Another side to Council Spin
FOLLOW THE STORY OF JESSE JACOBS DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO AVOID COMMITTING TO A FULL FIRST TERM AS MAYOR OF CANNING HERE Canning is returning to democratic governance in one month. In 17 months it may lose its Mayor. The political party memberships/past parliamentary bids inclusive within Canning’s 11 mayoral candidates, and what this may mean for the […]
Read MoreA refresher article from our vault! Why did former Mayor Joe Delle Donne take his concerns about the administration of Canning, that kicked off the investigations, to the Minister for Local Govt? Just how many problems at the City of Canning were issues that came under the remit of the administration, rather than the responsibility of the Mayor and […]
Read MoreThe City of Canning is the 9th largest Council in the metropolitan area*…. yet it has just been revealed as having the third lowest amount of tree canopy in Perth. The only councils scoring more disastrously than us are Fremantle and Belmont. A lot of this decline is being related to infill development, of which Canning is […]
Read MoreUpdate: Mr Lanza’s speech for candidates’ forum did detail various employment of the past, but no mention of working for WA Labor pollies? In the interests of ferreting out ALL the political parties/members currently targeting City of Canning council elections, today we take a look at Frank Lanza, running for Mason Ward. Frank, otherwise known […]
Read MoreThe City of Fremantle’s council may have as many as five members of the Greens on board from October’s local govt elections. Several existing councillors have long associations with Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute. Yet “green” and “sustainability” don’t mean much any more – balance, more importantly equitable outcomes, is hard to achieve, and depend upon bringing the public […]
Read MoreSurprised to see today one of Canning’s lovely river suburbs – Shelley – declared the second-worst rental suburb in Australia! At bottom: Two mayoral candidates express concern about infill. As reported today in Business News*: The riverside suburb of Shelley has been given the ignominious title of the second worst suburb for rental problems in Australia….research from rental […]
Read MoreKevin Rudd was eager to please WA when first he got in as Prime Minister – it is said Infrastructure Australia’s approval of the cash to sink the Fremantle line and create Perth City Link (to house 1000s and ultimately direct 16,000 users of the Link to the trains and bus station underneath each day) […]
Read MoreWe’re on fire at up to 1,000 views a week! Nope, doesn’t appear to be related to the “other” Canning, the by-election we’re told could be a “game changer” at the federal level. Our viewers are clicking on links that kick in only after the purpose of the article is made clear (at READ MORE)… and the number of […]
Read MoreWe’ve been surprised at the show of support for Roe 8 from our area of the world, most frequently in letters to The Canning Times. The City of Melville supports the extension of Roe Highway, and recently addressed the business community to explain its rationale, arguing “With the road network already in crisis and current truck levels on […]
Read MoreWell, we think that’s more or less what MP for Riverton, Mike Nahan, said this week. Nahan’s concern about the City of Canning, particularly the behaviour of the administration under CEO Lyn Russell, isn’t going away any time soon. Nor will the Premier’s threat: Local govt? On notice. Right now. And if the long-term view of William […]
Read MoreDIRTY POOL (noun) The noun DIRTY POOL has 1 sense: 1. conduct that is unfair or unethical or unsportsmanlike CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM seems to want power. She’s run for elections at state and federal level; no doubt she will again. It’s the way she may be going about trying for the top position here in Canning we’re concerned with now. […]
Read More(In case you missed it) Whereas Minister for Local Govt, Tony Simpson, has been fairly moderate in his announcements about intentions to try to control rate rises, Premier Colin Barnett today was not: Local government? Yeah, they’re on notice. Right now. The rate increases householders faced, in my view, were excessive… many of these local govts are grossly […]
Read MoreThe City of Canning is not a council major media shows any interest in normally – but things have changed and for all the wrong reasons. Canning’s rate rises – those issued to cover its skyrocketing costs when democratically elected brakes were removed (Canning has been run by staff and Commissioners for years) – have us on lists everywhere: And […]
Read MoreUPDATE: Jesse Jacobs refusing to CATEGORICALLY RULE OUT NOW running for state or federal parliament in his FIRST TERM, if he becomes Mayor of Canning, as a sign of his commitment to the community in this campaign and to the stability of its first democratic council in three years. State Election is only 17 months […]
Read MoreChair of Canning Commissioners, Steven Cole, attached a statement to the usual highlights brochure produced at the adoption of the City’s 2015/16 budget . Mr Cole should be commended for putting Canning’s true financial position on the record, and especially as Canning’s first new council in years is due to be elected in October. CanningAccountability offers […]
Read MoreLocal paper Canning Examiner hits hard this week with its comparison of the City of Canning’s bloated wage and staff structure compared with the councils that were due to absorb it under local government reform:- City of Canning today is paying almost double the amount for employees it was in 2008-09 Employees earning over $100,000 near trebled […]
