On the Roundup today… A CEO resigns in Victoria, another is appointed in Qld, while a council sends another onto extended leave; a by election set for to fill a Yarra Ranges vacancy; Bendigo introduces a 24 hour cat curfew; and all the latest mayoral election results from Victoria.
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:
Wodonga CEO resigns
Cat curfew in Bendigo more strict
UN partnership training boost to lead Victoria towards a circular economy
Melbourne's climate change efforts A-grade
Bass Coast land for big housing build
Victoria's CDS a step closer
Vic Mayoral Elections list
New Ipswich City Council CEO announced for Queensland's fastest growing city
Maranoa Council puts CEO on extended leave
New local council cat by-law is inhumane and ill-informed
Wollongong Monopoly game launched
Referendum to vote for popularly elected mayor mooted
Australians tell us what they want in parks and playgrounds
Maldon Council says Enough is Enough
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; and supported by Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment and business advisory service.
Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found in the transcript, or by visiting the Roundup website.
On the Roundup today… A CEO resigns in Victoria, another is appointed in Qld, while a council sends another onto extended leave; a by election set for to fill a Yarra Ranges vacancy; Bendigo introduces a 24 hour cat curfew; and all the latest mayoral election results from Victoria.
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:
Wodonga CEO resigns
Cat curfew in Bendigo more strict
UN partnership training boost to lead Victoria towards a circular economy
Melbourne's climate change efforts A-grade
Bass Coast land for big housing build
Victoria's CDS a step closer
Vic Mayoral Elections list
New Ipswich City Council CEO announced for Queensland's fastest growing city
Maranoa Council puts CEO on extended leave
New local council cat by-law is inhumane and ill-informed
Wollongong Monopoly game launched
Referendum to vote for popularly elected mayor mooted
Australians tell us what they want in parks and playgrounds
Maldon Council says Enough is Enough
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; and supported by Davidson, the nationally recognised executive recruitment and business advisory service.
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 21st November 2021. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the Roundup today… A CEO resigns in Victoria, another is appointed in Qld, while a council sends another onto extended leave; a by election set for to fill a Yarra Ranges vacancy; Bendigo introduces a 24 hour cat curfew; and all the latest mayoral election results from Victoria.
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;
Wodonga Council CEO Mark Dixon resigned this week, and will leave the organisation after nearly three years in the role.
Mr Dixon is leaving the sector to take up a CEO role with an international organization, described as a ‘one in a lifetime’ opportunity.
The council said its search for a new chief executive will commence shortly, in line with its CEO Recruitment Policy.
https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/newsroom/archive/wodonga-council-ceo-to-take-up-new-opportunity
The recent resignation of Cathrine Burnett-Wake at Yarra Ranges Shire Council has triggered a by-election.
As the vacancy is in a single member ward, the VEC has announced that a by-election will be conducted by postal vote on 19 February 2022.
The City of Greater Bendigo has adopted its new Domestic Animal Management Plan, which includes a 24 hour cat curfew.
The ABC reports that the plan was adopted unanimously by the council, after consideration of 1130 survey responses and 40 written submissions.
The council said 80 per cent of the feedback received supported a 24/7 cat containment law, to match the requirements to contain dogs to an owner's property. The new law extends the overnight curfew that was previously in place.
Cat curfew in Bendigo more strict, councillors unanimous on limiting cats to properties 24/7
The Melbourne Waste and Resource Recovery Group has announced a global first partnership to provide circular economy training to local government, community and industry leaders across Victoria.
The partnership with the United Nations System Staff College will see a free six week course provided to build knowledge, expertise and leadership capability to accelerate Victoria’s transition to a circular economy.
The course will focus on harnessing circular economy principles and systems based approaches to explore ways in which systems, products and services can be redesigned.
200 places are available to participants across local and state government, community organisations and the waste and resource recovery sector. Applications are open until 10 December, and the course will commence in February.
UN partnership training boost to lead Victoria towards a circular economy
The City of Melbourne’s climate change and emissions reduction efforts have been recognised with an A-grade rating by the global environmental impact non-profit, CDP.
The A-grade rating is presented to cities with ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy targets, and a demonstrated climate action plan.
Less than 10 percent of cities have achieved the prestigious A-grade rating.
Bass Coast Shire Council will make six unused road reserves available for the development of social housing in Wonthaggi and Cowes.
Three sites in Wonthaggi will be made available to Salvation Army Housing, while one in Wonthaggi and two in Cowes will be made available to Community Housing Limited.
Bass Coast has been allocated a minimum $25 million from the state’s social housing growth fund, for community housing organisations. Those organisations will now undertake due diligence to determine whether the sites will be included in a submission to access the funding.
https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/about-council/news-listing/land-provided-for-big-housing-build
Victoria’s new container deposit scheme is a step closer, with the government now taking expressions of interest from qualified organisations to run the scheme.
The scheme will have a minimum of one collection point per 14,500 people in metropolitan areas; at least one per town of 750 people in regional areas; and at least one per town of 350 people in rural areas.
The EOI is open to any business or joint venture, including social enterprises, not-for-profits and charities who can demonstrate ability to deliver the requirements of the scheme. The EOI closes on 23rd December.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/next-steps-deliver-victorias-container-deposit-scheme
Now for a roundup of mayoral election results since our last bulletin on Wednesday:
The newly elected South Gippsland Shire Council has elected its first mayor. Moyha Davies will be mayor for the next 12 months, while Nathan Hersey is deputy. Cr Davies is the only current councillor with previous council experience.
At Bass Coast, Michael Whelan is the new Mayor, and Leticia Laing takes on the deputy mayor role.
There’s a new mayor at Baw Baw Shire as well. Michael Leaney will lead the council for the next year, supported by AnneMarie McCabe as deputy.
