In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup… Yarra names an Acting CEO; two Victorian councils come out winners in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards; results from the latest mayoral elections in Victoria; Gold Coast City Council announces who will be its next CEO; and a new local government minister in South Australia.
Plus lots more news 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:
Yarra Acting CEO appointed
Premier's Sustainability Awards winners announced
Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
World class free public wifi for Ararat & Lake Bolac
$16M funding push for new wetlands centre
Orange Door opens in Outer Gippsland
Animal Welfare grants round opens
Shepparton Art Museum officially opened; New SAM building virtual opening on tonight
Gold Coast City Council appoints Tasmanian departmental secretary Tim Baker as CEO
NEWSPORT DAILY-Applications for council CEO deadline nears; CEO’s "dream job" comes to an end
Heysen MP Josh Teague to enter SA cabinet and become Attorney-General after Vickie Chapman steps aside
City of Hobart welcomes changes to e-scooter use
Victoria looks to cut costs as states and territories' public workforces grow
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.
In this edition of the Local Government News Roundup… Yarra names an Acting CEO; two Victorian councils come out winners in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards; results from the latest mayoral elections in Victoria; Gold Coast City Council announces who will be its next CEO; and a new local government minister in South Australia.
Plus lots more news 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:
Yarra Acting CEO appointed
Premier's Sustainability Awards winners announced
Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
World class free public wifi for Ararat & Lake Bolac
$16M funding push for new wetlands centre
Orange Door opens in Outer Gippsland
Animal Welfare grants round opens
Shepparton Art Museum officially opened; New SAM building virtual opening on tonight
Gold Coast City Council appoints Tasmanian departmental secretary Tim Baker as CEO
NEWSPORT DAILY-Applications for council CEO deadline nears; CEO’s "dream job" comes to an end
Heysen MP Josh Teague to enter SA cabinet and become Attorney-General after Vickie Chapman steps aside
City of Hobart welcomes changes to e-scooter use
Victoria looks to cut costs as states and territories' public workforces grow
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 24th November 2021. I’m Chris Eddy.
On the Roundup today… Yarra names an Acting CEO; two Victorian councils come out winners in the Premier’s Sustainability Awards; results from the latest mayoral elections in Victoria; Gold Coast City Council announces who will be its next CEO; and a new local government minister in South Australia.
Plus lots more news 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;
Yarra City Council has selected Chris Leivers to be its Acting CEO when current CEO Vj Vaidyanath steps down next month.
Mr Leivers is the council’s Director of City Works and Assets, and has nearly 20 years experience in local government. He is also a director on the board of LGPro Victoria.
Mr Leivers takes up the Acting CEO role on 17 December. As previously reported, Ms Vaidyanath will be the inaugural CEO of Homes Melbourne from early in 2022. https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/news/2021/11/23/yarra-city-council-appoints-acting-ceo
The winners of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards for 2021 have been announced, and two Victorian Councils have cause for celebration.
Cardinia Shire Council is a winner in the Sustainable Places - Industry Leader category. Its Deep Creek Reserve project, turning 48 hectares of former farmland into a community park, has beaten out ONE20 Group Architects, Our Future Cities, Rail Projects Victoria and The Cape for the award.
Macedon Ranges Shire has been named winner of the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award for its Healthy Landscapes for Healthy Livestock project, which was initiated in response to poor land management outcomes observed across the shire.
Macedon Ranges was also a finalist in the Healthy Environment - Industry Leader category, while Latrobe City Council was a finalist in the Clean, affordable and secure energy - Industry Leader category. https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/psa-2021-winners
We’re into the final week of mayoral elections around Victoria, and now here’s a roundup of results since our last program.
Boroondara City Council has elected Jane Addis as Mayor, and Wes Gault as Deputy. Cr Addis is in her third term on the Council, while Cr Gault is a first term councillor.
At Macedon Ranges Shire, it’s a second consecutive mayoral term, and fifth overall for Cr Jennifer Anderson. Rob Guthrie has been elected as deputy mayor.
Wangaratta Rural City has re-elected its Mayor Dean Rees to a further term, and also reappointed Harry Bussell as the Deputy Mayor.
