Federal Labor Analysis Reveals $12 million Lost In The Hunter

BY JARROD MELMETH

A recent analysis conducted by federal Labor has found the Hunter region lost almost $12 million in funding during the Governments freeze on Financial Assistance Grants.

According to the Government's own estimates, its 2014 budget move to freeze indexation to FAGs cost local communities more than $600 million worth of services and infrastructure over the three years, with the biggest impact felt by councils in regional and remote Australia.

Financial assistance grants are provided by the federal government under the Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995 which are distributed among the States on an equal per capita basis. These funds are then dispersed among local governing bodies.

In what was described as a budget repair measure in 2013, the Coalition government froze the grants, which put a strain on spending, forcing councils to tighten their purse strings.

In 2017 the freeze was lifted by Treasurer Scott Morrison but Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says the damage has already been done.

"$12 million for an area like Paterson, means better roads, it means things that we all consider very important in our community, things like recycling and rubbish disposal. All the things that local councils provide for us in our everyday life.

"This is why we need to support local government. We need to ensure that it is properly funded. Local government really is the coal face of government in Australia," Ms Swanson says.

Pictured: Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.

Council restructure riles up Robbo

BY JARROD MELMETH and LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Newcastle Independent councillor Allan Robinson is raising concerns in the wake of an impending council restructure.

Under the Local Government Act, Local council CEO's are required to review the structure of council after an election, with the last restructure following the 2012 election.

Cr Robinson fears the restructure will be Labor-led considering the close-working relationship of Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Council CEO Jeremy Bath.

"They are just changing things to get rid of one of the senior staff members, the smartest bloke in there. He does not do what she [Nuatali Nelmes] says. He disagrees with her, and he is the last one standing and he is going to get the sack," Cr Robinson said.

Although the claims are yet to be substantiated, Cr Robinson says staff have expressed concerns following news of the restructure.

Councillors will see the details of the restructure in a confidential meeting on Tuesday night.

The restructure comes in the midst of an already tumultuous week for a council divided over a probe into councillors' electronic communications following the leak of budget documents.

Mr Bath committed to investigating who gave the documents to the Newcastle Herald unless the councillor responsible came forward.

However, Cr Robinson said, “I rang the CEO and told him it was me who leaked it."

But 2NURFM News understands Cr Robinson made the comment flippantly.

"He [Jeremy Bath] said 'I know it wasn't you, I've looked; you haven't even read it yet,' I said okay," Cr Robinson explained.

Although the document was not stamped confidential, it is understood councillors were verbally warned of the sensitive nature of the figures.

"It wasn't even confidential...it was left in the chamber," Cr Robinson said.

"It could be staff, it could be security, it could be 20 of the reptiles with no life who sit in and listen. Who knows?"

Cr Allan Robinson. Photo: Newcastle Herald.

Post Stephens Council in running for Local Government Excellence award

BY MICHAEL COOK

Port Stephens Council is a finalist in the category of Innovation in Planning, Policies and Decision Making in the 2017 Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards.

The nomination for the award is recognition for Council's recently developed Environmental Management Scheme which helps staff perform their day-to-day work in an environmentally sustainable way.

Council's Natural Resources Coordinator, Les Sneddon said the recognition is exciting for the future of the community.

"The award ultimately recognises our approach to continual  improvement in environmental management.

"That's really exciting for the community it's what they tell us they really want to see," Mr Sneddon said.

The winner of the award will be announced in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Wallsend misses out again

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW State Government are being accused of halting progress on flood mitigation works in Wallsend after an application for funding to the Office of Environment and Heritage was denied.

In 2007, prior to the June long-weekend floods, Newcastle City Council produced a draft plan warning that Wallsend was at serious risk of catastrophic flooding – saying that floodwaters could rise to several metres in just minutes. 

The Wallsend electorate has applied to the Office of Environment and Heritage for a long time to assist with rebuilding bridges in the area, which has also been promised under the re-elected Newcastle Labor government in the lead up to the local council elections earlier this month.

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said the application was put to the State Government for funds to undertake the Wallsend Flood Mitigation Plan.

