Local Government Conference 2022: List of boldest motions put forward by NSW councillors
Councillors have put forward a list of weird and wonderful motions to a major conference aimed at everything from climate change to household mattresses. See the full list.
Central Sydney
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Locals councils will put forward a list of bold demands as part of a major local government conference due to be attended by more than 800 councillors from across the state.
A ban on roaming cats and proposal to rename ‘Financial Assistance Grants’ due to negative connotations with its acronym ‘FAG’ are among the more unique motions councillors have put forward to the upcoming 2022 NSW Local Government Conference.
The conference is an annual event involving 450 of the 800 attendees voting on motions tabled by councils from all corners of the state.
Tickets to the event, held at the ritzy Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, will cost $1088 per councillor, with most councils covering the fee as well as accommodation costs and a $250 conference dinner.
Sutherland mayor Carmelo Pesce – who serves as a director on the LGNSW board – described some of the proposed motions including new rules for netting on backyard trees and increasing fines for trucks parking in residents streets as “stupid”.
“If someone wants to put a net over their tree they should be entitled to do that and if you don’t allow trucks in certain streets homes won’t be built,” he said.
“Councils do have a role beyond rates, roads and rubbish but we should know where our responsibilities are and councillors should focus on core council issues.
“The conferences can be quite political and councillors can get very passionate when they’re putting forward their motions and debating them.”
Local Government NSW president Darriea Turley said the conference was the pinnacle of developing policy for local government in the state.
“Our members often bring up colourful motions but for all of them it’s really an opportunity to take as a collective motions we can lobby the government for changes that need to happen,” she said.
“Sometimes people think the motions are out of reach of local government or have nothing to do with local government – but it’s often about escalating issues from the community.
“Debating the motions is always the highlight of the conference for everyone. People go through and read the motions with a fine tooth comb. I’m expecting quite a lively debate.”
Motions endorsed at the conference will be reviewed by Local Government NSW and officially adopted as a policy platform as required.
Many of the motions put forward to the October event have focused on lobbying the state government for more financial support to cover escalating costs and inflation.
We take a look at some of the more unique and unusual motions set to be debated.
NETTING BAN
Homeowners would have new rules for putting netting around fruit trees under a proposal aimed at addressing harmful impacts on flying foxes.
The motion proposed by Ryde Council states fruit tree netting entanglement causes the painful death of many flying foxes as well as birds, snakes and other animals.
The motion states netting entanglement also causes maims, exposes animals to heat stress, sun stroke, broken bones, myopathy and requires hundreds of wildlife rescues each year.
The proposed motion calls for unsafe backyard netting to be banned and for homeowners to only use wildlife “safe” netting with aperture no more than 5mm x 5mm.
‘GROSS’ NAME CHANGE
North Sydney Council is calling for Financial Assistance Grants to be renamed due to the negative connotations of its acronym – FAG.
Sustainable Australia Party councillor Georgia Lamb – who put forward the motion – said the naming of the grant was “frankly embarrassing, old fashioned and a bit gross”.
Ms Lamb added: “It’s insulting that in Australia we still have as slur as accepted naming for a financial and planning system”.
The council has put forward a motion for the grant program to be renamed ‘Financially Responsibly Organised Grant’ – or FROG.
Ms Lamb said while FROG may not be the best name for the grant program, it could be a “conversation starter because we need to have this conversation”.
CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION
Woollahra Council is pushing for a national referendum to give local government organisations constitutional recognition.
The motion states that without recognition in the Commonwealth constitution, local governments are subject to state legislation and “extinguishment” by the state government of the day as well as being ineligible to receive financial funding and support directly from the federal government.
The council’s motion states local governments are best placed to address and service the needs of communities.
TRUCK LIMITS
Oversized vehicles would be fined $500 for parking in weight restricted residential streets for longer than one hour under a push by Bayside Council.
The council’s deputy mayor Hanna El Mouallem – who put forward the idea – said enforcement of trucks and other oversized vehicles illegally parking in residential streets for extended periods is “both time consuming and financially unrewarding” for councils.
