Notice is hereby given in accordance with sections 74(1B) and 223 of the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act), that Manningham City Council is to undertake a review and determine the level of mayoral and councillor allowances.

Council resolved at its meeting on Thursday 28 January to give notice of its intention to review allowances and has proposed a:

• Mayoral allowance of $100,434 with a $9,541 superannuation contribution; and
• Councillor allowance of $31,444 with a $2,987 superannuation contribution.

Written submissions on the proposed allowances are sought in accordance with section 223 of the Act. Submissions will be received until 5.00pm on Monday 1 March 2021 and should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Manningham City Council, PO Box 1, Doncaster VIC 3108.

Any person who has made a written submission to the Council can request to be heard in support of their submission and is entitled to appear in person or by a person acting on their behalf. Please indicate in your submission if you wish to be heard.

Submissions made in accordance with section 223 of the Act are considered public documents and may be incorporated in the agenda and minutes of the Council Meeting at which they are considered and available on Council's website as part of the relevant agenda and minutes of the meeting.

For enquiries, please contact Council's Senior Governance Advisor on 9840 9333 or email manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au

(published in The Age) 

Update (2021): this article refers to the 2020 review of Mayoral and Councillor allowances. Council resolved at its meeting on Thursday 28 January 2021 to give notice of its intention to review allowances.

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Following a recent review of mayoral and councillor allowances and a change in allowance category by the Minister for Local Government, Council resolved at its meeting on Tuesday 25 February 2020 to give notice of its intention to review and determine allowances in accordance with the Act.

Council proposed a:

• Mayoral allowance of $100,434 with a $9,541 superannuation contribution; and
• Councillor allowance of $31,444 with a $2,987 superannuation contribution.

Submissions are sought from the community in accordance with section 223 of the Act in respect of the review of allowances. Written submissions will be received until 5.00pm on Monday 6 April 2020 and should be addressed to:

Chief Executive Officer
Manningham City Council
PO Box 1, Doncaster, Victoria, 3108

Any person who has made a written submission to the Council can request to be heard in support of their submission and is entitled to appear in person or by a person acting on their behalf. Please indicate in your submission if you wish to be heard.

Submissions made in accordance with section 223 of the Act are considered public documents and may be incorporated in the agenda and minutes of the Council Meeting at which they are considered and available on Council’s website as part of the relevant agenda and minutes of the meeting.

For enquiries, please contact our Senior Governance Advisor on 9840 9333 or email manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au

With the ongoing community transmission of COVID-19 and the introduction of mandatory face coverings, we understand how unsettling and stressful this time is for many people in our community.

In line with the Victorian Government restrictions, please remember to wear a face covering whenever you leave your home for one of the four permitted reasons listed below. Face coverings don’t need to be medical grade and you can make your own mask or use other suitable face coverings such as a scarf or bandana. Please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services website for the most current information regarding lawful exceptions and instructions on how to make your own mask. 

As a council, we are also supplying all our staff who are in contact with the community disposal masks to ensure everyone’s safety.

Please remember there are still only four reasons to leave your home:

• shopping for what you need – food and essential supplies
• medical, care or compassionate needs
• exercises in your local area
• work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.

You also cannot have visitors in your home and no more than two people from different households are able to gather in public spaces.

We will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Municipal Association of Victoria to get the latest updates and become familiar with the details of the latest COVID-19 related directions. We will ensure to communicate these to you as quickly as possible so make sure you follow us on social media, read Manningham Matters and check our website for updates on our services and facilities.

I want to thank everyone in Manningham who has responded with so flexibly and with resilience in this challenging time. These are tough times and I encourage everyone to stay kind to other, to businesses and to themselves.

Please continue to follow the Victorian Government health advice to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to yourself, your friends, family and our community.

Stay safe and stay well.

Mayor, Cr Paul McLeish

Summer holidays are now over for many of us and we have well and truly embarked on this new year by starting many of the plans and projects that we anticipate will bring about a happy and productive 2021.

At Council, we have just launched a very exciting new initiative to help us guide our strategic direction for the next four years and we want you to be a part of it.

Increasingly, governments worldwide have been using deliberative decision-making involving community members to guide their strategic thinking, and so we are very excited to be incorporating this innovative approach as a pivotal part of our efforts to plan for the future of Manningham.

We are forming a brand new community panel that will represent the views and voices of all who live in our diverse community. If you work, live, study, or play in Manningham and have ideas for the future of our city then we want to hear from you.

The panel will come together for sessions during March and it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, discuss ideas and plan for our future. Registrations close on Monday 1 March so register your interest today.

The Fire Danger Period has just been declared for Manningham and I know many of you have been busy cleaning up your properties and ensuring your Emergency Plans are ready and up-to-date.

I invite everyone located in the Bushfire Prone Area to take advantage of the two weekends we are running this month to help you clean your properties of excess garden waste. These two free disposal days are in addition to those we ran in late November last year.

Despite the lack of restrictions in some areas, it is still important to ensure your property is prepared, and with large amounts of growth experienced this year, and more rain and growth expected this summer season, your property maintenance should be ongoing.

I firmly believe this approach helps not only protect your own house and property, but helps foster a strong community spirit as it helps protect those around your neighbourhood as well. I encourage all residents to manage your properties year round to prepare for emergencies, including fire, storm and flood.

I wish you all the best,

Cr Andrew Conlon

MAYOR

I hope this message finds you safe and well as we continue to navigate this unique year.

On Sunday 22 November, the Premier announced further easing of COVID-19 restrictions as Victoria enters the Last Step in its roadmap to reopening.

These changes are great news for local businesses which are now able to welcome more people for indoor exercise, hospitality and other activities.