Read MoreUPDATE: Commissioner Steven Cole’s budget statement, as Canning’s true financial situation is put on record, HERE Chairman of Canning Commissioners, Steven Cole, issued a stern statement about Canning, its finances, and what a new council should do through the local papers yesterday. He also told entities who pose questions the City doesn’t like that “this must […]
Read MoreColin Barnett was interviewed at length about public transport projects, Perth Freight Link, toll roads, Uber etc in Ask The Premier today. As relates to extending the Thornlie Spur through Canning Vale to Mandurah rail line, he advised the following:- …we can really only undertake one or two big public transport projects at a […]
Read MoreThere appears to be a serious problem at the City of Canning, that cannot be blamed on the long gone Council anymore. According to Treasurer Mike Nahan, in Parliament today, the staff at Canning plan to hit ratepayers with a massive rate rise to fund their rampant spending, huge pay rises, care packages (before and […]
Read MoreCanning is moving closer to a new start after years under administration! Yes, Canning will be changed to a five ward, two councillor per ward local government area soon, although the Minister has yet to announce it (we just got the quiet word). It isn’t necessary, but its a small matter. We have other things to […]
Read MoreLet’s call it the $2. 1 million dollar question – after all, that’s what the two recent inquiries in to Canning have cost. Ready? A highly contentious ward boundary and councillor representation review has just been “concluded” at Canning. Why contentious? we had a relatively small problem to correct, but staff tried for more – before […]
Read MoreDemocracy continues to be a bit of a laugh at Canning. The City nearly consigned itself away under local government reform, when it ignored community preference and bid to merge with Gosnells instead… Then, oddly enough, staff costs increased significantly while the Council remained suspended…. Now *democracy* seems an outright contestable concept at Canning with the way a Ward and Councillor Representation Review […]
Read MoreUPDATE: As the Ward Boundary and Councillor Review closes, only one of the lower house reps for the Canning area, the Member for Riverton, publicly voiced concerns at the speed and appropriateness of staff and commissioners instigating attempts to get wide-spread changes to the governance model and ward boundaries through prior to the return of a democratically elected Council […]
Read MorePoor management of the reform process by former Commissioner Linton Reynolds and Chief Executive Lyn Russell meant Canning nearly disappeared forever. It survived only because local govt reform suddenly collapsed – at least for now. However, after years of being “under administration”, the City of Canning remains a long way off from having a democratically […]
Read MoreIn the last 48 hours a belief flared up that Linton Reynolds was dismissed as Commissioner at the City of Canning because he spoke out against reform. The reality is that, as a Commissioner, Mr Reynolds was largely unknown outside of Canning, and almost entirely unreported upon by major media – and certainly as related to his […]
Read MoreMinister for Local Govt, Tony Simpson, is about to make an announcement in Parliament that will determine how Canning is prepared for reform. Commissioner Linton Reynolds is today serving his last day at Canning. Three new Commissioners will be appointed to transition Canning to its new future.
Read MoreCanning has not fared well under administration. It failed to seize the day on local govt reform, a valuable developer partnership was lost and costs skyrocketed. We now have a CEO who apparently served less than full term at both preceding appointments – and a Commissioner who seems to act beyond his station as a “short-term, unelected government appointee“. The State Govt’s […]
Read MoreToday’s Canning Times reveals employee load at Canning has blown out so much under Commissioner Reynolds the administration building, only built in 2006, can’t contain them. Public servants are to be moved to a shop at Carousel for a minimum of two years. It will not only house 18 staff unable to fit in our principal council […]
Read MoreCanning is spending a fortune leasing a shop at Carousel in a bid to develop the Canning City Centre. Yet the City recently lost a $700m partnership with the innovative* Dept of Housing: the Bentley Regeneration project. The question has to be asked: Does the City have the skills to manage developers, beyond creating structure plans, or […]
Read MoreRadio 6PR’s “Rumour File” tipped us off that the City of Canning was planning to lease a shop at Carousel to use as offices for staff. Rustling up what contacts we could on a Sunday, given Carousel’s market dominance, ratepayers could be forced to pay anywhere between $120,000 – $250,000 per year, not including fit out […]
Read MoreFormer Mayor Joe Delle Donne speaks HERE In-term Councillors Olsen and O’Donnell speak HERE Notes 1. Mayor Delle Donne’s term expired during Inquiry 2. Councillors Olsen and O’Donnell terms due to expire October 2015 3. Four Councillors remain in term – between them they represent Canning’s four wards
Read More6PR Radio interview with CanningAccountability 11th June 2014: “….Canning’s fate keeps getting worse under a Commissioner…..” On 10 June 2014 the Minister tabled the report in Parliament and obtained Parliaments permission to publish the report making it a public document. Download a copy of the ‘Report of the panel of Inquiry into the City of […]
Read MoreMedia Statement from the Inquiry in to the City of Canning (Provides details on the hearings, which are open to the public) Transcripts of hearings will be posted on the Inquiry’s website daily. Canning Examiner reports on recommencement of proceedings here.
