City of Merri-bek explained

Type:lga
Merri-bek City Council
State:vic
Pop:181725
Pop Year:2018
Pop Footnotes:[1]
Poprank:33rd
Area:51
Est:1994
Mayor:Adam Pulford (Greens)
Seat:Coburg
Region:Greater Melbourne
Url:www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au
Stategov:Broadmeadows
Stategov2:Brunswick
Stategov3:Melbourne
Stategov4:Niddrie
Stategov5:Pascoe Vale
Fedgov:Cooper
Fedgov2:Maribyrnong
Fedgov3:Melbourne
Fedgov4:Wills
Near-Nw:Hume, Brimbank
Near-N:Hume
Near-Ne:Whittlesea
Near-E:Darebin
Near-Se:Yarra
Near-S:Melbourne
Near-Sw:Moonee Valley
Near-W:Moonee Valley

The City of Merri-bek ([2]) is a local government area in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. It comprises the inner northern suburbs between 4 and 11 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. The Merri-bek local government area covers, and in June 2018, it had a population of 181,725.[1]

The local government area was created as the City of Moreland in 1994 during the amalgamations of local governments by the state government, being created from the former local government areas of the City of Brunswick, the City of Coburg and the southern part of the City of Broadmeadows. It was renamed to Merri-bek in September 2022.[3]

In 2004 the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), an independent authority created under Victorian state legislation, conducted a representation review of the council's electoral structure, resulting in a recommendation that the 10 single councillor wards be replaced by three multi-councillor wards. A consequence of the change from single-councillor to multi-councillor wards was a change in election method from Instant runoff voting to proportional representation via Single transferable vote. Elections are held every four years.

Name

In November 2021, it came to the council's attention that Moreland's namesake was indirectly associated with a Jamaican plantation site that had traded slaves up to the 1800s.[4] [5] This historical information was contained in the 2010 Moreland Council publication Thematic History,[6] and published in books and articles as far back as 1944.

In October 1839, Scottish surgeon and settler Dr Farquhar McCrae was sold land between Moonee Ponds Creek and Sydney Road by the Crown in the area's first colonial sale. McCrae gave the land the name Moreland, some suggest he may have named this after a Jamaican sugar plantation that McCrae's paternal grandfather Alexander McCrae worked at[7] from the late 1760s to the early 1790s, which was involved in slave trading,[8] and kept up to 500 to 700 enslaved people in the operation in any one year.[9] Greens Mayor Mark Riley said "The history behind the naming of this area is painful, uncomfortable and very wrong. It needs to be addressed".[10] [11] In May 2022 a choice of three proposed names from the Woi-wurrung language was announced by Riley and Uncle Andrew Gardiner, deputy chair of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation: Wa-dam-buk, meaning “renew”; Merri-bek, meaning “rocky country”; and Jerrang, meaning “leaf of tree”. The names were scheduled to be decided by July 2022 following community consultation.[12]

The community consultation for the renaming commenced in May 2022 and ended June 2022. Some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the process resulting in a petition to council.[13]

On 3 July 2022 (coinciding with the start of NAIDOC Week) the Council voted at a Special Council Meeting to officially endorse Merri-bek as the preferred name.[14] The name was submitted to the Minister for Local Government for consideration and the Minister's decision to alter the name was gazetted on 13 September 2022 and came into operation on 26 September.

Council services

Merri-bek Council runs the Counihan Gallery at the Brunswick Town Hall, a free public art gallery named after the local artist, Noel Counihan. Other art events supported by Council include the MoreArt event, an art in public spaces show located along the Upfield transport corridor. The council also sponsors various street festivals around the municipality, the best known being the Sydney Road Street Party.

One of the highlights of the Merri-bek City Council is the public library. Merri-bek City Libraries has five branches.

Other services provided by Merri-bek Council include maternal and child health service, waste and recycling collection, parks and open space, a youth space called Oxygen, services for children, and aged services.

