under the program. Two kinders have received the maximum amount under the latest distribution, including Hawthorn Early Years Kinder.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/delivering-better-kinders-more-victorian-children
The Roundup continues in a moment with more news from around the country.
The Victorian Local Government Association will hold its Annual General Meeting, tomorrow 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, is the incoming Chancellor of RMIT University, and has just been awarded the honour of Melburnian of the Year.
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
Now for a selection of stories making news in local government around Australia this week.
A new South East Queensland Waste Management Plan has been launched as part of National Recycling Week by the Queensland Government and the Council of Mayors South East Queensland.
The state government is providing $500,000 to establish a joint project management office to drive delivery of the plan.
Council of Mayors SEQ Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the plan aims to divert more than 1 million tonnes of waste from landfill each year by 2030.
The plan was funded by the Queensland Government and jointly prepared with the Council of Mayors.
Queensland Government and CoMSEQ working together to fight the war on wast
NSW Councils have been recognised for outstanding environmental achievements, with the announcement of the winners of Local Government NSW’s Excellence in the Environment Awards.
Wollongong City Council has taken out the local sustainability award for its overarching Sustainable Wollongong 2030 strategy.
Other category winners include Randwick City Council’s FOGO implementation community engagement campaign; Lachlan Shire Council’s renewable energy project; and a dog owner behaviour change program from Byron Shire Council.
Winners were selected from 35 finalists across 14 categories.
Councils Recognised for Outstanding Environmental Achievement
A new behaviour management framework is expected to commence in South Australia, following next year’s council elections.
The state’s Local Government Association has been advised that the framework will apply to all council members elected in the November 2022 elections. It will include behavioural standards, a behavioural management policy, and a behavioural support policy.
The new standards of expected behaviour and values will replace the current Code of Conduct. A range of other legislative changes will come effect at the same time, including changes to conflict of interest and integrity provisions.
Councils have been given the green light to nominate projects for a share in $1 billion in funding to improve local road networks and deliver priority community infrastructure projects.
Guidelines are out now for the third phase of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which funds local governments to deliver priority projects.
Councils can nominate local road projects, including signage, lighting, bridges and tunnels; and community infrastructure projects like park and play facility upgrades, wifi networks and bicycle paths.
Under the program, some 6,100 projects have been funded to date, to the value of $1.5 billion.
Blue Mountains City Council has received international recognition for its innovative rights of nature policy.
The award from the Centre for Democratic and Environmental Rights, has been jointly awarded to Blue Mountains and a group of councils in Northern Ireland.
The award recognises local governments which adopt laws and policies expanding civil, democratic and environmental rights at the municipal level.
Earlier this year, Blue Mountains became the first government in Australia to incorporate the rights of nature principles into its operations.
News briefs:
Gold Coast City Council is reportedly close to announcing who will be its next CEO. The Gold Coast Bulletin says negotiations with a preferred candidate are close to being finalised.
The CEO position was vacated by David Edwards after three weeks in the role earlier this year. He had replaced long running CEO Dale Dickson, who left the Council in March.
Gold Coast council close to announcing new CEO after David Edwards quit
Small rural and border councils in NSW will benefit from a $3 million funding boost for COVID-19 response efforts, announced by the state government this week.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock says 33 bush and border councils will receive $90,000 each to ensure continued critical support for vulnerable communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
$3 million boost for bush and border communities hit hard by pandemic
The City of Fremantle has been recognised as a major tourism destination, taking out the Excellence in Local Government Award for Tourism at the 2021 WA Tourism awards.
The city also took out second place in the Tourism Marketing and Campaigns category for its This is Fremantle campaign.
Fremantle a winner at WA Tourism Awards
Now some stories of interest under our international spotlight….
In New Zealand, a joint working group will be established to resolve councils’ concerns with the Government’s three waters reform model.
Local Government New Zealand has welcomed the announcement of a working group, which it hopes will find solutions to sector concerns around governance, representation and accountability.
LGNZ President Stuart Crosby said mayors across New Zealand were deeply disappointed at the decision to mandate the reform for all councils.
The working group is expected to report back in March next year.
In London, a teenager who was sleeping rough for years has been successful in having a local council overturn its housing policy, which excluded homeless people from applying for its housing list.
The BBC reports that 18 year old Shadacia White won her own case to get on the housing list at Brent Council, but took legal action to get the policy changed.
Over 1200 homeless people are now eligible for the housing list, correcting what the council now describes as a mistake that it is amending.
Brent teenager gets council homeless policy overturned
And from the “It could never happen here” file, comes the story of how a car parked on a street in Italy has become a tourist attraction.
The car was parked in its current location in the town of Conegliano in 1974, and had not been moved until recently when town officials decided to move it as its popularity became an impediment to traffic and pedestrian movement.
Insider.com reports that the vehicle has even earned its own marker on Google Maps. The car is currently in an auto showroom, but there are plans to restore it and place it in a garden opposite the home of it’s 94 year old owner.
Italy: Car Parked for 47 Years in Same Spot on Street Becomes Monument
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
Join me next time for more local government news. Until then, thanks for listening and bye for now.