CANDIDATE JACINTA ANDERSON

10 QUESTIONS FROM THE TERRIER:

What three main skills could you bring to the Warrnambool City Council as a councillor?

One main skill I can bring as a councillor is financial literacy, honesty and transparency to ensure Warrnambool City Council Budgets ARE accurate including ALL income and expenses.

WCC has fallen short in previous budgets by not including all income. Peter Hulin bought this to the attention of council when he was a councillor and I can vouch that the income was wrong. I suggest we seriously look into investigating the previous WCC financials for the past 10 years.

My other two skills I can bring is sewing and painting so you can expect to see a lot more colour around Warrnambool and hopefully Warrnambool’s own Fashion Festival.

Do you see any particular issues, projects or problems in Warrnambool that you would like to work on as a councillor?

As a councillor I am very keen to obtain funding to implement the construction of a new waste treatment plant. However the current Wannon Water upgrade options are inadequate and will need to be investigated for more sustainable options.  I’d also like to see more community housing built with affordable rent for the homeless and vulnerable.

Future projects I would like to work on would include collaborating with Moyne Shire and Gunditijmara to develop and implement Indigenous cultural education at Tower Hill, outdoor class rooms.

Waste management reduction and recycling!

Do you think the council could be more “open” with residents and if so, how?

Yes definitely there is room for improvement. By listening more to resident’s requests and holding question sessions via Zoom meetings or a suggestions section on its Facebook page. The council is moving forward in this capacity holding more community consultations which is a positive step.

The new LG Act 2020 includes a community engagement policy which incorporates financial decisions. So this means that the community have to be engaged in financial decisions too, from what I believe the new Act states.

The next 12 months are going to be challenging due to the impact of Covid-19 – do you have one or two key idea/s for how WCC could support residents and/or businesses?

Coming out of lockdown I think everyone needs a happy day to celebrate, perhaps this could be on the council’s agenda moving out of restrictions.

Council should always encourage residents to shop locally especially to support all industries. I think if we focus on local spending and tourism opportunities things could really look up. I have a few fun and exciting ideas up my sleeve!

Do you have any ideas on where the council could cut costs, if necessary, to keep rates at the state cap?

Yes definitely I have heaps of ideas. Firstly I am quite happy to volunteer (as a councillor) for free. I personally believe leaders who represent the community should not be motivated by money.  I believe we could gain money by actually doing a transparent honest budget that includes all income and expenses. I’ve said this before maybe WCC should consider restructuring as a non-profit organisation?

We can also reduce costs by investing in local recycling systems. How much does it cost to employ people to sort recycling? Instead of sending it to land fill.

We could stop purchasing 1080 which I would like banned. Also Roundup that’s another purchase expense we don’t need. Perhaps the WCC could just ask the local Aboriginal community if they are happy for us to share their land then we wouldn’t have to pay any rates.

Preferences will decide who is elected to the council. Are you planning to preference most highly new candidates, exisiting candidates or you won’t be putting forward preferences:

New candidates.

If you were elected, what ways – if any – would you keep residents and ratepayers informed as an individual councillor?

As a potential councillor the most efficient way to keep residents and ratepayers updated would be via mails outs. There are also social media outlets, however I prefer letters. This way I can communicate and engage with every community member and ask for feedback.

If you were elected, what would you have liked to have achieved at the end of your four-year term?

Wow there are so many things hopefully I would like to achieve them all within the first four years so I can move on to other things. I don’t really want to go into much detail:

Local roads are in need of upgrades and have been neglected for far too long.

Implementation of wildlife corridors and native tree planting.

More community housing with low rental options.

New sustainable waste water facility.

Introduction of indigenous outdoor education

Fairy Kingdom (Child tourism done correctly)

Reduction in waste generated.

Implementation of Warrnambool Fashion Festival/Week

Are you a member of any political party? If so, which one?

No I am not currently. I have been a member of the Liberal Party and Greens many moons ago (For research purposes).

In the past two years, have you been a member of any local club, organisation or association?

No I have not.