Indigo Shire has a new Mayor, after Jenny O’Connor declared she would not seek another term. Bernard Gaffney is back as mayor, after serving in the role in the previous council term. Peter Croucher is the new deputy mayor of Indigo Shire, and will serve a 2 year term in the role.
Corangamite Shire has re-elected Ruth Gstrein as Mayor. Cr Gstrein is a fifth term councillor, and this will be her fifth time as Mayor. Geraldine Conheady is the new Deputy Mayor.
And at Stonnington City Council, Jami Klisaris is back in the mayoral robes for the second time, having last served as mayor in 2017. She is in her third term on the council. Long serving councillor and former 4 time mayor Melina Sehr has been re-elected as deputy mayor for the coming year.
Yarra City has deferred its election of the mayor yet again. A fourth attempt will be made at 8pm on Thursday 25th November.
You can keep track of the results as they come in on the Local Government News Roundup website. Victorian Mayoral Elections 2021
A new public wifi network will soon be installed in Ararat and Lake Bolac, activating smart city and internet of things capability.
The state government is investing $1.56 million in a partnership between Ararat Rural City Council and Telstra to connect key economic, tourism, recreation and cultural places in the region.
Ararat Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison says the government investment has enabled the design of one of the most advanced public wifi networks in the world, capitalising on the first public trial of OpenRoaming technology in Australia.
The network underpins the Council’s plans to be Australia’s rural innovation capital, showcasing the latest technology for businesses, tourism and community users. https://www.ararat.vic.gov.au/news/world-class-free-wifi-ararat-and-lake-bolac
A proposed new interactive wetlands centre in Hobsons Bay is seeking state government funding of $16 million.
The Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre, to be located near the RAMSAR listed Cheetham wetlands, will be a regional wellbeing and environment centre of immersive teaching and learning, and will promote ecotourism and community participation in nature.
The centre has been designed by internationally renowned Grimshaw Architects, and will feature a wetlands viewing tower, learning laboratories, research facilities, and nature and water-based play spaces.
The project will take up to 2 years to complete and is expected to create 40 full time jobs. Attracting government funding for the project is a key advocacy priority for Hobsons Bay City Council. https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/News-Media/2021/November/16m-funding-push-for-state-of-the-art-wetlands-centre
Briefly:
A new Orange Door Network location is now operating in Outer Gippsland. The network is providing coordinated family violence and family wellbeing services to families across East Gippsland and Wellington Shires.
Face to face service is up and running in Bairnsdale, with a site in Sale due to open early next year. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/orange-door-network-open-outer-gippsland
The latest round of the Animal Welfare Fund grants program is open for applications from animal shelters, foster carers, and not for profit and community vet clinics. Grants of up to $100,000 are available for equipment purchases and service upgrades; and up to $200,000 to establish new, low-cost vet clinics.
Applications close on 24th December. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/even-better-care-our-companion-animals
And the new Shepparton Art Museum is now officially open, after a virtual ceremony was held on Friday night. The $50 million museum was supported by a $12.5M investment from the state government, along with support from Greater Shepparton City Council, the commonwealth government and philanthropic partners.
Its first major exhibition is a presentation of work by legendary Yorta Yorta artist Lin Onus, called The Land Within. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/shepparton-art-museum-open-business; New SAM building virtual opening on tonight
The Roundup continues in a moment with more news from around the country.
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Now to some stories making news in local government around Australia this week.
The head of one of Tasmania’s largest government departments has secured the highly sought after CEO position at Gold Coast City Council.
Various media outlets, including the ABC, have reported the appointment of Tim Baker to the position. He is currently secretary of Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
He was also chief of staff to former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman.
Joe McCabe will remain as acting CEO until Mr Baker commences at Gold Coast on 1st February. Gold Coast City Council appoints Tasmanian departmental secretary Tim Baker as CEO
Queensland’s Douglas Shire Council is expected to make an appointment to fill its vacant CEO position by Christmas.
Newsport.com.au reports that applications have closed for the role, with a strong pool of applications received.
The vacancy was created when Mark Stoermer announced his resignation in August, just a month prior to the expiry of his three year employment contract. Mr Stoermer is a former CEO of Nillumbik Shire Council in Victoria.
Juanita Warner has been acting in the CEO position since August. NEWSPORT DAILY-Applications for council CEO deadline nears; CEO’s "dream job" comes to an end
South Australia has a new local government minister, at least for a while, following the decision by Deputy Premier Vicki Chapman to stand aside for a state ombudsman investigation.
