Hobsons Bay Council Watch

22/07/2024

Cr Marsden is a nice man. We know this. Sadly he has at times protected the bullying and collusive culture on this council. As a councillor it’s a good thing he is moving on. To fix this council the community needs strong independent councillors with a backbone.

Hobsons Bay councillor Jonathon Marsden has announced he won’t be seeking re-election at October’s council election. Cr Marsden, who has …

20/07/2024

Hobsons Bay City Council needs independent candidates who know the issues and will fix them
NOT Horne’s puppets
Horne is a major reason why LG is so stuffed.

15/07/2024

These people are deluded. This is Me (Dean) the moderator of the page and this is Cr Kellander. For weeks these nutters have been insisting Daria owns this page. LMAO. Nope!
I am Australian of Welsh background (I think Daria is Croation).
I am NOT a liberal party member. Daria is not me, not related to me, and she states no longer a liberal. Labor is panicked........they need to grow up.
Melissa Horne needs to pull these morons into line.
Local issues. No politics. Thanks.

11/07/2024

The Greens are often a disaster in Councils BUT we know Rowena and state unequivocally that she would be a green who would hold this administration and their garbage to account. It's time for a better Green on this council. Actually better Councillors is all that is needed to reign in the cabal that is this toxic, dysfunctional, lying, and disgustingly poor governance standard.
Good luck Rowena.
Hobsons Bay City Council

29/06/2024

Word about town is a local Minister is FURIOUS that we have outed her pet Candidate. Further, community members have reported that the Minister is out and about with Rayane in her shadow, showing her the ropes. We see right through the Victorian Labor games........... Not a cool thing for the Minister for LG to be at all involved in..........whilst not illegal - not a good look. If you are a Labor stooge, just say so, funny how we have been viciously attacked since outing her Labor alliances.

29/06/2024

BRIFFA TOUTS THE IDEA OF RUNNING AGAIN.

Don't spit out your breakfast..........we have been contacted by several community members who have said Briffa is now testing if she should run again......... Hmmmmmmm
Is there a mood for change?

https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/no-sanctions-against-cr-tony-briffa-over-moira-deeming-tweet/227695

29/06/2024

GOVERNANCE FAILURES GALORE
Last meeting we noticed this item was raised - the minutes have BLACKED OUT sections. Apparently Council got legal advice. Yet the words are Cr Peter Hemphills and still on the livestream.
What in the hell is going on Hobsons Bay City Council?
The spin, the lies, the deflection, this Council can't work out what it stands for, what is the truth and what should be hidden.
The only Councillors calling this out at all are Kellander, Hemphill, and sometimes Sutton-Legaud. The whole administration is compromised, from Councillors and their Governance JUNKET mates, to the CEO refusing to answer questions in public.
These elections locals need better councillors who will reign in the hapless administration who thinks locals are stupid and keeps peddling LIES.
We will include the section blacked out in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/jJJ5OCfsZO0?si=yILd0RZjivhJWc_-&start=840

22/06/2024

Last meeting the clueless councillors at Hobsons Bay City Council approved a spend of $1.2 Million to turn part of the Altona North Library into a "centre of excellence" based on games and gaming. The officer recommendation was approved by all Councillors.
At a time when money is scarce, people hogging council libraries for free wifi and free co-working space, Council decides to spend this money on a whim. What was bizarre is that Cr Kellander herself questioned the Executive over the matter. We thought the executive was rude, dismissive, and unable to actually articulate why the heck this was even being recommended. The officer work here is sloppy, full of crap, and typical of this council - WEAK.
We were less than impressed when even Councillor Daria Kellander voted for it. So much for being "liberal" - this was as weak a decision as ever. Perhaps those in HBCC struggling with paying their rates bill or putting food on the table could really have used a bit of help or relief and not more money on "whims and flights of fancy". Next, they will wanna build a $80+ million aquatic centre they can't afford.

Governance at HBCC is in the toilet. It really is high time many of these councillors were wiped out and people who can RIGHT the ship for the community were elected and put in charge.

Perhaps with grownups in charge instead of "wasteful librarians" the community might have a chance...

After today's Save Techno Park revelations, this place is a dumpster fire. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

21/06/2024

It is getting rather funny, isn't it?

21/06/2024

Just to be clear, we have been inundated with abusive messages (most linked to labor sadly) So we have begun blocking anyone who makes NASTY or VILE comments. The personal attacks are uncool. Even this one from Hobsons Bay Council Watch WATCH is hillarious. Deleted. BYE FELICIA. Not sure why people are so triggered and panicked.
By the way, we have no problem with who you vote for, labor, liberal, greens, purple, orange, teal, blue - you do you!
Just make sure you have all the answers you need about them first

20/06/2024

I would like to thank Cr Peter Hemphill for this written response.

Seems Briffa has a lot to answer for and so do staff. The organisation couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery!

18/06/2024

Yesterday I posted this comment on Rayane's page.

"are you a Labor member or affilliated in any way with Labor or any political party?"
A fair question. There is no hate on labor just an attempt to get transparency because it matters.
She deleted my comment. Clearly has something to hide.

If you can't be transparent NOW, how can you ever be trusted when it matters?

Don't worry - EVERY candidate across the state will be asked this question "are you a member of, or have you been a member of any political party in the last 10 years - if so, which one?" by us once candidates are nominated.

