Latest news with #Council
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka government forcibly acquiring forest land, says Chalavadi
BENGALURU: As the State Government initiates action to reclaim encroached forest land, a fierce political row has erupted, with Leader of Opposition in the Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, alleging that authorities are forcibly attempting to reacquire land valued at nearly Rs 7,000 crore — land he claims belongs to Dalit families. Addressing the media at Vidhana Soudha, Narayanaswamy accused the government of betraying Dalits by targeting their homes and livelihoods under the pretext of forest land reclamation. The land in question-around 711 acres in Kadugodi 200 village, Bidarahalli Hobli, Mahadevapura constituency-was reportedly 'sanctioned' to local farmers in the 1950s and subsequently distributed among Dalits and marginalised farmers through cooperative societies. Though it was originally classified as forest land, Narayanaswamy insisted it had later been converted to revenue land. However, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre strongly rebutted these claims. Speaking to TNIE, he said, 'Once a land is notified as forest land, it remains forest forever. It cannot be granted, sold, or used for non-forest activities without approval from the Government of India or the Supreme Court. Any responsible person should understand this simple fact.' Narayanaswamy alleged that the reclassification of the land as forest property was abrupt and strategically timed to facilitate its takeover. 'How can land already allotted to KSSIDC, Metro Rail, Railways, and even temples now suddenly be termed forest land?' he asked. Despite a court order upholding status quo and staying demolition, reports have emerged of homes and structures being razed. Narayanaswamy claimed over 2,000 houses and more than 5,000 residents-mostly Dalits-are affected. He accused the police of using force to evict residents in defiance of legal protection. 'This is nothing short of hooliganism,' he said. Demanding transparency, Narayanaswamy called for a white paper on all land allotments and transactions since 1950 and warned of statewide agitation if the government continues what he termed a 'coercive and unlawful' land grab. 'Investigate the matter and publish the white paper,' he urged.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Council removes bizarre roundabout after backlash from drivers in 'disgraceful saga'
An unconventional and much talked about road feature has disappeared overnight just days after it made headlines around the country for its very peculiar, and seemingly ineffective, design. A diamond-shaped roundabout was recently rolled out in Sydney's southwest – much to the total bemusement of drivers in the Liverpool Council area. Fifteenth Avenue, set to become a key arterial route to the new Western Sydney Airport, has recently seen a flurry of roadworks, with three new roundabouts installed in quick succession. Roundabouts have been added at 22nd Avenue, Craik Avenue, and the now-infamous – and short lived – diamond-shaped roundabout at 28th Avenue. Footage captured by Yahoo on Friday at the unusual roundabout showed a number of drivers ignoring the painted lines and driving straight through the road feature. However on Friday night, council workers quietly removed it all together. "There is no roundabout, it's gone," a council spokesperson told Yahoo News on Saturday. "We listened to our residents. It was a design that didn't work. "There were lots of complaints about it, so the simplest thing to do was to get rid of it." Photos from the scene on Saturday show black paint over the previous diamond shape and a previous sign has been removed, and replaced with a regular Giveway sign. "There was actually a mound in the middle of the intersection, so it was pulled up and the intersection has been repainted with slightly different line markings to the previous one. "It's going back to the intersection that it was, and we've also put some improved line markings to make it a bit simpler and easier," the spokesperson said. Local MP Nathan Hagarty was also on the scene on Saturday to mark the occasion. "Cars are still stopping, they're not sure what to do," he said in a video posted to constituents on social media. "But as far as I'm concerned, this is not the end of this disgraceful saga. I have had a look at the original designs and what I can say is that the design that I saw do not match what was delivered, so I think some serious questions need to be asked to Liverpool Council and the contractors... how much money has been wasted?" he said. Related: Major road rule changes coming into effect on July 1 across Australia For it's part, the Liverpool Council says the state government needs to upgrade the road to make it fit for purpose to handle the amount of traffic it receives. "It's always been an awkward intersection … we've been waiting years for that road to be upgraded – it's a major thoroughfare. It's going to be the major link into the Western Sydney International Airport and it's not going to be ready in time," the council spokesperson told Yahoo. "It hasn't been done properly and there's more pain to come unfortunately until that road is upgraded." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council urges residents to dob in neighbours over growing caravan and boat issue
