Exactly one year ago today (Dec. 19th) we posted the following:
“In many ways 2010 has been a tumultuous year for Glen Eira. We review the standouts and offer our reflections.
- The reappointment of Newton for a two year period highlighted the obvious divisions within council and, we suspect, led to the third Municipal Inspector’s investigation of the past 12 years. It has also led to the resignation of Whiteside. This is obviously not a ‘positive’. As far as we know, no other council in the state has undergone three interrogations in such a short space of time. And once again, no serious ‘breaches’ were uncovered. As has been pointed out numerous times, and by several commentators, the constant in all of these investigations has been Newton himself. Councillors’ decision to therefore reappoint him for a further two years has not resolved anything. As far as we can tell the mistrust between councillors and administration, and within the councillor group itself, still remains. If Glen Eira is to have a really ‘fresh start’ then this will only be achieved with a new CEO, and a new set of directors. We note again that Glen Eira is the only council in the area to have 5 individuals sitting on over $200,000pa! The ‘fat cat’ syndrome has been maintained.
- The C60, and planning issues in general, were dominant throughout the year. Glen Eira abdicated its responsibilities to its residents by conferring upon the MRC the power to create its own Master Plan. This should have been the role of council – not the MRC. The result is utter control to the MRC and the winky popping of several councillors and the sidelining of two others on the pretext of ‘conflict of interest’. When we consider that this ‘development’ involves over 100 hectares of land, and has the potential value of billions and billions, Council’s failure to adequately plan and advocate for the community is inexcusable.
- In general planning terms, local papers contained story after story of residents protesting about ‘inappropriate development’. Sadly, council has not done anything to ensure that residents are adequately protected. Unlike every other council in the state Glen Eira, following its appalling Planning Scheme Review, has again disowned structure plans, levies on development, height controls, and much more. In contrast to neighbouring municipalities there has been no concerted effort to oppose ten storey developments. Instead the consistent argument put forward by council has largely been ‘blame VCAT’, ‘blame the state Government’, blame anyone and everyone else, except their own planning scheme shortcomings. We have asked the same question over and over again: if other councils can do something about Melbourne 2030, if they can have mandatory height controls, if they can have structure plans, transport plans, public realm policies – then why is Glen Eira always the odd man out? Our conclusion has to be that Glen Eira is a pro-development council, rather than a pro community council.
- Community consultation and communication is still far from adequate, although there have been several signs of marginal improvement such as the ‘Have Your Say’ online options. Yet, even here the ‘consultation’ is skewed via the questions asked and the simple fact that residents still experience a top down approach in all issues. Instead of asking the community their thoughts about Packer Park, Marlborough Reserve, residents are presented with ‘concept plans’ that many feel have already been set in concrete – without prior discussion and debate. Another significant failure throughout this past year has been councillors’ refusal to open up its advisory committees to community representatives – or to publish agendas and insist that meetings be open to the public. Secrecy remains the dominant ethos of this council.”
Reading the above, we conclude that nothing has changed – except perhaps become far worse. Here are the lowlights of 2011:
- C60 decision
- Centre of Racecourse decision
- Heritage fiasco
- Repeated abuse of meeting procedures
- Bullying charges and gagging of councillors
- Increased ‘secrecy’ and decision making behind closed doors
- ‘legal advice’ costing ratepayers tens of thousands
- Planning and traffic chaos
- A clearly divided council and possibly the most retrograde step of all – the reappointment of Newton
All in all, a sad state of affairs. Add to this the confusion surrounding Cr. Lobo and it’s anyone’s guess as to what the repercussions will be. Will he resign? Will he stay? Will he continue to back his new found friends?
It is however an election year. Change in personnel must occur. Glen Eira Debates will continue to focus on administration and councillors and offer our views on their performance. What is gratifying is that we continue to smash record after record. Our hits for the past week were 5,344. With your continued help and support we will make a difference in the coming year!
PS: we forgot to list the secrecy over GESAC, the ‘liquidity crisis’, and of course, the ongoing basketball farce – all of which is sure to have a major impact on budgets and rates.
Glen Eira Debates 
December 19, 2011 at 9:56 AM
This makes for very depressing reading. Glen Eira has gone from bad to worse for sure. The solution is very clear – get rid of the gang and make sure that new councillors are committed to putting residents first and ending the reign of secrecy that dominates everything.