If they won't answer - JUST DON'T VOTE FOR 'EM

14/06/2024

Spot the Labor candidate a mile away. Randomly shows up in a Labor MPs post and the next day announces she's an independent candidate for Hobsons Bay City Council NOT!!!!!!

Do not vote for the same old..........fake independent candidates!

12/06/2024

POOL COSTS BLOW OUT TO
AT LEAST $80 MILLION

Last night officers tried to shut down and refuse to confirm that councillors have already been told the pool has blown out by at least $20m

We predicted it. Here we go again.

This council - the officers are clueless and one wonders what the hell they are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3yB0uQOdA3U?si=o-2tFNRPytrH2J8b&start=3885

12/06/2024

SERIOUS GOVERNANCE FAILINGS AND CONCERNS OVER MANAGEMENT

Hobsons Bay City Council

Watch this video from 23:45 mins to 27:45 mins.

Last Night Cr Hemphill made some very strong comments around the utter refusal and failings of the Staff (specifically around GOVERNANCE ISSUES) at HBCC.

Cr Hemphill makes it clear that the governance team has failed ot have the Councillor Complaints policy approved by the council.

He goes on to state he took advice from governance, including external legal advice (paid for by you) around how to handle a serious complaint we made against Cr Briffa.

Cr Hemphill has discovered the policy and advice were not correct.

He raises concerns and has previously, the CEO continues to REFUSE to answer his questions in a public forum. Repeatedly.

The failings of the administration here mean HEADS MUST ROLL.

When Councillors cannot get basic information and answers - the administration is being obstructive and denying the role of a Councillor to get accountability.

Shame on the executive staff.

Cr Hemphill says clearly "He's been hoodwinked"

11/06/2024

What the hell is wrong with this management team? do they actually do anything? Deflect. Refuse to answer. Deflect. Take On notice.
JUST ANSWER SOME DAMN QUESTIONS

11/06/2024

Fireworks 🎇 tonight at Hobsons Bay City Council with Cr Peter Hemphill holding his own and making some very strong and good statements.
Appears the CEO and organisation are not and have not answered numerous complaints and concerns he has raised for months.
Not good enough. The management team are a joke and it’s showing.

08/06/2024

If you are bored this long weekend, may we encourage you to read the ramblings of staff with absolutely no idea.

On the one hand Council is asking for more funding of $1.5M of additional ratepayers money to expand the altona north library into a "games centre" to help people who might want to play Xbox at the Library - when Council already spends $8.8Million on libraries.

This whilst at the same time council issues a paper bitching that the State Government will not fund libraries enough.

Let's be clear about waste.

Hobsons Bay Population is 93,000 - that's $95 a year per person spent on Libraries.

Wyndham Population is 324,000 and spends $12.2 million on Libraries or $37 per person.

Hobsons Bay City Council has no credibility - what utter mismanagement and misrepresentation of the facts.

We will tackle the ridiculous claims of cost shifting in the Reports in the Council Agenda on the next post

16/05/2024

How is Hobsons Bay City Council going against its strategic plan?

We are 83% into the 4-year plan period. (at 31/3/2024)
Results are:
Objective 1 - 36% complete
Objective 2 - 36% complete
Objective 3 - 47% complete
Objective 4 - 48% complete
Objective 5 - 60% complete

This Council is not even close to 50% of all items and we are 6 months from the end of the Council term.

All Councillors should be very concerned over this.

11/05/2024

This is on the agenda next week and is gonna get very interesting responses

Hobsons Bay City Council

08/05/2024

Over at Hobsons Bay City Council Cr Briffa still “identifies as mayor”
Just sayin 🤣🙄

07/05/2024

Just a reminder, under Cr Briffa's watch Hobsons Bay City Council satisfaction dropped to all-time lows.
Let's see if Mayor Matt Tyler can improve things............it is an election year!

24/04/2024

Where’s the mayor? Who’s the mayor?
Nothing wrong with a councillor advocating But Briffa is working really hard to outshine Mayor Matt.
Cmon Councillor Matt Tyler get amongst it and show everyone you’re visible.
Hobsons Bay City Council

20/04/2024

Hobsons Bay City Council TAKES 9 MONTHS TO REFUSE FOI APPLICATION.

You cannot make this stuff up.

Read the letter.

Council continually claims it has no documents it gives to Councillors for briefing meetings. Do they really think we are that stupid?

08/04/2024

STOP LOOKING - he’s been found 🤭
Mayor Matt has spoken. Your thoughts? Was the response weak?

Hobsons Bay City Council

The EPA has ordered Hobsons Bay council to inspect all parks which have received mulch in the last 18 months. Hear from the Hobsons Bay mayor.

07/04/2024

4 playgrounds (make that 5) allegedly with asbestos. Yet Mayor Councillor Matt Tyler is MIA. where is he?
Appears media and a host of people can’t find him. Matt needs to front up and act like a mayor. Yet another PR disaster for the bumbling and hapless Hobsons Bay City Council

03/04/2024

Quite the letter

23/03/2024

Talk today amongst a LOT of locals is that Briffa appears to still be running Hobsons Bay City Council and that Mayor Tyler has been far too weak in controlling the councillor group.
Time Mr Mayor stamped his authority and led this council - OR BRIFFA WILL and that would be off a cliff. 🤣

23/03/2024

Today we were chuffed to attend the Save Techno Park community BBQ.
What an incredible and resilient COMMUNITY of people. Their sense of justice and fairness is what councils should be about. Shame on Hobsons Bay City Council for the behaviour theouthout this ordeal