New laws needed to stop building houses in flood, bushfire zones:
New laws are urgently needed to stop houses being built in high-risk floodplains or bushfire zones, says federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, as he warns current planning systems are not fit for purpose in the face of escalating natural disasters driven by climate change.
Watt said necessary reforms to the “complex system” of state and council planning laws had been put in the too-hard basket for too long.
“We must think more seriously about climate and disaster risk when planning future housing development,” Watt said. “It makes absolutely no sense for all levels of government to spend billions in disaster recovery while we continue to see housing built on floodplains.”
National cabinet will discuss the overhaul of planning laws in disaster-prone areas, Watt said, confirming the work would be led by the NSW government.
The NSW government will soon respond to an independent review of the state’s flooding disasters, which recommended at-risk communities are helped to move from floodplains. Read More here
The Andrews Labor Government has appointed the members of two Electoral Representation Advisory Panels to review the electoral structure of Victorian councils.
Under the Act, all councils must have a single-member ward structure unless the Government has permitted them to have uniform multi-member wards or an unsubdivided structure.
Single-member wards are expected to more closely link councillors to the community they serve and ensure representation is genuinely local.
Missing $900,000: Ombudsman calls intensify over council’s failure to account for grant expenditure.
Calls for an independent investigation into the City of Ballarat regarding the whereabouts of $900,000 in funds from a car park grant have intensified, with council still unable to account for the expenditure nearly one month on from the initial revelation.
Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association president Bruce Crawford described the silence from council “as deafening”, warning residents would not allow the matter to be “brushed under the carpet”.
“An [external] independent audit or investigation is the only way to get this sorted and residents deserve nothing less,” he said, adding his surprise at council’s failure to seek clarity around the expenditure.
“This is public money we’re talking about; if you want to instil any public confidence back into council, they need to at least do that. It is not unreasonable for the residents of Ballarat to demand answers on this.”
The State Government has been ordered by an industry watchdog to release previously redacted information regarding Bendigo’s “Galkangu” GovHub project.
THE state government has been ordered by an industry watchdog to release previously redacted information regarding Bendigo’s “Galkangu” GovHub project. The government has so far declined to answer whether it will fight the ruling that would force it to reveal the redacted details, following a state opposition push for details to be revealed of an April 2021 ministerial briefing paper it says proves a 60 per cent cost blowout in the major Lyttleton Terrace build. It maintains the government mismanaged a $16 million component of the project centred on building works. Unredacted sections of the document – which the opposition obtained after a freedom of information request – shows bureaucrats sought an extra $9 million. The opposition has now seized on an Office Victorian Information Commissioner ruling demanding redactions be lifted on the briefing paper. The government had until Wednesday to decide whether it would appeal that ruling. It has declined to answer specific questions from the Bendigo Advertiser about any appeal or when redacted sections might be made public. It has pointed to publicly available figures for a wider sum of $120.8 million which covers the build, land purchase and other costs to say it is on budget. The opposition expects to learn whether it will get the unredacted version of the document in coming days. Any appeal will likely be heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The government originally redacted sections of the briefing paper under a legal clause allowing it to withhold certain commercial details of third parties or agencies. That has “not satisfied” the Victorian Information Commissioner’s office, it said in a recent ruling. Deputy public access commissioner Joanne Kummrow said the information does not meet requirements to be redacted under “trade or commerce” rules. It was a blow to the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, which had argued the project “involves the departmental purchase of land and the contracting of various providers to develop the GovHub on the purchased site”, according to a document sighted by the Bendigo Advertiser. The same document shows it told OVIC “the exempt information consists of financial information and costs relevant to both the department and the Bendigo City Council. OVIC acknowledged concerns about the procurement of services from commercial entities but Ms Kummrow said the government had entered a contract on behalf of the state and the community.
Rate Cap of 1.75% set for 2022-23 year
Mr. Shaun Leane The Minister for Local Government has set the rate cap at 1.75% for the 2022-23 year.
Mr Leane said it had introduced the Fair Go Rates system to help reduce cost-of-living pressures for Victorians by preventing “uncontrolled rate hikes” from local councils across Victoria.
“Community members have the chance to engage with their local councils as they make decisions about rate rises through their budget process each year,” he said.
The Victorian Ratepayers and Residents Association urges residents to become involved in the budget process, councils have until the 31st. March 2022 to apply for a higher cap.
Suburban Rail Loop - response from Louise Staley MP
The Victorian Ratepayers & Residents recently wrote to Ministers voicing concern on aspects of the Surburban Rail Loop Bill. We thank Louise Staley MP for her reply.
