Bin tax, bike lanes and Christmas on the agenda as City of Yarra independents unveil ‘common sense’ plan

Yarra City Council has voted through a mammoth motion — including a push to build social housing and embracing Christmas — declaring it a “new direction” for the municipality.

A marathon five-hour meeting for the newly elected Yarra City Council voted through a mammoth motion, declaring it a “new direction” for the municipality.

Scrapping the bin tax, embracing Christmas and revamping bicycle lanes were part of wholesale changes planned for the City of Yarra with the newly elected independents “launching a new direction” for the community.

A broad-ranging 35-point motion was discussed by councillors, much of it overturning changes made by the Greens-aligned council over the past four years.

The motion was passed 7-2 to applause from the public gallery at Richmond Town Hall after significant debate regarding many of the 36 items.

The moves were introduced by Mayor Stephen Jolly, who said he wanted to bring the council back to a “common sense” approach following the previous Greens-dominated council.

“We are doers, we are not talkers,” Cr Jolly said.

Greens councillors Sophie Wade and Edward Crossland voted against the motion citing the size of the motion and that it did not represent democracy.

Significant items in the motion included greater restrictions on where e-scooters could be dumped, changes to bike-friendly pop-ups, a push to build social housing and the implementation of weekly bin collections.

New Yarra mayor Stephen Jolly.

Sarah McKenzie is Yarra’s new deputy mayor.

Debate raged around the size of the motion, with Cr Wade labelling it “not participatory democracy”.

“There are over 36 items which significantly compromises the ability of councillors to address each issue” Cr Crossland said.

Cr Jolly replied: “We will not be lectured by the Greens on good governance.’’

Cr Wade also admitted she had only considered the agenda the day before, despite being available since last Wednesday.

The closure of Charlotte St to create a pocket park near Richmond Library was strongly opposed by many residents.

Cr Ken Gomez, who moved the motion, said: “This motion shows that as Councillors we are listening to you, the community.”

Cr Jolly is one of six independents on the nine-member council.

ALP councillor Sarah McKenzie was elected as deputy mayor.

The motion also included:

• That council reconsider plans and consult with the state government over a social housing proposal for council-owned land near Collingwood Town Hall, an idea rejected by the Greens.

• Changes to democracy rules including having more meetings and repealing the requirement for residents to lodge questions in advance before council meetings.

More meetings are planned to be held at Richmond Town Hall.

• A review of e-scooter operations in the municipality, including measures such as asking Lime and Neuron to bring in geo-fencing technology to restrict users from parking on footpaths narrower than 1.5m, and to identify council land where the scooters could be parked. The impact of e-scooter operation on people with disabilities is currently the subject of a legal challenge.

• Push forward with the stalled Brunswick St Oval redevelopment.

• Pull back on the controversial removal of angled parking in North Fitzroy.

• Allow for one-hour free parking near Yarra’s activity centres.

Bicycle lanes on Elizabeth St, North Richmond, are set to be overhauled.

Cr Jolly said the controversial bin tax would be scrapped and that Abbotsford residents, who have endured a “trial” since 2019 of fortnightly general waste collections, would have their bins emptied every week.

All Yarra buildings and centres would be adorned with Christmas decorations and already staff at childcare centres will be allowed to receive small festive gifts from children and families after the practice was banned last year.

Bike lanes will be reviewed in Coppin St, Richmond, and Elizabeth St, North Richmond, the latter location likely to get narrower lanes and a return of carparking.