The motion states that the increased $500 infringement would provide a “strong incentive for compliance with the relevant law”.
PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE
The same level of parliamentary privileges afforded to state and federal Governments would be extended to local councillors under a motion put forward by the Hills Shire Council.
The motion states that state and federal politicians have a “privileged position” under laws allowing MPs to engage in debate without fear of prosecution in respect of anything they might say.
The proposal would require the state government to amend the Defamation Act 2005 to provide enhanced defences for all councillors and mayors.
The motion argues councillors are currently afforded “limited protection” and there was “no reason why the Defamation Act could not be modified to include councillors when dealing with matters in their council meetings.”
CAT CONTAINMENT
Cats would be banned from roaming beyond their owner’s homes under a motion aimed at protecting wildlife.
The motion by Hornsby Council has cited research by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program which states the average pet cat kills 186 animals per year including reptiles, birds and mammals.
The motion calls for the state government to amend the Companion Animal Act 1998 and introduce cat containment laws requiring cats to be secured at home. Similar motions have been put forward by other councils including Liverpool.
COUNSELLING FOR COUNCILLORS
Ku-ring-gai Council will call on the state government to allow counselling support services to be covered under their expenses.
The motion states that services would assist work related and personal problems that may impact on job performance, health and mental wellbeing.
It adds: “The role of a councillor is very demanding, involving a high workload and frequent conflict. Many councillors face enormous pressures while serving their community and should all have access to appropriate counselling support”.
The motion adds that cost-deductible counselling services could encourage more people taking up roles in local government.
EMPTY HOMES
Vacant homes could be turned into low-cost housing under a proposal by North Sydney Council.
The motion is partly designed to address the state’s housing shortage and also calls for new measures to incentivise property owners to not leave their homes unoccupied.
Councillor MaryAnn Beregi, who has put forward the idea, is calling for the state government to consider allowing “such unoccupied properties to be used on a long or short time basis for low‐cost accommodation”.
Housing experts say factors for the number of empty homes include laws encouraging investors to leave properties empty, developers sitting on properties for rezoning approvals and homes in transition between sales.
MATTRESS MANAGEMENT
The rising costs of collecting and recycling discarded mattresses from residents homes has prompted a push by Canada Bay Council for manufacturers and importers to chip in to cover the clean up bill.
The council said it currently collects around 3500 mattresses from kerbside rubbish each year and it was therefore “necessary to ensure all mattress manufacturers participate and contribute towards the costs”.
The motion coincides with a new product stewardship scheme, set to come into force in January, which will impose a voluntary fee of $10 charged to manufacturers or importers of mattresses to improve mattress recovery rates.
The council wants that cost made mandatory, which it said could cover the approximate $35-40 cost of collective mattresses during household collection services.
DEMERGER COSTS
Sydney’s largest council is calling on the state government to cover all upfront costs if councils that were forcibly amalgamated by the government in 2016-17 decide to ‘demerge’.
Canterbury-Bankstown Council – which has put forward the motion – is currently considering a business case that predicts it will cost approximately $60 million to demerge and reinstate the former Canterbury and Bankstown councils.
The motion argues ratepayers could be worse off if local councils are forced to foot the bill which could lead to “increased rates, a reduction in services or a mix of both”.
Other councils currently considering demerging include Inner West Council.
CLIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY
Councils would be granted extra funding to tackle and respond to climate change under a proposed motion by Waverley Council.
The proposal has called for the government agencies to be “held accountable to commitments” to mitigate the impacts of climate-related disruptions on local communities across the state.
The motion calls for urgent access and availability of funding to assist councils to prepare and respond to extreme climate events and infrastructure damage, outside of natural disaster declarations.
NOISE CAMERAS
The state’s hoon hot spots would be fitted with noise cameras under a push by Bayside Council.
The motion – spearheaded by councillor Heidi Lee Douglas – said noise from hoon drivers had increased in many urban centres with residential streets becoming magnets for “anti-social driving behaviour”.
She said emerging technology in the form of noise cameras could detect and identify vehicles that make excessive noise and reduce impacts on residents such as loss of sleep and anxiety.
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