Closing thoughts or ask and answer your own question here:

Thank-you Carol for the opportunity to be featured and for the really good questions you provided.

You can find Jacinta’s candidate Facebook page here.

CANDIDATE BRUCE CAMPBELL

10 QUESTIONS FROM THE TERRIER:

What three main skills could you bring to the Warrnambool City Council as a councillor?

I have governance, management and community engagement skills that can assist the Council.  I have been on the boards of two landcare networks for six and nine years respectively and been the chairman of one for nine years.

I have worked as a manager of programs and organisations for many years, including in roles where I advised and assisted elected committees to fulfill their governance obligations.  I am not a governance expert but I have a good general understanding of governance issues.

As a manager I have overseen the finance, staff and activities of a large number of programs and projects for decades, including construction, waste management, housing, arts and recreation, environment, community education and more.  I have a Master of International & Community Development that has effective community engagement at its core.

Most of my work since I started out working in local government in the 1980s has been in or focussed on the community sector.  As such I understand the importance of community engagement and the importance of doing it well.

Do you see any particular issues, projects or problems in Warrnambool that you would like to work on as a councillor?

I was involved in the Warrnambool 2040 plan and I support its goals under the broad headings of People, Place, Economy and Environment.  ]

The 2040 plan drew on the thoughts of more than 1000 residents and that amount of community involvement should be respected.  Of course all plans must be reviewed and renewed and I think the new council should be briefed on progress towards the W2040 goals and, with senior staff, ensure the plan maintains currency.

Having said that, the Covid pandemic has turned our world upside down, so the largest concern of the new council must be to have community recovery as its overarching goal.

Do you think the council could be more “open” with residents and if so, how?

The council could certainly be more ‘open’ and engaged with the community.  One idea might be to hold community forums in various parts of the municipality several times per year.  Senior staff and councillors could attend to directly answer questions from residents.  It would be great if these meetings could be held in Woodford/Bushfield, Allansford, Merrivale/South Warrnambool, Dennington, etc.

Ideally these meetings would be designed and facilitated by skilled and independent community engagement facilitators.

Council has a community engagement strategy and legislative requirements around this.  I would like to see this strategy improved and implemented uniformly and effectively across council’s operations.

The next 12 months are going to be challenging due to the impact of Covid-19 – do you have one or two key idea/s for how WCC could support residents and/or businesses?

I haven’t had a chance to study council’s rates system yet, but there may be the ability to alter some of the rates differentials relating to vacant land, industrial land, retail premises, etc. and offer some relief.

Our most vulnerable residents are likely to be suffering the most through this pandemic.  Elderly, disabled, those suffering mental health issues:  working with the various relevant organisations and agencies we can help these residents get through to the other side.

Do you have any ideas on where the council could cut costs, if necessary, to keep rates at the state cap?

I’d like to be fully briefed on the council budget before looking at where savings could be made.  I know that council always has more demands for spending than there is money for.  I also know that there is pressure from other levels of government such as cost shifting and unreliability of grant programs that makes budgeting difficult.

Preferences will decide who is elected to the council. Are you planning to preference most highly new candidates, exisiting candidates or you won’t be putting forward preferences:

I am planning to preference new candidates most highly.

If you were elected, what ways – if any – would you keep residents and ratepayers informed as an individual councillor?

I would be available for residents to contact me about anything.  I would be happy to discuss anything with residents when I see them at the various events I attend.

If you were elected, what would you have liked to have achieved at the end of your four-year term?

I would like to have supported our community to become more resilient, cohesive, self-sufficient and sustainable.  By ‘resilient’ I mean able to weather whatever storms come our way, whether they are a pandemic, a drought, economic instability or the impacts of climate change.

By ‘cohesive’ I mean that we understand that we are all in this together and despite our differences, we all have things to offer that will make us greater as a whole.  If we cannot bring the most vulnerable of us along on our city’s journey then we are failing as a community.

By ‘self-sufficient’ I mean that we have as many of the human, infrastructure, economic and environmental assets as possible within our reach.  We have an education system producing skilled, knowledgeable, talented citizens.  We have health and social support systems that create a thriving community.  We have the range of facilities to support our needs.  We have an environment that supports the native flora and fauna we share our municipality with as well as providing for our recreational and economic needs.

