Greens-run Yarra Council votes for fewer public meetings

A Greens-run council has further restricted its accountability in an eleventh hour move which ratepayers deem ‘undemocratic’.

Residents have been up in arms over Yarra Council’s sneaky moves for some time. Picture: Ian Currie

The Greens-run Yarra council has rammed through controversial moves to restrict its accountability to the public even further by having fewer public meetings next year.

In an online meeting, a push to overturn the plan failed when independents Herschel Landes and Mayor Claudia Nguyen backed three Greens councillors for a 5-2 vote.

It’s the latest move to outrage residents after a series of policy missteps since the Greens took control in 2020.

About 15 ratepayers spoke at the meeting, most claiming the Greens’ stance was “undemocratic”.

The meeting was called in response to Greens councillor and deputy mayor Edward Crossland lodging a late amendment on Tuesday, changing the schedule to have fewer public meetings and instead have more community engagement such as informal “listening post” style events.

Mr Crossland filed his changes at the 11th hour, effectively ambushing councillors who were unaware of the amended timetable.

Two years ago, two public meetings were held a month. That will be reduced to one, and residents will have less time to speak at meetings.

The changes have been described as undemocratic and done without public consultation.

Even the timing of the extraordinary meeting — at 5.30 on a Friday night before Christmas, came under fire.

Cr Stephen Jolly, who put the rescission motion, said informal meetings could never replace the decision-making procedures of a council.

City of Yarra mayor Claudia Nguyen backed the move.

The council’s standing in the community had been diminished, he said.

“And frankly, some councillors are deluding themselves about how the outside world views this council.’’

Cr Bridgid O’Brien slammed the move to reduce the number of meetings from 17 to 12, and called for greater consultation with the ratepayers, not less.

Cr Landes said residents and present councillors would have been aware the meetings’ schedule was up for discussion and the vote was taken properly.

He also slammed “megaphone bullying from some people who claimed to speak for the many” this week.

Greens’ former mayor Sophie Wade said she believed the changes were positive and that some of the debate was ugly and criticised the Herald Sun’s coverage.

Michael Spencer, from the Fitzroy Residents Association, said there was a lack of notice about the changes and called for independent and open consultation.

Jeremy Lawrence, of Streets Alive, told the meeting that there was no reason to rescind the motion and proper procedures had been followed. Councillors were operating at a “high level”, he said.

But Adam Promnitz, from the Yarra Residents Collective, said the council failed on transparency.

“In an unprecedented event we are here at 5.30pm on a Friday night with just two days notice – In a cynical and miserable act by councillors to undermine the public awareness and transparency in relation to the intent of tonight’s meeting.’’

Before the extraordinary meeting, a group of about 30 residents gathered outside Richmond Town Hall to voice their disapproval at the latest changes.

Cr Jolly was the only councillor to attend and said the current council was the worst Yarra had ever had.

Earlier this year, Yarra has already cut back the length of time residents can address a meeting and limited them to one question for each meeting.

And to get a planning application referred to the Planning and Decisions Committee, a total of 15 residents now have to lodge a submission, instead of six, a move seen as a boon for developers.