Climate action

Merri-bek/Moreland Council has been one of the leading municipal councils in Australia in adopting policies on climate action and sustainability. A January 2020 ClimateWorks Australia local government report identified City of Moreland as one of 3 out of 57 municipal jurisdictions in Australia to have a "fully aligned net zero by 2050 target that addresses both operational and community emissions."[15]

City of Merri-bek is a member of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy,[16] the Cities Power Partnership,[17] Climate Emergency Australia (CEA),Climate Active, The Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA), and has declared pledges in the TAKE2 scheme with Sustainability Victoria.[18]

Council declared a climate emergency on 12 September 2018.[19]

Council operational emissions reduction

For operational emissions, Moreland Council was certified as a ‘carbon neutral’ council in 2012. This required purchase of carbon offset credits. Moreland was the second council in Victoria, and the third in Australia, to receive this certification. A target of 30% less emissions than 2011, with a stretch goal of 40% by 2020, was over-achieved with an emissions cut of 69% by 2020, which will reduce the carbon offsets required to be purchased.[20]

Moreland City Council installed Victoria's first EV fast charge station in 2013. This has now grown to a network of 16 public EV charging stations around the municipality which are powered by 100% zero emissions renewable energy from the Crowlands Wind Farm, near Ararat.[21]

In 2014, City of Moreland joined with the City of Melbourne and several other institutions and established the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project (MREP).[22] This project developed and funded the construction of a purpose-built 39 turbine, 80 MW Crowlands windfarm, which started supplying 100% renewables power to Council facilities and buildings in 2019.[23]

Net zero by 2040 community emissions target

Moreland's community wide municipal emissions in 2019 were 1,609,000 tonnes CO2e, composed of sectoral emissions of: Waste (3%), Transport (17%), Gas (21%), Electricity (59%).[24]

The City of Merri-bek has set a community emissions reduction target of net zero emissions by 2040 and established the Moreland Zero Carbon 2040 Framework Strategy and the first 5-year action plan to achieve that target.[25]

Climate related policies and strategies

Other key climate and sustainability policies and strategies driving climate action include: Climate Emergency Action Plan (2020 to 2025), Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy, Waste and Litter Strategy, Achieving zero Carbon in the Planning Scheme, Sustainable Buildings Policy, Urban Heat Island Effect Action Plan, Urban Forest Strategy, Watermap, Procurement policy, Cooling the Upfield Corridor Action Plan, Food Systems Strategy, Fossil Fuel Divestment Strategy, Moreland Nature Plan.

Climate action endorsements

During 2021 City of Moreland supported a climate disaster levy on coal exports,[26] and endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, the first government jurisdiction in Australia to do so.[27] [28]

Council

Current composition

Merri-bek City Council
Leader1:Angelica Panopoulos
Leader1 Type:Mayor
Leader2:Helen Davidson
Leader2 Type:Deputy Mayor
Structure1:Australia Merri-bek Council 2023.svg
Structure1 Res:225 px
House1:Council
Political Groups1: Greens (3)
Independent (4)
Labor (2)

Councillors are elected from three multi-member wards, two electing four members, and one electing three, for a total of eleven councillors. The council's most recent election took place in October 2020.[29]

Its current composition is:

PartyCouncillors
 Independentalign=right 4
 Greensalign=right 3
 Laboralign=right 2
 Socialist Alliancealign=right 2
Totalalign=right 11

In order of election by ward, is:

WardPartyCouncillorNotes
North-East  LaborAnnalivia Carli Hannan
 GreensAdam Pulford
 Socialist AllianceSue Bolton
 IndependentHelen Pavlidis-Mihalakos
North-West IndependentOscar Yildiz
 IndependentHelen Davidson
 GreensAngelica Panopoulos
 Socialist AllianceMonica HarteMilad El-Halabi, elected in 2020, stepped down in 2022. Monica Harte won the count-back by the Victorian Electoral Commission[30]
South  LaborLambros Tapinos
 GreensMark Riley
 IndependentJames ConlanLeft Greens in February 2023

Mayor

See main article: List of mayors of Merri-bek. The current Mayor is Angelica Panopoulos and the Deputy Mayor is Helen Davidson. They were elected by council in November 2022 and will serve the 2023 year.[31]

Past councillors

1996–2004 (10 wards)

