By Parker McKenzie
In the months leading to the public gallery being closed during council meetings, the Yarra Ranges Council has spent over $12,000 on security measures.
During public question time at the Tuesday 27 April council meeting, the first to be held behind closed doors since the decision to close the gallery to the public was announced, the council was asked about the cost to ratepayers of new security measures.
“How much has it cost the ratepayers of Yarra Ranges Council to secure the safety of counsellors, staff and ratepayers from the disruptors in the gallery at each council meeting since the beginning of the year?” the questioner asked.
Director of Corporate Services Andrew Hilson said it has spent approximately $12,600 engaging security guards and upgrading the security cameras in the public gallery area “to ensure the safety of counsellors, council staff and members of the public.”
“Changes to the configuration of chairs and tables in this area have been delivered by internal staff.” he said.
Yarra Ranges Council first hired security staff at the Tuesday 14 February Council meeting, following the 31 January meeting where police were called to the premise after the meeting was adjourned.
On Thursday 20 April, the council announced it will be closing the gallery during meetings because of “verbal abuse, intimidation and anti-social behaviour” from members of fringe-community group My Place, who have been attending the meetings to oppose 20-minute neighbourhood planning schemes.
My Place Yarra Valley’s defacto leaders have rejected this characterisation of their behaviour by the council in a statement provided to the Star Mail on Monday 22 April.
My Place was founded in Frankston by Darren Bergwerf, with splinter groups forming in areas around Australia.
While the beliefs of My Place members aren’t a monolith, many who the Star Mail has spoken to reject the authority of councils due to a factually-incorrect belief that they as bodies corporate, and therefore are not legitimate governments.
While councils are created as statutory bodies through an Act of Parliament, the Victorian Constitution states that local councils are a distinct tier of government and Local Government Acts 1989 and 2020 give councils the ability to tax and govern among other powers.
Other members have reiterated that 20-minute neighbourhoods are a scheme, orchestrated by the United Nations, to make it easier for governments to implement harsh lockdown measures in the future, and for this reason they oppose the adoption of the planning strategy by Yarra Ranges Council.
As of 1 April 2023, Yarra Ranges Council no longer accepts questions at meetings relating to “20-minute neighbourhoods or their alignment to the principles associated with the United Nations.”
“The concept behind 20-minute neighbourhoods is simple – communities are designed to make sure everything you need day-to-day is close to home and a walkable distance away,” Yarra Ranges Council states online.
“The intent is for people to be able to move about easily and freely without being burdened by excessive travel or costly transport options. It improves movement and access, rather than preventing it.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child told the Star Mail on Friday 21 April that the council was hoping to reopen the gallery by the end of May.