December 19, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Won’t make any difference. You are kidding yourself
December 19, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Events show that a concerted public outcry can make a difference. Look at the childcare costs – a backdown of 10 dollars per day. Okay, not brilliant but still a change in policy. Then there’s the basketball which did see some opposition to Newton and Burke. Get rid of Lipshutz and Hyams and you’ve got a whole new ball game. Things do happen when councillors suddenly feel under pressure from the electorate and next year is the time to stack on the pressure. Tang is sure to go and Esakoff will vote with the majority. Lobo will go too. Things can happen but it’s up to us. Just for good measure we’ve got complaint after complaint about this council to the inspectors and ombudsman. They can’t keep ignoring all this forever. Sooner or later they’re going to have to see that things are dead wrong with the way Glen Eira works.
December 19, 2011 at 10:15 AM
To say that GE is a pro-development councils is a understatement to say the least. A quick look and the average street shows five decades of ad-hoc planning and development. Resulting in some of the worst possible street scapes.
The quality of the elected councillor’s is another issue that need to be addressed. We need honest up-front candidates, not people hiding behind the pretence of being independents when they are up to their necks in destructive partisan politics of all types.
I do agree that the replacement of the top officers is needed to break out of this mediocre management we seem to be stuck with. I think paying the top dollar, is a good way to attract the greedy self promoters. Maybe for GE it could be a case of pay less and get more.
December 19, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Gleneira, you’ve forgotten to list the pathetic approach to open space and tree protection. Booran Rd has been hanging about for years and won’t be touched for another century and meanwhile trees all over the place are hacked down to make way for carparks. The so called tree register is a joke. What we get are more concrete pavilions and sporting fields not open green space with some well cared for trees in it.
December 19, 2011 at 12:24 PM
What about the disgusting bullying of Senior Staff by a certain Councillor.Add this to your list.
December 19, 2011 at 12:40 PM
If we had more Penhalluriack’s then this would be a far more open and better council and maybe Newton wouldn’t dare to try his usual tactic of claiming bullying. There’d be a lot less he could get away with.
December 19, 2011 at 5:03 PM
The reappointment of Newton and the “election” of Hyams have put the finishing touches onto what has been a terrible year for residents. I don’t see much to look forward to except more of the same. Perhaps the rhetoric will be a little milder and a lot more cunning, but the end result will still be the same – more secrecy and more behind the scenes decision making.
December 19, 2011 at 6:12 PM
That’s right, I would expect anything for Hyams, his day job as a full time propagandist is not encouraging for us down here in the ranks.
December 19, 2011 at 9:33 PM
Definitely a year of wasted opportunities. Thinking back there were countless times when this council could have shown itself to be moving forward. The refusal to accept the Notice of Motion is the most prominent example of this conservatism and the allegiances to autocratic rule by Newton. The community is by far the poorer as a result. I just hope that when it comes to election time that residents recall all of these actions and those councillors who voted for them. That will be the time to settle the score and ensure dramatic change in culture, values, and ethics.
December 19, 2011 at 10:27 PM
You give the average punter way too much credit. Most residents wouldn’t have a clue who the Councillors who represent them are, let alone what transpires at Council meetings or within the administration. Sad but true.
In his early days – before he became a fellow traveller that is – Pilling attempted to drum up some community interest by organising community forums. Such was the community apathy they proved to be a waste of time.
December 19, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Disagree entirely Autonomy. It all depends on prior publicity, the topic chosen and of prime importance – the feedback residents get. I remember reading here that the Tucker Ward Forum which was well attended did not provide one single word of feedback to residents. This was probably deliberate and you can’t blame residents for being disheartened when this occurs time and time again. There’s no point in showing up, expressing a viewpoint, asking for action, and then it all evaporates into nothing. People will show up if they feel that they are being listened to and their views acted upon. This of course goes against the entire culture of Glen Eira. All it would take is one or two councillors doing letter drops, advertising weeks ahead, and then ensuring that the issues that people speak about are brought up in open council and that agenda items list these. They could also work with local groups to ensure that these events are well attended. But that would mean fraternising with what Newton and Burke and the gang perceive as the “enemy”. Personal emails to participants would also be welcome. It happens in other councils. There’s no reason why it can’t happen here. It’s not the public that are apathetic. It’s the administration and the compliant councillors who prefer it this way.
