Big list: The moments from Tasmanian councils which made headlines in 2022
From council elections to major developments, there have been some big moments from Tasmania’s councils this year. Here’s what made headlines in 2022.
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It was a busy year for Tasmanian councils, with major decisions made, conflict in and out of the chamber and voters deciding who would represent them for the next four years.
For some elected members, it was a year to make history, for others it was time to close the door the on their council careers.
There were major developments which got the green light and others which were stopped in their tracks.
Here are the Mercury’s most noteworthy council moments of 2022 (in order of occurrence).
1. New Norfolk elects first woman mayor
Michelle Dracoulis was elected the first Derwent Valley mayor in February after a by-election was held to replace former mayor Ben Shaw.
Ms Dracoulis said the response from the community was positive and there was different dynamic with women in leadership positions.
Ms Dracoulis said managed to hold onto the job when electors sent in the ballots in October.
2. Former Huon Valley mayor resigns from council
Former Huon Valley mayor Bec Enders called it quits in March following a long running saga around the council’s general manager and a conflict of interest in his recruitment.
In 2021 it was revealed re was in a relationship with the head of the agency contracted to narrow down the list of candidates.
Ms Enders did not reveal exactly why she was stepping away, but her departure followed community backlash from the controversy.
3. Short stay accommodation crackdown
In March, the Hobart City Council voted to crack down on the number of permits it issued for entire homes intended to be used as short stay accommodation.
The move would not impact existing permit holders and it would only apply to residential zones.
It was the start of the process and would need to pass the Tasmanian Planning Commission, but what followed was an increase of applications from property owners hoping to secure a permit before the rule could come into play.
Since then, no decision has been made.
4. “Get the cops”: emotions boil over in council
Two Kingborough councillors exchanged verbal blows during an ordinary meeting in June, with one threatening to “tear this place apart” and the other on the verge of calling the police.
Former councillor David Grace was issued a stern warning after repeated interjections, with then councillor Jo Westwood threatening to eject him from the meeting.
After a pointed back and forth between the two, the situation escalated with Mr Grace threatening to go off his head and tear the place apart.
After a brief adjournment the two returned and apologised for the conflict.
5. Flasher councillor refuses to resign amid no confidence vote
Community members moved and carried a motion of no confidence in former Waratah- Wynyard councillor Darren Fairbrother after he exposed himself to a woman and her son at Boat Harbour last year.
A number of community members said they were appalled and called on Mr Fairbrother to resign, which he refused.
At a meeting in June councillors were finally able to speak on the matter after it was finalised in court.
It was revealed four code of conduct complaints had been made against Mr Fairbrother.
6. Controversial statue to come down in historic move
In August, the Hobart City Council voted to tear down the main part of the statue of William Crowther in Franklin Square.
The council voted to remove the bronze part of the structure and leave the plinth.
Planning and heritage approval are still required and a planning application will be lodged for the removal of the statue.
The decision came after a series of artworks were commissioned at the statue to spark conversation with the community.
7. Clarence Council’s waste woes
The Clarence Council changed its recycling and green waste provider at the start of July, but there were a few teething problems, ones which were noticeable to the community.
Frustrated community members waited sometimes days for their waste to be collected, while there were also delays in the council’s general waste collection.
Ratepayers were credited $2-$7 to compensate for the green waste and recycling not being collected.
8. “Insidious devices”: Early morning pokie plan reconsidered
An application to extend the opening hours of a pokies pub in Claremont was withdrawn after Alderman Jan Dunsby spoke out against the proposal, fearing it would increase the prominence of problem gambling in the region.
It was proposed the pub extend from 12am to 4am, but after a strong response from the community the plan was withdrawn.
9. Team teal: Independents join forces for election
A group of independent candidates running in the Hobart City council elections banded together to campaign because they had shared views on issues.
The team were not running as a party, there was no guarantee they’d vote together, if elected.
Half of the candidates featured the colour teal in their personal campaign material and the colour was also prominently featured on their shared campaign brochure – Though some rejected the notion they were running under the teal banner.
The formation of the alliance followed the wave of successful teal members on the mainland in the federal election.
10. Save UTAS campus chair urged to rein in members
As council elections approached, one candidate found himself being targeted by members of the group Save UTAS Campus.