YearBox Forest GlencairnGlencairnHoffmanLincoln MillsLygonMerriMoonahNewlandsWestbreen
CouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillorCouncillor
1996 John Sawyer (Independent) Chris Iliopoulos (Independent) Rosemary Kerr (Independent)
[32]
 Mike Hill (Labor) Rod Higgins (Labor) Glenyys Romanes (Labor) Anthony Helou (Labor) Andrew Rowe (Labor) Stella Kariofyllidis (Labor) Geoff Lutz (Independent)
1999 Ken Blair (Independent) Robert Larocca (Labor) Andy Ingham (Independent) Leigh Snelling (Labor) Melanie Raymond (Independent)
[33]
2000 Vicki Yianoulatos (Labor)
2001 Joe Caputo (Labor)
2002 Stephen Roach[34] (Independent) Fraser Brindley (Greens) Mark Higginbotham (Labor) Joe Ficarra (Labor)

2004–2024 (three wards)

North-East Ward

YearCouncillorPartyCouncillorPartyCouncillorPartyCouncillorParty
2004 Anthony HelouLabor Mark O'BrienLabor Andrea SharamGreens Daniel De LorenzisIndependent
2008Michael TetiLaborToby ArcherGreens Stella KariofyllidisLabor
2012Lenka ThompsonGreens
2012 Sue BoltonSocialist Alliance Rob ThompsonIndependent Liberal
2016Annalivia Carli HannanNatalie AbboudGreens Ali IrfanliIndependent
2020Sue Bolton Moreland TeamAdam PulfordGreensHelen Pavlidis-MihalakosIndependent
2022aSocialist Alliance Victorians
2022b Independent

North-West Ward

YearCouncillorPartyCouncillorPartyCouncillorPartyCouncillorParty
2004 Mark Higginbotham[35] Labor Kathleen Matthews-Ward[36] Labor John Kavanagh[37] Democratic Labour Milad El-HalabiLabor
2008Oscar YildizLaborEnver ErdoganLabor
2012 Helen DavidsonIndependentLita GilliesLabor
2014 Independent
2016 Dale MartinGreens
2018 Independent
2020 Milad El-HalabiLaborAngelica PanopoulosGreens
2021 Victorians
2022aIndependent Labor
2022b Independent Monica Harte Socialist Alliance

South Ward

YearCouncillorPartyCouncillorPartyCouncillorParty
2004 Joe CaputoLabor Alice PryorLabor Josephine ConnellanGreens
2008Lambros TapinosLabor
2012Meghan HopperLaborSamantha RatnamGreens
2016 Mark RileyGreens
2017Jess DorneyGreens
2020James ConlanGreens
2023 Independent

2024 (11 wards)

See also: Local Government Act 2020. These wards will come into effect at the October 2024 election.

Election results

2002

Party! style="width:70px;"
Votes%SeatsChange
 Labor18,23746.337 3
 Independent11,27128.642 4
 Greens9,13423.211 1
 Socialist Alliance7141.820
 Total formal votes39,365100.0

Townships and localities

At the 2021 census, the city had a population of 171,357 up from 162,558 at the 2016 census.[38]

Population
Locality 2016 2021
24,473 24,896
11,504 13,279
14,159 14,746
^ 26,185 26,574
7,601 8,327
^ 14,043 14,274
^ 12,339 12,781
22,245 23,792
2,773 2,971
5,610 6,269
6,205 6,714
^ 7,409 7,074
17,051 18,171
10,069 10,534
^ 6,605 6,733