"The Wallsend Flood Mitigation Plan is about looking at steps to ensure that when we do receive flash flooding - and it will happen again in Wallsend - that we can prevent a loss of life and loss of businesses," Ms Hornery said.

Although the Labor Party held government when the 2007 floods occurred, Ms Hornery said under the Labor Government they were only able to complete studies before losing office in 2011.

"Decisions about what we really needed to do only really occurred when the Liberal Party took power in 2011, and the reason for that is, we experienced the flooding in mid-2007, and then we undertook a series of very complex studies into what needed to be done and what the answers and solutions were. That took a few years and so by that time the Liberal Government were elected," Ms Hornery said.

New CEO for Lake Macquarie Council

BY JARROD MELMETH

Lake Macquarie Council unanimously endorsed the appoint of Morven Cameron as the new CEO at last night's council meeting.

Ms Cameron is councils former Director of Community Development with more than 15 years of experience in local government.

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser said Morven was chosen in a competitive selection process from a high-calibre field of experienced candidates.

“She is a highly impressive talent known for her collaborative leadership style and I know firsthand just how passionate she is about ensuring we build on the solid foundation and momentum that Lake Macquarie has enjoyed in recent years.

“With her leadership and the hard working staff of Council, Lake Macquarie is in very good hands," Cr Fraser said. 

Council was very impressed with Morven’s vision, proven experience and achievements, together with her passion for local government and immeasurable understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing large, dynamic councils serving their local community.

Reflecting on her appointment, Ms Cameron said, “It is an honour to have been selected to lead this progressive organisation and vibrant City. We have a very solid base on which to progress and move forward.

“I’m excited about what the future will bring when we all work together, and I thank the Mayor and Councillors, Council staff and the community for their support," Ms Cameron said.

The role will commence from Monday 28 August.

Councils new CEO Morven Cameron.

Newcastle Independents running for election

BY JAMES WARD

The Newcastle Independents have formed to contest the Newcastle City Council election on September 9th.

The group will field candidates who are against the Labor/Greens rate rise of 46.9% and also want to see an end to party politics that have caused problems for Council in recent years.

Lord Mayoral candidate, Kath Elliot, says the group have considered running for some time after witnessing the dysfunction in the council room.

"It's really important to take party politics out of local government so that the people that are in council making decisions are making them based on what the community wants and not based on what a political party might see as furthering their own agenda," Elliot said.

A local businesswoman, Kath Elliot will run for Lord Mayor as she has experience in Newcastle civic life.

" The local independents want to speak to the community and we are already out there talking to the community and asking them what they are concerned about and what their views are and also listening to people and understanding what is important to them, I think that is a very important part of Council."

Also in the Maitland local election, 41-year-olds, Todd Holden and Ben Quinn have joined the election race.

The two local men have joined Brian Burke's campaign and they aim to bring fresh ideas to the Council coming from a younger generation.

Source: Newcastle City Council

Independent Maitland councillor resigns

By Georgia-Lee Campbell

Independent Maitland councillor Steve Procter has announced he will not seek re-election and is stepping down after 17 years.

Procter's decision was based on spending more time with family and to open up opportunities to introduce new blood into council.

Procter says his proudest career moments was being re-elected as well as being part of a team.

He says Maitland council needs people who aren't focused on their own future and have the community at heart.

Liberals Absent From Extraordinary Meetings

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Newcastle Council’s Liberal Councillors have been accused of using obstructive tactics to force a merger between Newcastle and Port Stephens Council after lodging a motion to block legal action against the merger and then failing to turn up to meetings to discuss the motion.

Council has held three extraordinary meetings this week, with the expectation to discuss the motion to rescind legal action only to be halted by the absence of those wanting to stop potential legal action.

Jason Dunn [Image: Newcastle Herald].

“We’re payed an allowance to attend meetings and I don’t think there’s an excuse for any Councillor, particularly a Councillor that has actually brought a motion [to not turn up],” said Deputy Lord Mayor Jason Dunn.

“As elected Councillors, that's what we signed up for.”

