Candidates Requests for Information Register
Council’s Election Period Policy requires that during the Election Period, Council will publish a Register listing all requests from candidates relating to electoral matters, and non-routine requests as well as the responses provided. The information will be published to the council’s website and updated daily, or as required.
Council recognises that all candidates in an election have a right to information held by Council. However, it is important that sitting Councillors continue to receive information that is necessary to fulfil their elected roles. Neither Councillors nor candidates will receive information or advice from Council staff that might be perceived to support election campaigns and there shall be complete transparency in the provision of all information and advice during the Election Period.
A Register of Requests for Information from Candidates (the Register) in the upcoming Council election will be kept from the close of nominations to the day of the election which will record requests by persons who identify themselves as candidates when seeking information from Council. The register will also record the responses provided.
The Register will be updated regularly by Council’s Governance team with all requests from candidates being added to ensure equity of information for all candidates.
Any enquiries regarding the Register can be directed to Council’s Governance team by phoning 02 60229 300 or by emailing kscully@wodonga.vic.gov.au.
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No.
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Candidate name
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Date of request
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Information requested
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Was information provided? Yes/No |
Date of response |
Information provided |
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1
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Michelle Cowan
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09/10/2024
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Investigation by council officers into the possibility of a toilet for Hunchback Mountain Bike Path.
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Yes |
10/10/2024 |
The Wodonga Hills Strategy established options for the Wodonga Hills some of which come under the control of Wodonga Council and others which are Crown Land.
Subsequent to the adoption of the Strategy, council established an Advisory Group comprised of key stakeholders and community representatives to advise council and assist with implementation of the strategy.
At the June 29, 2020 council meeting officers were requested to investigate the provision of a public toilet facility within the Hunchback Hills complex, preferably near the proposed car park on DELWP land but also exploring options on council land, with a view to this being considered in a future budget or as a budget variation.
More recently council re-prioritised actions at its August 2023 meeting – agenda and minutes. This report did not prioritise a toilet facility at this site. The current budget makes no provisions for any capital works associated with the Wodonga Hills.
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2.
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Michael Gobel
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21/10/2024
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What action has council taken to identify a greenfield site for a future hospital for Albury Wodonga Health?
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A limited response was given. |
23/10/2024 |
Council is not able, at this time, to publicise what actions it has taken to identify a greenfield site. This is due to restrictions around the publication of electoral matter during the caretaker period.
Section 4.9 of the Wodonga Council Election Period Policy, based on provisions within the Local Government Act 2020, states:
The council will not print, publish or distribute material that is electoral matter during an election period. Electoral matter is broadly defined to be matter which is intended or likely to affect voting in an election. This limitation does not apply to electoral material that is only about the election process.
Material is definitely electoral matter if it:
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Publicises the strengths or weaknesses of a candidate;
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Advocates the policies of the council or of a candidate;
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Responds to claims made by a candidate; or,
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Publicises the achievements of the elected council.
On that basis council’s response must be restricted to directing you to what is already on the public record.
The most closely related is the report to the February 2023 council meeting which dealt with a greenfield site - Council meeting - February 20, 2023
There are numerous other updates presented to monthly meetings of council, including reports to the June, August, October and November 2023 council meetings and March, May, June and July 2024 council meetings. The agenda and minutes for these meetings are available at council's web site.
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