Read MoreIt is entirely possible the City of Canning will remain under the control of six Executives, and one Commissioner, until Oct 2015. As a result, when Canning merges with Gosnells, we may find Canning’s recent losses compounded – with no developed Councillors ready to merge with Gosnells’ much more experienced Council.
Read MoreCanning’s new Chief Executive Officer, Lyn Russell, has failed to provide general public access to the one and only public meeting held to present the City’s position on local government boundary changes before it submits its view to the State. Instead the “public information meeting”, to be held October 1st, has been reserved for 200 “stakeholder associations […]
Read MoreBull – Shit New! 6PR interviews CanningAccountability’s Diana Ryan 02/08/13 “We’ll watch [what happens] very closely” – Paul Murray New! Opinion Piece, The West Australian, 12/8/13 “Canning’s residents forgotten in Councils’ carve up” – extract Commissioner. A lot more impressive-sounding than acting, it would seem. In Canning’s case, the City of Gosnells could end up taking that to the […]
Read MoreMedia Release 1 August 2013 New! 6PR interviews CanningAccountability’s Diana Ryan 02/08/13 “We’ll watch [what happens] very closely” – Paul Murray New! Opinion Piece, The West Australian, 12/8/13 “Canning’s residents forgotten in Councils’ carve up” – extract As the City of Canning prepares to merge with the City of Gosnells, a delegation will visit the Minister for Local Government […]
Read MoreNew! City of Canning’s submission to Local Govt Advisory Board (next stage of council amalgamation process) PLUS public information powerpoint presentation HERE New! City of Gosnell’s submission to Local Govt Advisory Board to be found HERE (Pls note: Indicative actions only; no analysis uploaded) As reported on ABC news tonight – a leaked report reveals Canning […]
Read MoreNot quite what we expected… Not even a metropolitan Council…. But in what could be a sign of things to come the $100m Shire of Ashburton’s Council will be required to undergo a make-over. The Minister for Local Govt, Tony Simpson, has ordered the Council submit to a panel of “Mentors” for the next six months.
Read MoreThe Salaries and Allowances Tribunal has released higher pay rates for Councillors and Mayors.
Read MoreMr Christopher Kendall, the barrister retained to conduct the Inquiry into the City of Canning, has determined hearings will be conducted openly from June. Inquiry Panel – City of Canning : Public Hearings In what looks to be a very long due process, the first hearing will be held in Council Chambers, City of Canning, thereafter […]
Read MoreSeems the only place in town to get an idea on what’s happening with council mergers is the local paper. In its Friday April 20, 2013 issue, Post Newspapers added another couple of pieces to the puzzle that is “local govt reform”. But the real puzzler is – what is Minister for Local Govt, Tony Simpson, going on about?
Read MoreWith thanks to Canning Examiner, we have an update on the 2nd inquiry in to the City of Canning HERE (see page 2). It is not yet known if hearings will be open to the public, but several councillors and the Mayor have always called for this.
Read MoreAs filmed by WestTV Perth in Canning recently (below) Talks have begun between residents and ratepayers groups across Perth to canvass the possibility of a strategic alliance that will address planning issues. Under the Barnett Govt powerful new planning approval processes are seen as increasingly intractable, giving the appearance of democracy but in reality limiting public and council input. In Bentley […]
Read MoreThere was a lot of tough talk about local govt reform a year ago. Professor Alan Robson’s final recommendations on Metro Local Govt Review caused councils to feel change was near. Reaction was strong. Although Robson had recommended 30 councils be slashed to 12, Premier Barnett went on to say 15-20 was better. Wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to pull off […]
Read MoreTroy Pickard is his name, and yes, he’s a Liberal supporter – but also Mayor of our 2nd largest Council by population, Joondalup. Mr Pickard’s views about the unwillingness of Councils to embrace the wider possibilities of mergers are blunt. Does he know something we don’t?