The battle for our streets is heating up with one major city council now urging locals to dob in residents for leaving trailers, caravans and boats on the side of the road for extended periods of time. For months, Sydney's Northern Beaches Council has been grappling with the issue, launching a months long investigation last last year about how best to crack down on the practice, including the potential of introducing new parking signage and rules enforcing vehicle only areas. Councillors say residents continue to complain about boats, caravans and trailers clogging up backstreets in their suburbs, prompting them to unanimously pass a new motion at a council meeting this month to address their concerns. The council is also preparing a submission to the NSW state government and is asking it to review the current penalties and offences under the Road Rules 2014 and Road Transport Act 2013 to enable a new permit system "to further discourage boats and trailers being parked on residential streets". The council also wants to implement a more formal system to encourage residents to report hotspots for "inappropriate parking of trailers, boats and caravans" such as creating a specific online form that would be promoted in a community newsletter and social media. According to councillor Vincent De Luca, who introduced the latest motion at the council meeting, the issue has become a danger by impeding visibility for road users. "We see large craft, obstructing vision causing accidents," he told the meeting. It's been an issue simmering in the community for some time. In 2023 a boat legally parked on the street was spray-painted with the words "f*** off", prompting the owner to respond with a note outlining their right to leave the boat there. A Northern Beaches Council spokesperson recently told Yahoo News it is one of the most complained about issues it deals with, after receiving some 288 complaints last year. In response, more streets have been fitted with "No Parking - Motor Vehicles Excepted" signs – which initially confused some motorists when they were first rolled out. Neighbouring councils have also struggled with the issue. Last year Randwick City Council announced it will ban parking for almost five kilometres along a busy nature strip that's become "increasingly popular for storage of boats, caravans and trailers". Meanwhile in the nearby suburb of Cremorne, one resident (who doesn't have a garage and has to rely on street parking) has become so fed up she started a petition calling for stricter parking rules for non cars. "The road is there for people to use and not to store, and that is the distinction that needs to be made," she told Yahoo in February. In NSW, and most other states and territories, it is legal for boats, trailers and caravans to be stationed on the street in the same spot for up to 28 days. After this, the owner will be notified and they need to be moved or risk a $660 fine. The new location needs to be "at least as far as a different block section of the same street", according to guidelines. The issue has been been exacerbated by the fact that caravan and campervan registrations across the nation have steadily grown over the part decade with more than 900,000 currently on our roads. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Penticton's Sunshine List continues to grow
If you want to get people talking, the annual public Statement of Financial Information (SoFI) always gets the job done — and it's no different in the City of Penticton. At the end of each fiscal year, municipalities across the province are required to provide a SoFI, which was presented at Tuesday's regular meeting of Council in Penticton. The list details remuneration and expenses for all elected officials and reveals all public employees making over $75,000. The threshold for disclosure is different in each province. For example, in Ontario, the names and positions of public servants earning over $100,000 are made public. Kari Stoppler, manager of finance, presented the SoFI list during a brief presentation to Council. 'As part of the SoFI, the Financial Information Act requires the City to prepare a schedule of each employee earning more than $75,000 per year, the total expenses paid to those employees, as well as a consolidated total of all remuneration paid to all other employees,' she said. 'This includes a provision for elected officials to show that similar information — their remuneration and any expenses dispersed.' The SoFI includes wages, vacation pay, and taxable benefits, such as employer-paid health benefits. There's also a list revealing any vendor or supplier the City did business with on contracts worth over $25,000 during the year, as well as consolidated totals paid to all other suppliers. The $75,000 and $25,000 thresholds haven't changed since 2002, she said. There were 224 City of Penticton employees who made over $75,000 in 2024, up by 37 from 2023 and 64 from 2022. Of the 37, 11 were in management and 26 were unionized front-line workers. A total of 435 City employees earn under $75,000. Total payroll for those earning over $75,000 was $24.66 million, an increase of $5.23 million or 27 percent. Payroll for those earning less was $11.24 million, up by nearly $580,000 but a 4.9 percent decrease proportionally. The total payroll for 2024 was $35.9 million, a 14.9 percent increase. Total remuneration includes base pay, overtime, retroactive pay, standby pay, and taxable benefits. For elected officials, base pay was $28,524.44. Mayor Julius Bloomfield's salary was $86,150, with expenses of just under $16,000. Among councillors, Ryan Graham claimed the most expenses ($14,547), for a total remuneration package of $43,071. Campbell Watt claimed just over $10,000 in expenses, Helena Konanz just over $9,000, Isaac Gilbert just over $7,300, Amelia Boultbee (who resigned before becoming MLA for Penticton-Summerland) just over $2,400, and James Miller — presently on mandatory leave — just over $1,100. Gilbert defended Council's expenses. 'I just want to make a comment obviously this report made the news this week,' he said. 'It's kind of like why Council has these expenses to the conferences that we go to and everything. 'I just want to highlight here that I really appreciate this has kind of been tied in with the annual report and how we advocate on behalf of the City of Penticton...' Without attending national and provincial conferences, Penticton wouldn't have secured funding for its temporary winter shelter, he said. 'To get those programs here, to help make this place safer, to get people housing ... this is about relationship-building,' he said. 'At the end of the day, the media likes to sensationalize what we spend.' Gilbert said the current Council works hard to advocate at these conferences. 'I would say this team that we have here at the table, shows up and it advocates on the City's behalf,' he said. 'This is why we have the programs that we do...' Bloomfield echoed those sentiments. 'I've found there is no greater success than sitting in front of a Minister and telling them what we're dealing with in Penticton...' 