Security hired for Wangaratta council meeting

SECURITY personnel were present at the Wangaratta council meeting last week as a result of social media comments and other disrupted meetings across Victoria.

Acting Mayor Harry Bussell addressed the gallery at the start of the meeting informing those present that it was due to "bad behaviour" and a "small minority" that has impacted the conduct of council meetings (in other locations across the state).

"We've just taken the opportunity to trial this and develop some processes and we don't expect it to become a permanent feature at this stage," he told the gallery.

While the decision to hire security was not made following any direct hijack messages, Cr Bussell later explained that social media chatter over the last month was a contributing factor.

The Rainbow Ball that was to be held at the Wangaratta Turf Club in June was postponed following comments on social media.

"We know at some stage there are going to be problems and I don't want that in the council chamber and I thought it was pretty reasonable to have the two security officers there," Cr Bussell said.

"I think it's better to be out in front and I don't want bad behaviour in Wangaratta's council chamber and we're just setting the scene.

"The staff did a really good job in how it was put together and we didn't have any trouble."

In other parts of Victoria council meetings have been disrupted by anti-government conspiracy group 'My Place', which started as a forum for people opposing COVID-19 vaccinations.

This year the Yarra Ranges Council had to call police and hire security guards after more than 100 protesters hijacked a meeting.

About 100 representatives from Victorian councils, including Mansfield Shire, attended a forum in May to discuss the rising levels of unpredictable and disruptive behaviour at council meetings.

Municipal Association of Victoria chair David Clark said the ongoing behaviour seen at some council meetings is threatening and unpredictable and it has no place in our communities.

"It shouldn’t be accepted at any level of government, and councils are right to take a zero tolerance approach, as the people most at risk are often other community members who are in the gallery with the disruptive people,” Cr Clark said.

Another Strathbogie councillor resigns

KRISTY Hourigan has resigned from her role as a Strathbogie Shire councillor, citing “in-house political bureaucracy”, gender bias and newly increased work commitments as contributing to her decision.

The Seven Creeks ward councillor’s resignation comes just over two months after former Lake Nagambie ward councillor David Andrews resigned.

It comes weeks before August 15, when municipal monitor Peter Stephenson is expected to deliver a report to the Minister for Local Government that will decide the fate of Strathbogie Shire Council.

In an interview with The Euroa Gazette, Ms Hourigan, who is a mother of two, said her commitment as a councillor was publicly questioned after she missed a council meeting due to childcare commitments.

Ms Hourigan declined to identify who questioned her commitment on this occasion.

She said the meeting was scheduled outside of council’s normal meeting schedule and kindergarten had been cancelled that day, which “wasn’t my fault”.

“I should feel safe in the workplace,” she said.

Asked to further describe the “in-house political bureaucracy” mentioned in her statement, Ms Hourigan pointed to Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne’s letter sent in May to Mayor Laura Binks.

Minister Horne’s letter outlined the reasons for the State Government’s decision to appoint a second municipal monitor to the council, citing concerns about governance, conduct and “serious risks impacting the functioning of the council and the health and wellbeing of its members”, but did not provide details of specific incidents.

Ms Hourigan said the impending delivery of the monitor’s report, expected in mid-August, and did not contribute to her decision, despite other councillors having recently speculated it is likely the monitor could recommend terminating the employment of councillors.

Further contributing to her decision, she said, was her recent acquisition of two caravan parks in the Loddon Shire – Wedderburn Caravan Park and Bridgewater Caravan Park – adding onto her work commitments as the owner of Euroa Caravan Park.

Ms Hourigan last year nominated for the State Government seat of Euroa as a Nationals candidate, but she said for now, she does not see her future in politics.

The only remaining 2020 election candidate for Seven Creeks ward is well-known local business owner and environmentalist Shirley Saywell.

Ms Saywell is expected to be asked by the Victorian Electoral Commission to fill the extraordinary vacancy that now exists for Seven Creeks Ward.

Full resort access passes for workers?

TIM McCurdy, the state MP for Ovens Valley, which takes in both Falls Creek and Mount Hotham, is to pursuing an all-resort access pass for resort workers.

Mr McCurdy first raised the issue in parliament back in March, asking the Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt why aren’t the all-resort passes - that existed prior to the COVID pandemic - no longer available, and will the government bring them back?

He also asked if Alpine Resorts Victoria - the new governing body for all Victorian resorts - will introduce a single pass allowing access to all Victorian resorts for a single fee each season.

With half of the 2023 ski season gone, Mr McCurdy said he is still awaiting an answer.

He said having an all-resort pass for staff, instead of having to pay additional costs for multiple passes, would be a practical move to help support the industry.