Read MoreYou didn’t see that one coming, did you? Following his sweeping election win, Mr Barnett stated we should view his new lineup as a new govt, with new priorities. It’s a whole new ball game, in other words. It can only be a matter of time before the state begins announcing decisions about council mergers, and […]
Read MoreRecommendations The Panel recommends that: 1. The State Government give consideration to the inequities that exist in local government rating, including rate-equivalent payments and State Agreement Acts. 2. A collaborative process between State and local government be commenced to establish a new Partnership Agreement which will progress strategic issues and key result areas for both […]
Read MoreThe findings of the Independent Panel, which undertook the Metropolitan Local Govt Review, are worth contemplating. Since 1910 WA has only reduced its number of councils by 5%, compared to 40-60% elsewhere. Basically, we’ve ended up with 30 different sized metro councils, with varying levels of service provision because of differences in rates’ bases. The challenges […]
Read MoreSome have asked “Why do I ‘stick up’ for Canning’s suspended Council?”. Mayors and Councillors are frequently targeted by a displeased public – their role is the most prominent to us. We believe them to be the ones “in control”. CanningAccountability has shown in other posts that the Councillors have nothing like the power of Ministers, don’t […]
Read MoreMr Nahan stated this week he seeks to be a Senior Minister in Premier Barnett’s new cabinet. It begs the question, “What do we really know about the Member for Riverton?” Mr Nahan was an agitating factor behind the suspension of Canning Council, and its now escalating costs to ratepayers. Just now: Fmr Minister for Local […]
Read MoreQuattro Community Residents Association Inc (Queens Park), is hosting a public forum this Wednesday night. All welcome! Original Invitation here Quattro, a fast-growing, incorporated group of residents, has been concerned about the seeming lack of accountability in the planning process for some time.
Read MoreThe Good News: The City has set up an online survey for you to contribute to their submission on local govt reform. The Bad News: You only have 18 days to assess and submit your comments. CanningAccountability will be publishing more posts in relation to the Metropolitan Local Govt Review Report – including encouraging residents/stakeholders to submit […]
Read MoreDoes anyone really believe just 11 men and women were “the problem” at City of Canning? Well, until the Department of Local Government, at the direction of the next Minister for Local Government finally releases the Canning Councillors’ full answers to questions about why they acted the way they did, we cannot trust a Liberal […]
Read MoreJust confirmed – Joe Delle Donne, Mayor of City of Canning, is a candidate for the seat of Riverton. Campaign website Campaign FaceBook Only four candidates are running: Joe Delle Donne (Independent) Hannah Beazley (Labor) Marcus Atkinson (Greens) Mike Nahan (Liberals and current Member) Riverton is a marginal seat and a key player in who […]
Read MoreCommissioner Linton Reynolds was appointed by the Barnett Govt to ensure continuity of services to ratepayers and staff. Unelected and paid a salary, Mr Reynolds will be here for a very long time, as inquiries are dragged out, and costs mount. Liberal politician Mike Nahan’s constant attacks on Canning Council (as opposed to the actions of staff – whom […]
Read MoreOpinion Piece: Transport Strategy key to successful growth 5 Feb 2013 West Australian In 2008 I commenced the light rail project The Knowledge Arc. Designed to operate 24 hours a day, it would underpin Curtin and the University of WA’s plans to elevate in to the top 200 educational institutions in the world. Today, a Knowledge […]
Read MoreIn eight weeks this community initiative has achieved: 2,100 visitors 25 subscribers 74 signatures to the petition to keep council inquiries open, and is succeeding in raising awareness there could be unforeseen consequences to the Barnett Govt stopping any elected representative involvement in Canning’s business for up to two years (including if preparations towards council mergers begin) In […]
Read MoreThe word is that with the return of a Barnett Govt, a new Minister will be put in place to do the heavy lifting on dissolving local councils and creating new, larger ones. Think Canning will only see its boundaries change, and everything else stay the same? More to come.
Read MoreThe Barnett Govt’s excessive focus only on City of Canning is beginning to be questioned: Why is Canning subjected to multiple inquiries when other suspended councils aren’t? Why are we forced to pay millions for these investigations? Why are the inquiries kept closed? Why is the Barnett Govt acting in a way designed to keep REAL representatives of the […]
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Canning Accountability 