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Sister cities

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Renaming Moreland . 2023-05-17 . Conversations Merri-bek . en.
  3. Web site: Order Altering the Name of Moreland City Council . Victorian Government Gazette . 19 October 2023 . 3871.
  4. Web site: Changing Moreland's name . Brunswick Community History Group . 26 September 2022.
  5. Web site: Minutes of the Special Council Meeting - 13 December 2021 . Moreland City Council . 26 September 2022.
  6. Web site: City of Moreland Thematic History . . May 1, 2010 . City of Moreland . 2021-07-01 .
  7. Report on the place name: Moreland . Lesh . Dr James . 2022-04-13 . Deakin University . 9780646858272 . 2022-07-04.
  8. Book: Lesh, James . Report on the place name: Moreland : Legacies of Slavery. . 2022 . City of Moreland . 978-0-646-85827-2 . Coburg, Victoria . 1313068942.
  9. Web site: Council asked to consider Moreland name change. 2021-11-25. City of Moreland Council. en-AU.
  10. Web site: 2021-11-25. Melbourne council to ditch slave-link name. 2021-11-25. NITV. en.
  11. News: Fowler . Michael . 2021-11-24 . 'Shocked' Melbourne council to change name after discovering slavery link . . 2021-12-02.
  12. Web site: Geraets . Nell . Fowler . Michael . New Indigenous names for Moreland Council proposed . . 14 May 2022 . 14 May 2022.
  13. Web site: Community demand more consultation . . 9 August 2022. The Age . 2022-08-11.
  14. Web site: Council . Moreland City . With new Merri-bek name, Council is a step closer to reconciliation . 2022-07-04 . Moreland City Council . en-AU.
  15. Web site: Net zero momentum tracker – local government report . Proudlove R, Bravo C, Denis-Ryan, A . January 2020 . . December 1, 2021 .
  16. Web site: Global Covenant of Mayors City Dashboard - Moreland . . Global Covenant of Mayors . December 1, 2021 .
  17. Web site: Moreland City is a Power Partner . . . December 1, 2021 .
  18. Web site: Our Sustainability Story . . City of Moreland . December 1, 2021 .
  19. Web site: Media Release: Moreland Council adopts Climate Emergency . September 13, 2018 . Climate Action Moreland . December 1, 2021 .
  20. Web site: Moreland City Council slashes its carbon emissions . . June 21, 2021 . Zero carbon Moreland . City of Moreland . December 1, 2021 .
  21. Web site: Use an Electric Vehicle . . Zero Carbon Moreland . City of Moreland . November 29, 2021 .
  22. News: Jewell . Cameron . December 1, 2015 . Melbourne consortium forms to drive renewable investment . The Fifth Estate . December 1, 2021.
  23. Web site: Melbourne Renewable Energy Project: A new generation of energy . . City of melbourne . November 29, 2021 .
  24. Web site: Moreland 2019 municipal emissions snapshot . . Snapshot Climate Tool . Ironbark Sustainability . December 1, 2021 .
  25. Web site: About Zero Carbon Moreland . . Zero Carbon Moreland . City of Moreland . December 1, 2021 .
  26. Web site: Moreland Council supports a Climate Disaster Levy . . 11 March 2021 . Climate Action Moreland . November 29, 2021 .
  27. Web site: Moreland City Council says no to fossil fuels . . Zero Carbon Moreland . City of Moreland . November 29, 2021 .
  28. Web site: Fossil Fuel Treaty . . Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative . December 1, 2021 .
  29. Web site: Results for Moreland City Council Elections 2020. Victorian Electoral Commission. 19 October 2020.
  30. Web site: Jacob Andrewartha . Second socialist elected in Moreland, after Labor property developer steps down . greenleft . 19 October 2023 . March 23, 2022.
  31. Web site: Mayor of Moreland. Moreland City Council. 1 August 2022.
  32. Web site: First Council. Moreland City Council. 6 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20110220085147/http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/about-council/councillors/past-councillors/past-councillors-first-council.html. 20 February 2011. dead.
  33. Web site: Second Council. Moreland City Council. 6 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20120321141307/http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/about-council/councillors/past-councillors/past-councillors-second-council.html. 21 March 2012. dead.
  34. Web site: Third Council. Moreland City Council. 6 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20120321200638/http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/about-council/councillors/past-councillors/past-councillors-third-council.html. 21 March 2012. dead.
  35. Web site: Mayne. Stephen. The Green mayor who kept his council car. Crikey. 6 December 2014. 30 January 2006.
  36. News: Cooke. Dewi. ALP suspends trio for breaking ranks. 6 December 2014. The Age. 25 March 2010.
  37. News: Tessa. Hoffman. Moreland Council elections 2012. 6 December 2014. Moreland Leader. Internet Archive. 27 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130404075919/http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/moreland-council-elections-2012/. 4 April 2013.
  38. Web site: Census Australian Bureau of Statistics . www.abs.gov.au . en . 11 January 2023.