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Tasmania's best practice in bridge replacement
Tasmanian Councils have joined together to come up with a solution to reduce the cost of bridge replacement. The solution was to develop a manual of standard bridge designs. This removes the need to prepare individual designs and documentation for small bridges, typical of those found on local roads.

Access for all - a must for best practice
'Access for All' is an essential element of any Local Government facility or service aiming to achieve best practice status. The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act has determined the responsibilities of Local Government, which now must address access challenges and adapt facilities and services to ensure access for all members of the community.

Pocket wetlands produce results
The use of pocket wetlands to reduce pollutants from urban run off was the topic of the 'Best Paper' presented at the recent 9th National Local Government Engineers Conference. Geoff Hunter from Blacktown City Council in NSW was awarded the E J Hooper Medal for his presentation on the principles behind the wetlands approach.

Bendigo calling
With the aim of winning major employment opportunities for its residents, the City of Greater Bendigo in central Victoria has established Bendigo Calling, a consortium of business and Council representatives. Currently Bendigo Calling is bidding for a new National Call Centre to be established in the City.

QA - making it work
Critics of quality assurance (QA) often claim it creates too much paperwork and adds an extra level of bureaucracy to business practices. Tony Wilson, specialist quality systems consultant and Quality Manager for Douglas Partners questions those who claim that QA is fundamentally unsatisfactory. His concern is that its critics may only have experienced poorly designed QA systems.

Best practice in waste management
Coffs Harbour City Council will host its second major waste management conference from 5-7 November 1997 at Novotel Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. This conference follows the successful 1996 event, which attracted 272 delegates from 85 Councils.

Partnering links Council and contractor
Contracting out services may bring many benefits but one potential problem is the risk of service implementation becoming too distant from the ultimately responsible body, namely, Council. Having just awarded what is believed to be the biggest contract yet made in the State, to private firm Transfield, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in Victoria is determined to avoid this pitfall. To do so it has entered a landmark Partnering agreement with Transfield.

CDS litter traps attract world attention
A growing number of Australian Councils deserve a pat on the back for thinking globally and acting locally. Their foresight has ensured they are at the winning edge of world stormwater technology. The Councils have installed CDS litter traps, a unique solution to remove oil, sediment and litter from stormwater systems, preventing the pollutants from fouling our beaches and waterways.

Resources boom gives Pilbara world focus
Covering 510,000 square kilometres, the Pilbara comprises four Local Government authorities, the Town of Port Hedland and the Shires of Ashburton, East Pilbara and Roebourne. It is one of Western Australia's largest regions. East Pilbara Shire is not only the State's largest Local Government area but holds this record worldwide.

Diversification and development
With the region in the grip of a multi-million dollar investment boom, and its full potential unlikely to be realised for a number of decades, it is vital to plan carefully for the future. Boasting some of the world's largest deposits of iron ore and other mineral riches including base metals, gold and salt; world class reserves of off shore oil and gas; and its close proximity to the fast growing export markets in Asia makes the Pilbara quite unique.

Regional cooperation
The Pilbara Ward Councils meet on a regular basis to discuss matters of common interest across the region. They work closely with other key regional bodies including the Pilbara Development Commission and the Pilbara Tourism Association.

Blending the old and the new
Roebourne is the oldest town in the north west of the State. In 1969, the Town of Karratha was established. Now the service centre for Roebourne Shire, it has a population of just over 10,000 residents. Roebourne and Karratha provide an interesting mix of the old and the new. Roebourne has many charming heritage buildings from last century, while Karratha is an excellent example of a carefully planned, modern, vibrant township.

Reef to range in Ashburton
Spanning an area half the size of Victoria, the Shire of Ashburton, located in the north west of Western Australia offers something for everyone. For people across Australia, this 105,647 square kilometre Shire generates enormous wealth. Some of the world's largest open cut mines and the largest exporters of natural resources can be found in Tom Price, Pannawonica and Paraburdoo.

Northern exposure to strategic planning
The Shire of East Pilbara is developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan to identify service priorities and direction for the next five years. To ensure the Plan reflects community aspirations, extensive consultations with residents, community groups, schools, government, mining companies and the commercial sector have been undertaken.

Port Hedland manages rapid growth
The home of BHP interests in the Pilbara, Port Hedland is currently experiencing rapid growth. When BHP announced that it would construct a Hot Briquette Iron Plant as well as a capacity expansion project for its current operations, these two projects, valued at $2 billion, created 2,000 new jobs.

The world's largest Council
In area, East Pilbara is the world's largest Local Government authority. Stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Northern Territory border, the Shire's 10,200 residents are largely found in the four towns of Newman, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Telfer.

Ecotourism adventure 2 billion years in the making
The world's latest ecotourism adventure, the Pilbara's 2.5 billion year old landscape not only abounds in mineral wealth but its breath taking gorges, beautiful coastline with over 200 virgin islands, hidden valleys, captivating national parks and prolific Aboriginal engravings offer a wilderness experience not to be missed. Just as important as ecotourism is the growth of industrial tourism. Annually, some 40,000 visitors to the region board buses at Tom Price or Newman to see the huge open cuts where iron ore is extracted and then loaded onto trains often over 2 kilometres in length.

Cyclone readiness
The largest urban settlement in the Pilbara and in one of the most isolated areas on earth, the Town of Port Hedland is very aware of the high risk of loss of life and property damage from cyclones. Recent changes to the Western Australian Local Government Act now enables Councils to issue clean up notices to residents and businesses, forcing them to remove material and other potential missiles from their properties. Port Hedland is one of the first Councils in the State to put in place these provisions under Schedule 3.1 of the Act.

Commendation for Disability Services Plan
Ashburton Shire Council has been commended by the State Government for its service to people with disabilities. Under the State Disability Services Act (1993), all Councils are required to develop and implement Disability Service Plans ensuring that services and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.

Celebrating our past
Roebourne Shire has developed a Management Plan for the historic town of Cossack. Enhancements included in this plan will make it a major tourist attraction. One of the oldest areas in the region, Cossack was the port for early European settlement in the Pilbara.