By ‘sustainable’ I mean all of the above does not deplete our human, infrastructure, economic or environmental assets.

Are you a member of any political party? If so, which one?

No.

In the past two years, have you been a member of any local club, organisation or association?

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network (chairman).

Warrnambool Community Garden.

The F Project.

Closing thoughts or ask and answer your own question here:

We can’t change the past but we can make sure the future is a better place.  That’s what I will work for if elected.

You can find Bruce’s candidate Facebook page here.

Note: Bruce is yet to decide if he will be publishing a preference list but if he does, it will be published on The Terrier before voting opens on 6 October. Candidates can, of course, leave it purely up to the voter to decide how to list the candidates from 1 to 24.

CANDIDATE BEN BLAIN

10 QUESTIONS FROM THE TERRIER:

What three main skills could you bring to the Warrnambool City Council as a councillor?

My problem-solving ability – My ability to see an issue, identify the problem and come up with a solution. I think if you break down an issue you can find a solution. Research, understanding and listening to the community are how we can solve things together.

My Financial Knowledge – Understanding how to put together and read a budget. I own and run my own small business which has given me a good understanding of how a budget works. I also wrote and prepared a submission to the council budget this year outlining how we could fund a freeze on our rates, offer free parking in the CBD and waive user fees for businesses and sporting clubs in Warrnambool.

Being able to not only listen to issues but act – Being able to listen, understand and create an action plan to make the community’s dreams a reality. A good idea is a good idea no matter who comes up with it.

Do you see any particular issues, projects or problems in Warrnambool that you would like to work on as a councillor?

I believe the council has been lacking in offering financial relief for not only businesses but the entire community. I think we need to stop the continual increases in rates to offer everyone some relief. I don’t want to see the council break the rate cap again in 2022 as is currently proposed.

I want to see our general rubbish collection remain as a weekly service not move to fortnightly. I also don’t want to see us being charged for the replacement of damaged bins. We all pay enough now in our waste service charge, why add a bin replacement fee?

Finally, the maintenance and upkeep of our public assets, this was the main reason for breaking the rate cap. We need to have a long-term plan to fund this work through our current budget funding, not continue to hit ratepayers for more money.

Do you think the council could be more “open” with residents and if so, how?

Yes, the council could be more transparent and open. For the council to rebuild its trust with the community, they need to be more transparent. This can be done through the councillors being more open about decisions and not hiding behind confidentiality unless it is for commercial reasons.

Through policy and meeting procedures the council could be more open. Bringing back general business gives councillors a powerful tool to raise issues within the community.

I would also like to see the public have the ability to address the council before they vote on a particular agenda item. Moving public question time to the start of meetings before the items have been voted on. Have tea, coffee and sandwiches with the gallery after meetings instead of dinner and drinks out the back. All these measures could be used to “open” council to the community.

The next 12 months are going to be challenging due to the impact of Covid-19 – do you have one or two key idea/s for how WCC could support residents and/or businesses?

We need to be campaigning to bring more visitors to our great city. Now as we are looking to come out of lockdown, we should be aggressively pushing our city’s amazing attractions.

When metro Melbourne moves out of lockdown they will be looking to travel, and we want them to come here. More than likely they won’t be able to leave Victoria, this is an opportunity to give our local economy a real boost.

I think the council should also be looking for what financial relief they can offer to businesses and community groups concerning user fees. Many sporting organisations have not had a season this year, every business has felt some impact from the pandemic. Offer relief on grounds fees and shop fees to help every business and organisation make it through this tough time.

Do you have any ideas on where the council could cut costs, if necessary, to keep rates at the state cap?

I think we need to do an efficiency review of the council and all council business. We have seen the council continue to run without filling vacant roles, so can these roles continue to be done by others within the organisation.

Businesses need to be looked at closely but not impact the service they give to the community. Meals-on-Wheels is one that I wouldn’t want to see cut back, but there could be opportunities to make this service more efficient and give it the ability to service more of the community.

