Newsroom

May 2021

To align with the commencement of sections 121 and 122 of the Local Government Act 2020 on 1 July 2021, new regulations are in preparation on ‘Land Information’.

The Government will not be making  substantial changes to the current prescribed requirements, however the proposed Local Government (Land Information) Regulations 2021 will  replicate the current regulatory requirements for Land Information covered in the Local Government (General) Regulations 2015.

In making these regulations a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) is required and is being prepared by Local Government Victoria and the Sapere Research Group Ltd.

It is expected that the RIS will be released early May 2021  for a period of 28 days for public comment. After review and consideration of the public comments the Regulations will be made and in force for 1 July 2021 The documents will be made available through the Engage Victoria hotlink: https://engage.vic.gov.au/local-government-act-2020/local-government-land-information-regulations-2021 and the sector will be notified once their release date is known. To be notified of the release of this RIS and other government information, please register your interest on the website.

For further information, contact Tracy Helman at lgv@ecodev.vic.gov.au

April 2021

Local Government Minister Shaun Leane has unveiled the makeup of the 2021 Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel.
Fifteen Mayors have been selected for the panel and will meet with Minister Leane four times this year to provide advice on a range of matters that impact local government.
Chaired by the Minister for Local Government, this year’s panel will present ideas and initiatives to benefit the local government sector and aid in recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The members of the 2021 Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel are:

The panel will meet for the first time on 21 April via videoconference.

Local Government Minister, the Hon. Shaun Leane MP, recently announced the formation of a new Gender Equality Advisory Committee (GEAC). The GEAC will draw on the experience of women from across the sector to ensure local government can harness the benefits of equality for all Victorians. This new committee has been formed in an effort to drive gender equality across Victoria’s 79 councils.

The committee will advise the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Women, the Hon. Gabrielle Williams, on how to deliver the Government’s target of 50 per cent female mayors and councillors by 2025. The implementation of equality measures in the Local Government Act 2020 and Australian-first Gender Equality Act will also be a priority, addressing the challenges identified by women elected as councillors and as council employees.

This work follows the 2020 local government elections, where 272 women were elected to council – representing 43.8 per cent of councillors. While a new high for both Victoria and the nation, there is still some way to go to achieve the 50 per cent target by 2025.

The committee will also include representatives from the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, the Australian Services Union, the Municipal Association of Victoria, Victorian Local Governance Association, Local Government Professionals and Reconciliation Victoria.

MPs Juliana Addison and Kat Theophanous will co-chair the new committee, with ten places open for mayors, councillors, chief executives or senior council officers. Expressions of Interest are now open and Mayors and CEO’s will soon receive a letter asking them to think about this opportunity for themselves or someone they know.

If you would like further information you can email the GEAC secretariat via email LGV-GEAC-Secretariat@ecodev.vic.gov.au. Eveline Kane, Program Manager Strategy and Implementation is also available for contact via email Eveline.kane@ecodev.vic.gov.au

December 2020

The Minister for Local Government has released the final report of the Local Government Rating System Review and the Government response to its 56 recommendations. These are published at https://engage.vic.gov.au/rating-review.

The Government response will support ratepayers in financial hardship, improve transparency and consistent decision-making across councils. It will examine the merits of a valuation averaging mechanism for rates to lessen the impact of large annual property value movements.

Reforms to system administration and ways to give councils improved tools for waste charges, special rate and charge schemes and more flexible rate concessions will also be pursued.

The Government will not be making any substantial changes to the arrangements for general rates and rate exemptions under the Local Government Act 1989 and alternative rating arrangements under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 and the Cultural and Recreational Lands Act 1963.

Local Government Victoria will provide a local government technical briefing on the final report and the Government’s response in January 2021.  An invitation will be sent to council CEOs once a date and time is confirmed.

November 2020

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 was tabled in Parliament by Treasurer Tim Pallas on November 24.

This year’s budget focuses on people - protecting and creating jobs, looking after families, building strong and connected communities, and setting Victoria up for a strong recovery.

The Minister’s media release on the Local Government appropriation is available here.

An overview of the key budget highlights for the Local Government portfolio:

• $75 million for critical infrastructure in local communities through the Growing Suburbs Fund.
• $13.3 million over two years for the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and the Public Libraries Program to help local councils and regional libraries renew, redesign or rebuild libraries.
• $2.79 million for the Roadside Weeds and Pests Program.
• $1 million for the Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program (MERP) to help councils with emergency management planning in readiness for major threats like bushfire and flood.
• Councils will be able to access low interest loans from the $100 million Local Government Community Infrastructure Loans Scheme, which is already supporting arts and culture facilities, bike trails and community hubs across the state.
• $6.3 million over two years for the Women Building Surveyors Program, giving women an opportunity to take on surveyor cadetships in local government.

You can also visit the Victorian Budget 2020-21 website to see the full range of initiatives that are funded through this year’s budget.

Councillors must lodge a Personal Interests Return with council within 30 days of taking the oath or affirmation of office.

November 2020

LGV has worked with a small group of council officers on developing a draft Quick Guide on Personal Interests Returns.

Personal Interests Returns are a new requirement under the Local Government Act 2020.  They replace all previous requirements and there is new information set out in regulations.  The new requirements impact on councillors, council staff and members of delegated committees.

The draft Quick Guide on Personal Interests Returns provides key information on Personal Interests Returns, addresses some FAQs and provides templates that councils can adapt for their own purposes in meeting the deadlines for ensuring councillors, council staff and members of delegated committees can complete returns.

Access the draft Quick Guide on Personal Interests Returns here.

September 2020

38 hard-working rural councils have received up to $100,000 each for vital technology to enable virtual meetings and continue community engagement during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The funding from as part of the $3.8 million 2020 Rural Councils ICT Infrastructure Support Program, designed to help rural councils with the costs imposed by COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings and workplaces. It can be used to fund a range of different measures including new audio-visual systems, software, councillor training and equipment.

Under the restrictions, councils have adopted remote working conditions and virtual meetings to keep essential services running, continue consulting with communities and making decisions.

Rural councils face particular challenges meeting the costs of this work, with limited financial resources to fund the training, equipment and other ICT infrastructure required.

A full breakdown of individual councils‘ funding from the ICT support package is available at https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/funding-programs/ict-infrastructure-program

September 2020

More than 700 jobs and 28 new and upgraded community facilities are on the way for Victoria’s fastest-growing areas thanks to $25 million from the latest round of the Growing Suburbs Fund.

From the new Cowes Cultural and Community Centre in Bass Coast to a new youth hub in Golden Plains, the Fund is investing in much-needed new facilities, creating jobs and giving communities the facilities they need to thrive.

Of the 28 projects, five are in the peri-urban councils eligible to apply to the fund for the first time – Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Moorabool, Golden Plains and Surf Coast, creating more than 150 jobs in these fast-growing communities.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Fund has facilitated $755 million in local infrastructure, created more than 7470 jobs created and supported 221 projects.

A full list of the successful projects is available at https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/grants/growing-suburbs-fund.

For an example of the kind of impact the Fund has made, watch this video about the very first funded project, the Epping Community Services Hub: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-sBK9dyKU&t=110s