“I know I’ve turned up to a meeting before to ensure we have decorum, with an 18 month old child with me, but that’s what you do to make sure Council can function,” he said.

Liberal Councillor Brad Luke was among those who didn’t attend any of this week’s meetings and says he had personal commitments that prevented him from attending.

“Being on Council’s a part-time job, they [Councillors] have other businesses they’re running and jobs they’re doing and they set their life schedule around that meeting schedule,” he said.

Luke also suggested that it wasn’t only Liberal members not attending the extraordinary meetings.

“[Labor] Councillor Tim Crackanthorp has also not been at any meeting this week,” he said.

Liberal Councillors have been critical of the motion to seek legal advice on the proposed merger since it was first suggested, saying it’s unlikely to change anything since the State Government can simply amend anything wrong with the proposal.

Liberal Councillors Brad Luke and Sharon Waterhouse [Image: Newcastle Herald]. 

They've summed it up as a big waste of money.

Jason Dunn has suggested the Councillors critical of the motion should attend the next extraordinary meeting on Thursday, saying they need to make time for that meeting.

“If they’re too busy with work and other commitments, well then, they should really consider their position as a Councillor I would think,” he said.

“It really is a disgraceful situation that these Councillors who are paid to attend these meetings and represent the community can’t be bothered turning up.”

Brad Luke has been critical of the whole situation, suggesting Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes is calling extraordinary meetings for no reason.

“The only time you normally have an extraordinary meeting is in times of great urgency,” he said.

“This is simply the Lord Mayor wanting to waste money on pursuing legal action, suing the State Government.”

Luke also accused the Lord Mayor of “playing political games and carrying on”.

“I think it’s utterly ridiculous the way she is going on with this,” he said. 

Port Stephens Commit $200 000 to Fight Merger

Port Stephens Council has committed up to $200 000 to help fight against the State Government's decision to merge it with neighboring Newcastle Council.

Council had originally agreed to $150 000 however, the amount was increased to allow for additional rallies to help drum up support against the merger.

Funding will also be spent on establishing a submission to present to the State Government in February.

Deputy Mayor, Chris Doohan says the merger will be devastating for Port Stephens.

"This is nothing personally [sic] against Newcastle, it's just a crap deal for the people of Port Stephens that are going to have to fund the major amounts of dept incurred by poor Governments in the Newcastle City Council."

Fighters: Bruce MacKenzie and Chris Doohan

The outcry comes after the IPART deemed Port Stephens Council to be 'Fit for the Future'.  Both Lake Macquarie and Newcastle were at the time expected to merge before the final decision was made.

However, Doohan claims their is little reason to merge.

"They've given us a bunch of reasons why they [the Baird Government] want us to merge, but the only one's that got anything to do with local Government is the Newcastle Airport."

"The rest of them are all actually State Government type things, like hospitals and schooling, so the arguments flawed from the get go."

Council has also ruled out backing down should the submission be rejected, with Mayor Bruce MacKenzie evoking the ANZAC 'never give up' attitude, and quoting British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, saying "we will never surrender."

Deputy Mayor, Chris Doohan evoked the same attitude.

"We will fight until it's craved in stone that the merger has to happen."

"I won't even call it a merger, it's
a takeover as far as I'm concerned and it's a bum deal for the people of Port Stephens."

Image Courtesy of Stephen Wark, via Port Stephens Examiner (LINK).

Bowling Club to Become Seniors Estate

The former Morpeth Bowling Club Site is set to become a seniors residential center after it was passed by Maitland Council and moved on to the NSW Department of Planning.

Some Councillors however fear that the development will lead to medium-density residential blocks built in the future.

But Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore says "there's a need everywhere for retirement homes, we are an aging society ... we have five new new people a day making Maitland their home".

Councillors voted on Tuesday to rezone the site (Image courtesy of Max Mason-Hubers via The Herald)

"There are quite a number of people of course, who would like to move out of their three or four bedroom home and look for smaller accommodation".

"When we look at the township of Morpeth, it's a magnificent area, particularly with history".

The proposal will soon become open for public comment.