We also welcome increased limits for public and private gatherings, which means that more of our community can come together as we head towards the festive season.

I encourage you to visit the DHHS website to read a full list of the changes to restrictions effective from 11.59pm Sunday 22 November, which are now in effect.

I would like to say thankyou to our outgoing Councillors, Paul McLeish, Sophy Galbally, Dot Haynes, Paula Piccinini and Mike Zafiropoulos AM, for their hard work and dedication to the community over the last four years. We wish them all the best and thank them for their service.

We have a fantastic edition of Manningham Matters for you this week.

We have developed a draft landscape masterplan for Ruffey Lake Park to provide clear direction for the future design, development and management of the park over the next 15 years. Find out what our community has told us they love and want us to improve, and have your say.

This week marks two very important awareness campaigns in our community. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is currently underway until 10 December. Find out how you can help prevent sexism, sexual harassment and disrespect towards women.

On 3 December, International Day of People with Disability will be raising awareness for disabilities that are not always visible or obvious. Read our story to find out more.

The festive season is almost upon us, so I encourage you to share your goodwill this Christmas season as there are families in our community who are experiencing hardship and who might have been doing it extra tough this year. Find out how you can help them experience the festive season.

I look forward to seeing you out in the Manningham community.

Stay safe,

Cr Andrew Conlon
MAYOR

Welcome to our second digital edition of Manningham Matters, which will be published fortnightly during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis to bring you all the latest news from us and from our community as we navigate this new time.

I would like to start by offering on behalf of our Council and community our deepest condolences to Victoria Police and the families of those involved in the tragic accident on the Eastern Freeway earlier this week. We're incredibly saddened by this news and want to acknowledge the dedication of Victoria Police and its service to our community.

We have been facing the COVID-19 crisis for some weeks now and the daily pressures of this new way of living, plus its challenges and surprises are continuing to evolve and be felt acutely throughout our entire community. 

I would like to thank everyone in Manningham who has responded with flexibility and resilience to what is a very challenging time. I encourage you to continue following the steps you have taken to stay safe and healthy and to help slow the spread of the virus.

Please continue to follow the advice of health professionals and the government to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection to yourself and our neighbours and friends. Remember to follow the recommendations to stay at home if you can, protect the health system and save lives.

We are all learning to navigate new routines and disruptions to our usual ways of doing things. Like me and my family, you are no doubt finding new and interesting ways to stay connected with your friends and community.

We are here to help

We are especially aware of the social, emotional and financial impact COVID-19 is having on people in our community and understand that it will put pressure on everyone in the months to come. We have been working hard at Council to find ways we can immediately help and support you during this time.

We have launched a Community Connect service which is available seven days a week. You can ask us questions and find out where you can get the right support. We’re here to help, so call us on 9840 9333, or email communityconnect@manningham.vic.gov.au

Our Councillors have also been meeting regularly by video to work on some relief measures for our residents, businesses and community groups. We have extended our fourth quarter rates instalment due date to 30 June. If you still can’t pay by this date and are suffering genuine financial hardship, please call us to discuss other financial arrangements.

As a Council, we will be considering other ways to support Manningham residents, business and local organisations at our upcoming Council meeting on 28 April 2020.

Thank you and stay safe

I want to thank everyone in our community for your support of each other as we face the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 together. I encourage you to look out for your neighbours, friends and family while continuing to stay at home and practise good hygiene to stay safe, healthy and well.

And if you haven’t already, I encourage you to subscribe to Manningham Matters and receive future editions and updates on what’s happening locally, straight to your inbox.

Stay safe and well.

Cr Paul McLeish
MAYOR

A lot has happened over the past two weeks and I am sure everyone is adapting to the new restrictions in place for the Melbourne metropolitan area. I was impressed by how well we, as a community, have accepted the move back to stage three (stay at home) restrictions.

While this reversal can be disheartening, it is also an important moment for all of us to continue working together as a community and keep our families and neighbourhoods healthy and safe.

The return of stage three restrictions means that there are only four reasons to leave your house:

• Shopping for food or other essential items
• To provide care giving, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment
• For exercise (outdoor exercise only, with only one other person or members of your household)
• Work or study, if you cannot work or study from home

There has also been an important change in the medical advice around masks. The current advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer when you leave your home is:

• for everyone to wear a mask, and
• keep a physical distance of 1.5 metres from others.

In Manningham, the restrictions mean that there have been further changes to some of our services and facilities. I encourage everyone to stay up to date by visiting our website.

These restrictions will also bring about changes to how we come together as a community. In this edition of Manningham Matters, you’ll find the latest information on how you can continue to safely enjoy our beautiful parklands, and how to support local businesses who will again be adapting to the restrictions. You will also find the latest news about some of our community facilities - many of their services have returned online allowing you to stay active and stay connected from your home.

Many of the businesses who had just restarted their operations will now be doing it really tough as the restrictions return. To help support these local businesses, the Victorian Government has this week released an additional round of grants as part of its $534 million Business Support Package. We’ve included more information in this edition, and encourage business owners to explore if they’re eligible for these latest rounds of funding. There are also many support options available to businesses locally and our Manningham Business team is here to help. I encourage any local businesses looking for support during this time to get in touch.

We all have the opportunity to make a huge difference for our entire community, and all it takes is a few small actions. Stay at home unless absolutely necessary. Wear a mask and keep 1.5 metres apart if you need to leave your home. Practise good hygiene and wash your hands regularly. Get tested if you experience any symptoms.

We’ve seen some incredible examples of the Manningham community uniting over the last few months and I look forward to hearing many more stories over the next five weeks.

This is our moment, Manningham. Stay safe and well.

Cr Paul McLeish
MAYOR

Want to read more stories like this? View Manningham Matters.