Moreland has chosen Mark Riley, who delivered is mayoral acceptance speech draped in the Rainbow flag, saying he was proud to be the first out queer Mayor of Moreland. The deputy mayor is Lambros Tapinos, a former mayor of Moreland.
The new mayor of Murrindindi is former deputy Sue Carpenter, while Damien Gallagher steps into the deputy mayor role.
Port Phillip City has elected Marcus Pearl as mayor for the first time, with Tim Baxter elected deputy mayor.
Wyndham City has elected Peter Maynard as mayor for a third non-consecutive time, and Jasmine Hill is deputy mayor.
Status quo at Campaspe Shire with Chrissy Weller re-elected as mayor, but there is a new deputy mayor in Colleen Gates. Cr Gates is a former mayor and two term councillor at Hobsons Bay City.
Brimbank Council has its youngest and first Vietnamese mayor in Jasmine Nguyen, and Thuy Dang was elected deputy.
At Frankston, Nathan Conroy was elected mayor on Thursday evening, with Suzette Tayler appointed as deputy mayor. Cr Conroy is a first term councillor, and served as deputy during his first year on the Council.
And at Horsham Rural City, Robyn Gulline was reelected for a second year as Mayor. The council became the fourth this season to decide not to have a deputy mayor.
About 13 councils are yet to conduct mayoral elections - most will be conducted this coming week. You can keep track of the results as they come in on the Local Government News Roundup website.
https://lgnewsroundup.com/?page_id=385
The Roundup continues in a moment with more news from around the country.
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
The new CEO for Queensland’s fastest growing city has finally been announced, after weeks of speculation.
Sonia Cooper, the acting CEO of Ipswich City Council since April, has been appointed to continue in the role. She has been with Ipswich Council since February 2020, and was previously a Deputy Commissioner with the Queensland Public Service.
Ms Cooper is the council’s first female CEO, and the appointment makes Ipswich one of only six councils in the state to have a female mayor and a female CEO.
The recruitment process was conducted by Davidson, with 84 applications received from across Queensland and interstate.
New Ipswich City Council CEO announced for Queensland's fastest growing city
Meanwhile, the outgoing CEO at Queensland’s Maranoa Regional Council is being forced out of the job months earlier than planned.
The Courier Mail reports that the council passed a motion to extend Julie Reitano’s leave from Christmas Eve through to her expected finishing date of 1st March.
As with the decision to not renew Ms Reitano’s contract in August, the council vote was split on the matter, with the mayor and deputy mayor recusing themselves due to a conflict of interest.
In South Australia, two Adelaide metro councils have attracted criticism from the RSPCA for proposed by-laws that include the tethering of cats.
RSPCA SA CEO Paul Stevenson expressed extreme concerns about the by-laws that would have made the tethering of cats to a fixed object by means of a chain, cord or leash acceptable.
He said he is pleased that following lobbying of politicians, the Legislative Council has used its powers to disallow the by-laws.
No, it’s not OK to chain your cat up – new local council cat by-law is inhumane and ill-informed
A new Wollongong version of the popular Monopoly board game has arrived, just in time for Christmas.
Wollongong City Council has welcomed the release of the classic board game which replaces the likes of Pall Mall, the Electric Company and the Strand with local landmarks such as the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Crown Street and the Sea Cliff Bridge.
The game is available from local retailers, which are listed on the city council’s website. Wollongong joins Tamworth in having a local edition of Monopoly, with that city’s version released in time for the 50th anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.
The mayor of Blue Mountains says he will push for a shift to a model where the community elects the mayor, after the current elections are concluded.
Cr Mark Greenhill has told the Blue Mountains Gazette that the current system where councillors elect the mayor is antiquated, and having the community choose the mayor would be more democratic.
Currently, 35 of the state’s 128 councils have a popularly elected mayor. A change for Blue Mountains would require a referendum to be conducted some time after the new council is elected next month. Referendum to vote for popularly elected mayor mooted
A new national study into suburban parks and playgrounds has identified a wish-list of features to meet the needs of various user groups.
The study by Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition has found that children, adolescents and older adults all look for different features in parks, but all age groups benefit from well-designed urban spaces that cater for play and relaxation.
Associate Professor Jenny Veitch, who led the study, said many councils spend a lot of money on parks, but it must be the right expense that achieves the well-designed, attractive environments that are wanted by the public.
She said parks not currently well attended should be reinvigorated and refurbished to optimise use, offering huge benefits to our population’s physical, social and mental wellbeing.
Australians tell us what they want in parks and playgrounds
Now some stories of interest under our international spotlight….
In the UK, recent events at Maldon District Council have led to the publication of an open letter, signed by 25 councillors, and the launch of a campaign to stamp out hate crime.
Elected members and council staff have been subjected to ongoing abuse and harassment, and police were called to a recent council meeting where one councillor was accused of breaching the peace.
The Council Leader and Deputy Leader both stepped down earlier this month in a bid to allow the council to move forward and draw a line under recent events.
In recent weeks and months, Council staff have been subject to threats of physical violence, intimidation, harassment and aggressive verbal abuse, in person and online.
The Council's Enough is Enough campaign calls for zero tolerance to hate crime at work and in the community.
In Colorado, a new recreation center is under construction, thanks to the proceeds of marijuana.
Local news channel 9 News says the 76,000 square foot center in the city of Aurora is expected to be completed by February 2023, at a cost of $42M US dollars funded entirely from marijuana tax revenue.
Aurora voters approved a tax revenue scheme linked to the sale of unprocessed retail marijuana in 2014. As of last December, the tax had generated nearly $55M US dollars in revenue for the city.
Aurora holds topping out ceremony for marijuana-funded rec center | 9news.com
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 and a new episode of the weekly Governance Update - part of 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.