After the credit card scandal, I also would like to see stricter financial controls on employee spending which I think could also offer savings to the community.

Preferences will decide who is elected to the council. Are you planning to preference most highly new candidates, exisiting candidates or you won’t be putting forward preferences:

I will be preferencing all new candidates.

Looking at the field there are so many new and exciting candidates putting their hands up this election, I think it would be a shame to miss this opportunity to make a better Warrnambool.

If you were elected, what ways – if any – would you keep residents and ratepayers informed as an individual councillor?

I would continue to inform the community through being open to any member of the community through the phone, email, etc. I commit to the community that I will respond to issues and always try to help.

I have sent concerns to the current councillors and received no response; I don’t like it happening to me so I wouldn’t want it for anyone else. I will also promote the work of the council through social media.

If you were elected, what would you have liked to have achieved at the end of your four-year term?

I would like to see the trust be rebuilt between the council and the community. I would also like to see Warrnambool moving forward after the economic effects of the pandemic. I want to see the council be able to fund the care of its current assets through its current budget restraints.

I hope to see the harbour made into a safe boat launching facility for all users, currently, it is ranked one of the two worst ramps in the state. I will work towards being more proactive in securing funding for projects in our city to continue to see it move forward.

Are you a member of any political party? If so, which one?

I am not and have never been a member of any political party.

In the past two years, have you been a member of any local club, organisation or association?

I am the Vice President of the Warrnambool Ratepayers Association. Through this role, I have been active in raising the issues of community members. It’s been really special to be a part of this association helping groups and individuals with issues they have with the council.

I am also currently a member of the CFA and have been over the past 15 years. I was one of the first responders to the St Patricks Day fires. I find this has been a rewarding way to give back to the community.

Closing thoughts or ask and answer your own question here:

We have a chance to make a positive change this time within our city council. There are so many great candidates putting their hands up. We all have an exciting chance to move Warrnambool forward.

You can find Ben’s candidate Facebook page here.

Ben has also published his preference list which is below. This is the line-up Ben would like to see on the new council and if you agree, you can follow this card.

Carol Altmann – The Terrier
As promised, I am determined to keep unpicking the stories in and around the sacking of the former Warrnambool City Council CEO, Peter Schneider.

One of them is how the acting CEO, Vikki King, kept her other job as a senior council manager.

Let me break it down.

Before becoming acting CEO on 14 July, Ms King was the council’s Director of Community Development and had been since 2015.

But that contract was due to expire in the first week of August.

I have since learned that this position was going to be advertised by Mr Schneider and, of course, Ms King would be able to apply.

(This is not unusual in the public service, where there are no guarantees a contract will be renewed, or – if you re-apply – that you will be reappointed.)

As it came to pass, Ms King did not have to reapply for her job because, as we know, by the first week of August, Mr Schneider was gone and Ms King was named as his replacement for up to 12 months.

It was then revealed that Ms King was not only acting CEO, but would also continue on as Director of Community Development.

How?

Well, it turns out her contract was renewed in August for another five years.

How?

Well, as acting CEO, Ms King can’t hire herself, but it is legal under the Local Government Act for a CEO to delegate this task off to someone else.

So Ms King was able to keep her old job by – as acting CEO – having someone else in council re-hire her.

Just to reiterate, such delegation is legal under the Local Government Act 2020, but does it pass the proverbial “pub test”?

I have been searching for another example of this very same scenario: where a senior council manager who was due to have their contract expire, is appointed acting CEO, and then delegates off the authority to re-hire themselves.

I couldn’t find an example – maybe you will have better luck – but no wonder it feels like Warrnambool has fallen down a rabbit hole and woken up to find a Mad Hatter’s tea party in full swing.

There are other questions:

Did the council use an independent consultant to help assess Ms King’s performance over the past five years?

This would help reassure all of us that this part of the resigning was completely at arm’s length.

Why was the reappointment for another five years and not 12 months or 24 months?

This would have allowed a new CEO to make his or her own decision on the position.