" It's important for councils to retain a very strong planning role"
Councils and communities should have the right to voice their opinion
Proposed new laws will strip away powers from local communities and residents are worried that they won’t get a say about development in their area.
Councils are saying they haven’t been consulted and are concerned it will dilute the rights of residents to appeal against in-appropriate development in their neighbourhood.
Local Councils lead complaints reported to the Victorian Ombudsman.
During the 2020/21 financial year the Victorian Ombudsman received more complaints about local councils than any other government department. If you would like to report an issue go to: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/complaints
Lara residents are outraged at proposal to expand flood zone
A proposal to expand Lara’s flood zone to include thousands of extra homes could jeopardise insurance premiums and property prices, residents say.
Victorian Ombudsman - Councils and Complaints
The Victorian Ombudsman recently released a good practice guide for Councils on the handling of complaints, included in the report is a guide to distinguish between a service request and a complaint.
The document also includes topics such as making it easy to make a complaint and the timely manner in which it is handled. Does your Council have a complaints policy and is it easy to find?
The guide states one way to distinguish a service request from a complaint is to look at whether a person is:
• requesting something additional or new (a service request)
• reporting what they believe to be a failing or a shortfall (a complaint)
• complaining about a Council’s response to a service request (a complaint).
Read the full guide HERE
Media Release
New Community Group “Victorian Ratepayers & Residents Association Inc” Launches
After receiving considerable feedback regarding lack of representation and information exchange from ratepayers and residents around the State, a new group called “Victorian Ratepayers & Residents Association Inc.” has been formed.
The group aims to function as a State-level network, co-ordinating and consolidating communication and representation for metropolitan, regional and rural Association members and broader ratepayer interests in Victoria.
The VRRA has committee members and supporters that have built strong connections around the State and appropriate contacts within the government. These people can provide valuable experience and assistance as these links are maintained and developed.
The group will exchange with Association members and others information on issues, processes, policies, projects, performance, and the like that relate to government operations affecting ratepayers and residents in Victoria.
There is no shortage of issues. Even though the government is supposed to be about representing the people, time and again, across the State ratepayers and residents can be left feeling disempowered and disenfranchised on decisions made about a range of issues – strategic planning, delivering best-practice development and engineering standards, landscaping and vegetation protection, traffic management, sport, and recreation facilities – while usually being expected to pick up part or all of the costs.
The 2020 Local Government Act is another challenge for Victorians and the new group will be monitoring its implementation and whether it is working in the best interests of ratepayers and residents. Processes for deliberative engagement, and upcoming electoral structure reviews, are already on VRRA’s radar, along with perennial problems with rates, valuations, rate capping, and councils’ use of confidentiality, empire-building or sub-standard accountability and transparency.
In addressing these and other issues, VRRA will support its members and encourage, mentor, and assist the formation of localised community associations across Victoria.
Contact: Joan Kelson
Phone: 0407 521 421
Email: secretary@vrra.com.au
The Local Government Inspectorate’s Annual Report 2019-20
provides information on our progress in strengthening the integrity, accountability and transparency of local government in Victoria.
The Inspectorate received and assessed 272 complaints and completed 56 investigations for the year. As with many public and private sector organisations, COVID-19 provided additional challenges to the Inspectorate’s work and the transition to remote working required staff to find new ways to continue ongoing investigations and preparations for the 2020 local council elections.
Acting Chief Municipal Inspector Dr John Lynch said:
In these unprecedented times, coronavirus has shown us that transparency in local government is vital. It has also shown us the value in having a robust integrity system which can oversee the decisions made on our behalf—even if they are taking place behind closed doors.
Acting IBAC Deputy Commissoner
Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, IBAC, today welcomed the appointment of Ms Kylie Kilgour as IBAC’s new Acting Deputy Commissioner.
Ms Kilgour was appointed by the Governor in Council.
Most recently the CEO of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants, Ms Kilgour has held various senior leadership roles with the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
IBAC Commissioner, the Honourable Robert Redlich AM, QC said “In her role as Acting Deputy Commissioner, Ms Kilgour will focus on IBAC’s independent police oversight, helping to ensure that the conduct of Victoria Police officers is lawful, ethical and professional.
“Ms Kilgour’s significant expertise and deep understanding of police regulatory, integrity and administration matters will ensure IBAC’s capacity to expose and prevent corruption and police misconduct continues while recruitment is undertaken to fill this important role on an ongoing basis in the new year,” Commissioner Redlich said.
Ms Kilgour will commence her acting term on 18 January 2021.