Ryan Posselt, who was later successful in his bid for a council seat, called out comments made by a member of the group, comparing the University of Tasmania to Putin.
Mike Foster used the analogy to describe the persistence of the university.
After Mr Posselt called the comments ‘wrong’ and ‘offensive’, members of the private Facebook group Save UTAS Campus Supporters took aim at Mr Posselt’s role as a paramedic.
11. Mayoral candidate’s “frustration” slammed as “weak” justification for controversial sign off
During the election campaign a Hobart City candidate, who later secured a seat on council, made headlines after an email with a controversial sign off was made public.
At the end of a heated email exchange about housing, Louise Elliot signed off her email to non-binary former councillor Jax Fox with “Kermit (Louise Elliot) (Riddup – I identify as a frog)”.
Cr Fox said while they weren’t too fazed by the comment, they believed it reflected on Ms Elliot’s attitude toward gender diverse people.
The comment was made public by Cr Zelinda Sherlock.
Ms Elliot said she didn’t recall her thought process around the comment because it was made two years ago.
12. Clarence alderman bins Greens mayoral candidate’s poster
Council election campaigning also heated up in the municipality of Clarence, where one councillor’s campaign poster was thrown in the bin after it mysteriously appeared on an outgoing Alderman’s business.
Dean Ewington found the poster of Greens mayoral candidate Beth Warren and promptly put it in the bin.
He took to social media with a picture of the poster in the bin.
But exactly how the poster ended up there was a mystery; Ms Warren said she was equally perplexed because it was four years old.
Ms Warren said she did not appreciate the name calling in Mr Ewington’s post.
12. Questions around secret $170k council job go unanswered
Leaked emails showed an interstate recruitment firm was gauging interest in a possible $170,000 chief of staff to the Lord Mayor position.
It was confirmed confidential a “preliminary scan of the market” was underway for the position, but no position was finalised nor a recruitment firm engaged to “actively recruit”.
But Aldermen said the public had a right to know about the new position because it was a lot of ratepayer money.
13. Tasmanian council elections
Tasmanians cast their votes in the October council elections and while some results were predicted, others were surprising.
Some councils gained new members, while longstanding members were left behind.
Some mayors were dethroned, paving the way for new leadership.
Those elected will serve for the next four years.
14. Tasmania’s first transgender councillor elected
Clarence Council was the first in Tasmania to elect an openly transgender woman, after Jade Darko successfully secured a seat.
Ms Darko said it was uplifting to receive such strong support from the community.
She hoped to inspire more gender diverse candidates and show others they could also take on leadership positions.
15. Hobart City voters say no to campus move
Hobart City electors voted overwhelmingly against the University of Tasmania’s proposed campus move from Sandy Bay to Hobart’s CBD, the 74 per cent voting ‘no’.
The poll was undertaken while Hobart City electors voted in the council elections.
The poll was non-binding, but the Save UTAS Group says the university should abandon the move.
16. Cable car decision upheld
The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld the Hobart City council’s decision to refuse the Mount Wellington Cableway company’s development application for a cable car to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
The company later chose not to appeal the decision and is yet to reveal its next movements.
17. Clarence Council scraps its opening prayer
The Clarence Council used to start its meetings with a prayer, but in November it voted to get rid of the prayer and replace it with a moment of quiet reflection.
The motion was moved by Councillor Heather Chong, who said the prayer did not represent the diverse community of Clarence.
The council is trialling the reflective silence in lieu of the prayer and will make a decision down the track on what will permanently replace the prayer.
18. Kangaroo Bay: Clarence Council denies Chambroad extension
The Clarence Council voted to reject Chambroad’s last minute redesign of its proposed Kangaroo Bay development and refuse an extension to substantially commence the development, opening up the option to buy back the land.
The company was set to build a hotel and hospitality school at the site, but in October, plans for the educational facility were dumped, because Chambroad was unable to secure an educational provider.
The council must make a decision on a buyback by April 12, and if it does, it will need to pay $2.4m.
In the meantime, Chambroad can present another proposal to the council.
Teen gang allegedly injures young man at bus mall
A 20-year-old man is in hospital after an alleged assault by a gang of teenagers at a Southern Tasmanian bus mall, police say. Charges have been laid.
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