And, lastly, who was the council person delegated to re-hire Ms King?

My understanding is that it was not a senior council manager, as you would perhaps expect, but a part-time staff member.

We shall see if all of the above is made clear in the council’s responses.

As it sits, the council can’t start looking for a new CEO, because the old CEO – Mr Schneider – is taking action in the Supreme Court to try and get his job back.

That case could take several months to resolve.

In the meantime, Ms King has a new job, plus her old job, and the four councillors who got rid of Mr Schneider are seeking re-election.

Imagine if Mr Schneider is successful and resumes his spot as CEO?

More tea? Cake?

Would you like to see The Terrier keep digging? Please visit the tip jar.

Terrier Tip Jar

Carol Altmann – The Terrier

If everything that dumped Warrnambool City Council CEO Peter Schneider says in his affidavit is true, our council has gone bad.

Mr Schneider’s allegations – which will be put to the Supreme Court on Thursday for a directions hearing – paints a picture of a toxic council, broken by old rivalries and unhealthy, cosy relationships that must end.

And they can only end by a metaphorical deep clean at the next election.

I am hopeful that the full affidavit can be published after Thursday, under the protection of the court, but many of the allegations are out there and they are ugly.

They include the decade-old hate fest between Crs Mike Neoh and Kylie Gaston and their nemesis Peter Hulin which just rolls on.

It includes concerns about the “close relationships” of some councillors to senior council staff, including the Director of Community Development Vikki King, now acting CEO, and former governance manager Anne-Maree Neal.

And it also raises claims that three councillors – Neoh, Gaston and Cr David Owen – allegedly rated Mr Schneider so poorly in a review in May that the consultant, Peter Berry, who was running the review said it could only have been motivated by “vindictiveness” and “spite”.

These are strong words.

And then there is my personal favourite: Cr Neoh allegedly laying the heavy on Mr Schneider for his handling of the credit card saga.

We all know, from the council’s own statements, that it was former CEO Bruce Anson who allowed David McMahon to repay money, to keep his job as a senior manager, and who kept the whole thing under wraps.

Just a blip.

No wonder ratepayers are starting to wonder if Mr Schneider was dumped because he wasn’t up to the job, or dumped because he wasn’t Mr Anson, or dumped because he got along with Cr Hulin.

One thing is certain, the push to get rid of Mr Schneider became dirty, very early.

Here is something you don’t know:

You may recall that Cr Gaston, in a string of questions to Mayor Tony Herbert at this month’s council meeting, asked why he and Cr Sue Cassidy had met at Mr Schneider’s private home for two hours’ on a Sunday in February.

Cr Gaston told the council a number of “red flags” were raised at this gathering.

What I have since learned is that Cr Cassidy had, by that time, received highly confidential documents, anonymously, in the mail, about Mr Schneider’s job application.

From what I understand, these documents related to personality and psychological testing that formed part of the job application.

This is highly personal stuff, and so very few people connected to the council had access to these documents.

Yet they were mailed – anonymously – to Cr Cassidy, and for a reason. Who was behind that move?

No wonder Cr Cassidy was keen to talk to Mr Schneider, face-to-face, in February.

Interestingly, Cr Cassidy was not among the councillors named in Mr Schneider’s affidavit as having acted with “spite” or “vindictiveness” in his May review.

Perhaps, in May, Cr Cassidy still thought he was doing a good job.

Cr Cassidy has declined to comment on this leaked document and Cr Herbert would only say “there were some concerns about confidential information that was sent to Sue.”

On top of all this, Mr Schneider’s affidavit also refers to a particular email written by Cr Gaston.

This email, written in July,Gas allegedly confirms Cr Gaston was seeking legal advice back in February about Mr Schneider’s contract.

In other words, several councillors were starting to seek legal advice on how to get rid of him and how much it would cost.

Who did these councillors expect to pay for this advice? Remind me again?

The Local Government Inspectorate is looking into all this and its findings can’t come soon enough.

Neither, in my view, can the election when ratepayers and residents will decide whether this is the sort of council we want to serve us, or whether it is time for a generational change.