'Penticton is less than one percent of the population of the Province, but we get a lot more than one percent of the attention from Victoria...' Stoppler noted the $75,000 threshold hasn't changed in nearly 25 years, unlike in other provinces. 'There have been discussions about amending the prescribed amounts and what should be included to reflect inflationary changes, but there's been no movement...' she said. When first implemented more than 20 years ago, inflation was estimated at two percent annually, which would've raised the salary threshold to $116,000. 'If we had that kind of inflationary adjustment... we would have about 73 staff members [on the list],' she said. The increase in employees on the SoFI list is partly due to a new collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, she said. 'Municipalities are legislatively required to do SoFI,' she said. 'This is great information that is very detailed... but it really doesn't highlight the benefits or quality of life that we get out of the spend...' Labour remains a significant cost. Penticton compares competitively with Vernon, West Kelowna, and Kelowna — and is much lower than Lake Country, she said. 'According to the 2024 financial statements, labour represented about 33 percent of the City's municipal costs,' she said. City employees who made more than $150,000 last year were: Anthony Haddad, City Manager, $274,773 Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure, $220,809 Angela Campbell, Director of Finance and Administration, $191,200 Ryan Bazley, Fire Captain, $189,677 Brent Ryll, Fire Captain, $189,347 Michael Wade, Fire Captain, $188,326 Wesley Swaren, Fire Captain, $187,855 Michael Sutherland, Firefighter, $187,407 Jared Holmes, Fire Captain, $186,119 Erik Jorgensen, Fire Captain, $184,439 Chad Taylor, Fire Captain, $183,053 Andrew Bird, Training Officer, $179,934 Rod Kenney, Firefighter, $179,739 Jayson Johnson, Firefighter, $178,805 Michael Larsson, Fire Chief, $176,993 Blake Laven, Director of Development Services, $176,959 Steve Garrett, Fire Captain, $173,415 Jonathan Chu, City Engineer, $172,502 Kelsey Johnson, Director of Community Services, $171,833 Draydan Power, Manager of Energy and Environment, $168,194 Ryan Hvidston, Firefighter, $166,346 Robert Trousdell, Deputy Fire Chief, $164,553 Anthony Policicchio, Facilities Manager, $162,270 Robert Trupp, Assistant Chief - Training, $161,612 Trevor Dermody, Firefighter, $157,096 Alex Gerk, Firefighter, $153,397 Elias Vikner, Firefighter, $153,250 Curtis Gibbons, Firefighter, $152,748 Cody Erdmann, Firefighter, $151,526 Glen Fordyce, Fire Inspector II, $151,064 Miyoko McKeown, Firefighter, $150,738 Jarrett Achsen, Firefighter, $150,560 Error! 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Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Calls for urgent action over suspected asbestos risk at south Belfast bonfire site
A south Belfast councillor has called for urgent action to remove suspected hazardous asbestos waste from a bonfire site in the area, warning it poses a serious risk to public health. New images show the pyre being constructed in the Village area just yards from a pile of material believed to be contaminated with asbestos. The site, located near Meridi Street and Maldon Street, is privately owned land and has been the subject of environmental and planning concerns in recent years. SDLP representative Séamas de Faoite, who sits on Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, is demanding immediate action. 'This is a matter of public safety and an urgent health risk,' he said. 'It's not about bonfires or anything else. I've repeatedly asked that Belfast City Council seek an injunction against the landowner and the NIEA to get the asbestos material removed. "This cannot be allowed to drag on any further and potentially put people at risk.' It comes after confirmation that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Belfast City Council are working together to secure and clear the site. Contractors have been instructed to fence off the hazardous material. The land has previously been at the centre of a planning dispute with permission refused for a housing development due to the presence of contaminated waste. With the bonfire expected to be lit in two weeks, politicians and residents have raised concerns about the proximity of the structure to the waste pile and the potential health impact of burning materials nearby. The local authority said it is continuing to liaise with the NIEA and other relevant agencies but that responsibility for the land remains with the private owner. Certain exposed asbestos materials can break and explode when exposed to flames. All asbestos fibres are deemed to be carcinogenic category one, and cause severe damage when inhaled into the lungs. Further discussions are expected in the coming days over how the site will be managed in the lead-up to the Eleventh Night. In a statement, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said elected representatives have agreed to potentially seek legal action to remove the materials and confirmed that NIEA is currently conducting its own probe. 'Council have been engaging with the landowner at this site to ensure that suspected asbestos containing materials are adequately secured,' they said . "We have also served an abatement notice on the landowner requiring them to secure and contain the materials. NIEA is currently undertaking an enforcement investigation, as they are the lead enforcement authority in relation to this issue. 'Council continues to engage with NIEA and the landowner to ensure that the materials are removed as soon as possible. Elected members have also previously agreed that this may include pursuing legal action to ensure the materials are removed and the wider site secured. Council officers are also continuing to liaise with the local community to ensure that these materials remain fenced off.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) added: 'The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) received a complaint concerning potentially hazardous waste at a site in the vicinity of Meridi Street, Belfast on the afternoon of Friday 16 May. 'Staff from the Environmental Crime Unit within NIEA were in contact with Belfast City Council about the matter on Monday 19 May and enquiries are ongoing.'