December 19, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Over 130 people showed up to the c60 Special Committee meeting – with minimal council advocacy and support. I’d also put to you that more and more people are becoming aware of the failings of Glen Eira when you can mobilise residents to submit over 80 objections to various planning applications. Yes, many are apathetic, I grant you. But those who have had even minimal contact with Council generally come away frustrated and the apathy is transformed into interest and often activism. With the way that planning, traffic and countless other issues are impacting on every single neighbourhood, I’m confident that the days of apathy are just about over. The real nail in the coffin will be the hip pocket nerve when residents keep finding that their rates are going up and services declining. This can all be translated into votes. That’s what I’m expecting.
December 19, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Certainly when people find their rates increasing due to the GESAC folly there will be some reaction. However, had there been the interest some suggest in municipal affairs then there should have been a huge backlash before now as there has been ample publicity about it.
To get 130 people to attend a meeting on a controversial topic from a municipality that boasts nearly 140,000 residents amply demonstrates the apathy that exists within our municipality.
I maintain nothing much will change after the election. There’ll be a bit of huffing and puffing – Pilling style – immediately following the election by any new councillors, then they’ll be broken in by the administration and conform as all their predecessors have. Apart from other matters it’s really hard to get quality candidates to put their names forward. And when they do the system wears them down and they become compliant or walk away as Helen Whiteside did.
The key to changing things in Glen Eira is to place all the department heads on notice that Council intends to test the market when their contracts are up. Too many have held their positions for too long without serious challenge. It would be a brave man or woman who would suggest we’ll ever get sufficient number of councillors with enough of what it takes to take on the administration. As one department head cockily said to me awhile back – municipal councils come and go but administrations go on for ever.
December 19, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Interesting to note that we are in for more of the same .. no promises in Hyams acceptance speech. And other Councillors think it is appropriate, to mockingly, give him credit for being the only Councillor to actually read the annual accounts!!!!! What does that tell ya about them!!!!
And as for the congratulations for Esakoff having a handled a difficult year …. please can someone tell me how difficult is it to lead a Council shrouded in secrecy – unless of course the difficulty arises from the shrouding and the maintenance thereof. She shied away from significant press comments (C60, Heritage) and only supported the contentious secretive CEO re-appointment. If this is a role model Hyams would do well not to adopt it.
The coming year, indeed years, do not look good for Glen Eira – more ad hoc development without any serious overall planning or considerations for the cummulative impact of these developments, GESAC opening mid year 2012, more open space lost, more loss of amenity, more traffic congestion and parking issues, unique local shopping centres becoming financially unviable and still no attempt by Council to establish what it is the community wants by actually asking them.
Residents the Council you have is what you deserve unless you get your collective act together. This Council is focussed on what Newton and Burke want – to change it we need to act collectively – clearly changing it is outside the capability/desires of our elected representatives.
December 19, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Yes attending mmetings in the City of GLEN eira whether it be about pools,development or whatever it is just a total waste of time and attending council meetings has made me feel as I have seen a person being run over by a large vehicle every time. I needed sleeping pills to relax. \independent thought , by people who may have some knowledge of runnning a business or constructing a building was always stiffled at the very first opportunity by one of the lawyers or the mayor very swiftly or persons of opposing views were never seen by her to spoeak or move motions. OH WHERE IS MY IDEA OF DEMOCRACY?????
Mayor please learn the follpowing phrase from Voltaire
“I disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to my very death your right to say It” The last mayor forgot about it but yet never failed to remember she had a second vote which she always used to support her team of lawyer councillors who behaved like excellent narrow minded wordsmiths.
December 20, 2011 at 12:17 AM
You mentioned the local papers reporting developments. It would seem that Glen eIRA CITY AS A LARGE ADVERTISER has a great amount or all control on what is or is not published in the local Leader. Most events and decisions are direct reports from the town hall office and if they are reported they are in very insignificent parts of the paper such as the C60. It appears to have been given more details in the Stonnington papers including pictures with none in this municipality paper. You would wonder why. Many people have no idea of this enormous development which will draw 10,000 residents and visitors a day to be commercially successful on the 5.5hectares including 1250 residences with 2,000 car parking places in total for the residential, 15,000 square metres of retail and the 20 storey office building.. without a square metre of open space. The footpaths are going to be overcrowded with smokers, people wishing to take in fresh air and their 15 minutes sinlight and loiterers. Where will we walk to the Station?