The ombudsman is looking into whether Ms Chapman had a conflict of interest relating to a ministerial decision about a port proposal on Kangaroo Island.
As has been widely reported, Ms Chapman denies she had a conflict of interest in the matter despite a parliamentary committee inquiry finding that she did.
Josh Teague, a backbencher from an Adelaide Hills electorate, has been sworn in as a minister and takes on the portfolios of Attorney General, Planning and Local Government in Ms Chapman’s absence. Heysen MP Josh Teague to enter SA cabinet and become Attorney-General after Vickie Chapman steps aside
Changes to state legislation around use of micromobility devices such as electric scooters has been welcomed by the City of Hobart, ahead of a hire-and-ride trial.
City of Hobart’s City Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Harvey said the legislative changes will allow the City of Hobart – in collaboration with the City of Launceston – to proceed with the long-awaited trial.
It was announced in September that two experienced micromobility vendors – Beam and Neuron – had been selected to operate e-scooter hire services in the two cities.
It is hoped that e-scooters will be available for hire in Hobart before Christmas, once changes to the Tasmanian Road Rules have been enacted. City welcomes changes to e-scooter use
A new release of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows employment in local government across Australia steadying, while state public sector employment is climbing.
The Mandarin has analysed the data, and reports that there are 190,800 people working in local government across Australia, a growth of 2.5%.
That compares to almost 250,000 at the federal government level, up 0.6%, and 1.6 million public servants employed by state governments, up 3.3% in the last financial year.
The biggest increase in public servants was in Victoria, followed by NSW. Victoria looks to cut costs as states and territories' public workforces grow
Coming up next week is the announcement of the winners of the National Federation Awards, celebrating achievements of local governments across Australia.
The awards, presented by Local Government PRofessionals Australia, honour local governments for their effort in making a difference in their communities.
They showcase the innovative solutions that demonstrate leading practices, deliver quality services and better outcomes for communities, and have the potential to be replicated across the country.
Winners will be announced in five categories, including Environmental Leadership and Sustainability; Innovative Management Initiative; Community Service Delivery; Partnerships and Collaboration; and Emerging Leader.
The award ceremony will be live streamed on the Local Government Professionals Australia YouTube channel from 3.00pm AEDT on Tuesday 30th November.mNational Federation Awards - LG Professionals Australia
Pre-poll voting has opened in the NSW local government elections.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the eligibility criteria for pre-polling voting had been relaxed this year to ease crowds on election day, 4th December.
People are allowed to vote by post if they are isolating due to COVID-19; live in a retirement village, nursing home or are in hospital; or they reasonably believe attending a polling place on election day will pose a risk to the health or safety of themselves to others. The time to pre-poll vote is here
Meanwhile the NSW Electoral Commission still has a significant number of vacancies for paid jobs for the upcoming elections, particularly in the southeast of the state.
The ABC reports that hundreds of jobs are yet to be filled in the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Snowy Monaro local government areas.
Now some stories of interest under our international spotlight….
In the UK, councils will be forced to take on responsibility for the care of unaccompanied asylum seeker children arriving via the English Channel.
The BBC reports more than 100 children are living in hotels in Kent and other council areas on the south coast of England, due to a shortage of places in children’s homes.
217 councils will be obliged to accept an allocation of the children under a plan being implemented by the Home Office. Councils will receive £143 per night per child under the scheme. Councils to be forced to take child asylum seekers
An English council will formally request the ability to host hybrid council meetings, allowing councillors to take part remotely.
While councils were able to conduct virtual meetings during the COVID restrictions last year, the High Court later ruled that they could not continue the practice.
The BBC reports that North Norfolk District Council will lobby the government to allow the practice in England, as already occurs in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Norfolk council asks to be able to meet and vote virtually
To the US, where a city council in Texas has taken the unusual step of buying a stake in the city’s largest shopping mall.
The mayor of Balcones Heights, Suzanne de Leon, said the purchase would allow the city to play a bigger role in the future of the property.
With its 45% stake, purchased for $5.4M USD, the council will have veto power over what businesses can move into the mall.
Mayor de Leon told Texas Public Radio that the progressive city council voted unanimously to take a stake in the mall.
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.