JUNE 30, 2015 \ BRIMBANK.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
(Darren Howe)
Body of work
Bodybuilding can give the appearance of being glamorous. But away from the tanned, taut muscles and glowing, white smiles on stage, Caroline Springs senior property developer Tessa Densley says it can be a sport of social isolation and loneliness. “I have been so lucky to have such supportive friends, family and partner, because I have not seen any of them for months,” she said. After five months of preparation, Densley came sixth in both the Ms Figure Open and Ms Figure Novice events at the INBA All Female Classic championships in Moonee Valley at the weekend. Densley spoke to Star Weekly of her aspirations going into the competition. ■ Full story: P8 Ben Cameron
Council coy on salaries By Ben Cameron Brimbank council has rejected a City of Melbourne push to reveal the full financial details of its councils’ five most senior officers, despite calls from residents for greater transparency. Earlier this month, the City of Melbourne took to the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra a motion calling for councils to show “leadership in good governance and transparency”. Its seven-point plan calls on all councils to fully disclose in annual reports the salaries of their five most senior officers and councillor expense claims, and provide audio recordings
of council and committee meetings. It also calls for the pre-approval of interstate and international travel by councillors at open council or committee meetings; at least 15 minutes each month for unscripted, oral public questions at meetings; and a register of the terms of any arrangements with third parties occupying council-owned land and buildings. Brimbank chairman of administrators John Watson said the council already provided sufficient levels of transparency. “Council does support improvements to transparency for local government and already publicly reports member-of-council expenses to a council meeting on a quarterly basis,” he said.
Luke Power, of the Sunshine West Action Group, which has previously sought details on the pay packets of the chief executive officer and administrators, said the Melbourne proposal “would be a very positive step”. “Although there is meant to be, there is currently no transparency in Brimbank,” he said. Keen council watcher Chris O’Neill, who requested the full financial details of the chief executive officer at the past three council meetings, agrees. Mr O’Neill said he believed that in four years, the chief executive’s salary had risen by more than $100,000. “That, in my eyes, is well and truly above inflation,” he said. “Is the CEO meeting
performance targets? If so, who sets them and who monitors performance?” He said he was working on a petition to put to the council. The council’s 2015-16 budget reveals a total of $533,000 under “CEO and Executive Service Division”, but that does not include council administrators. “Council cannot provide a breakdown as this would infringe on the privacy of some council officer positions,” a council spokesman said. “Some of this information may be viewed on the public register of council management salaries.” The council’s top-paid officer in 2013-14 took home between $370,000 and $379,000. 1189837-ACM26-15 10020882-10
CAROLINE SPRINGS
Panamax Drive
(behind Officeworks)
Western Hwy
8390 0414 & DOMESTIC CARPET, TIMBER, SeeCOMMERCIAL page 18 Page the Back LAMINATE, VINYL & BAMBOO AND NOW RUGS & BLINDS
FREE
carpet installa tio
n
2