Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Tas amalgamations proceed
The Tasmanian Government's announcement, in June, that Local Government amalgamations will go ahead, has seen the State's 29 Councils reduced to fourteen. Six Councils, West Coast, Circular Head, Hobart, Glenorchy, Flinders Island and King Island, remain unchanged, while the remaining 23 will form eight new Councils.

Best value supersedes CCT in UK
Jenny Tibbitts, Organisational Development Officer with Blue Mountains City Council, recently returned from a three week study tour to the United Kingdom. She is the inaugural recipient of the Institute of Municipal Management/Task Software SOLACE Research Scholarship.

Editorial
After '18 years of dark days of Conservative Government with Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT), competition and curtailed spending', the election of the Blair Government in 1997 has brought a new vision for Local Government based around the concept of Best Value. Although Best Value is less prescriptive than CCT which it replaces, Whitehall is very much calling the tune. The Blair Government has categorically told Councils if they were unable or unwilling to work to the modern agenda, it will have no choice but to look at other partners to take over their role.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a State Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Brad Matheson - President, Municipal Association of Victoria.

Historic Centre depits everyday life
We have all marvelled at the opulent lifestyles depicted in grand heritage homes, but at Rosny Historic Centre in Tasmania's City of Clarence it is the lifestyle of ordinary folk that is preserved for posterity.

River pioneers' history preserved
Swan Hill Rural City Council is to spend over $60,000 revamping one of the district's premier tourist attractions. The popular Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement recreates life as it was in the days when the Murray River was an important part of the national transport system.

Young people and the future
Our management of the natural environment is the primary legacy we leave future generations. Muswellbrook Shire Council in NSW has given young people a say in that management through its inaugural Upper Hunter Enviro Youth Forum.

Councils benefit from energy agreements
Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) has taken advantage of the newly deregulated electricity market. Through an agreement with supplier, Great Southern Energy, the 12 New South Wales Councils anticipate a cost saving of $300,000 in the first year of the contract.

Melbourne assists the homeless
With a widening gap between the rich and poor, a growing number of people are finding themselves without adequate shelter. The need to find the right solutions prompted the City of Melbourne to commission the RMIT University's Department of Social Science and Social Work to conduct a major study. Released in July and titled 'A Public Life' this report looked at the extent and nature of homelessness.

Tas community info
A statewide community information network to augment the work of Councils is the aim of a new initiative of Glenorchy City Council. Glenorchy has invited other Tasmanian Councils to become partners in their Community Info-line.

Nature Reserve an educational experience
A partnership between Liverpool City Council and the local TAFE College has resulted in comprehensive signage to identify significant remnants of Cumberland Plain, in a new four hectare nature reserve.

IT in Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and Child Health care has stepped into the new age through the innovative use of technology at the City of Whitehorse in Melbourne.

Partnerships in action
A Community Partnerships program at the City of Wyndham in Victoria has proved highly successful, with a number of projects completed ahead of expectations. The program has also led to an increased understanding by the community about the logistics involved for Council in providing local facilities and projects.

Charting new waters in Community Services
Local Government Community Services staff and Councillors from across Australia will gather in Sydney in October for the 7th National Conference on Local Government and Community Development. This biennial event, staged by the Local Government Community Services Association of Australia (LGCSAA), will run from 14-16 October at the Wesley Centre in Sydney.

Graphic message promotes pedestrian safety
A pedestrian safety campaign sponsored by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) aims to halt an increasing number of pedestrian deaths and injuries occurring on local roads.

Major world conference has important messages for LG
Local and State Government employees throughout Australia will have the opportunity to attend an international conference that will examine global developments in accessibility and transport for older people and people with disabilities.

Skate moves
Skating is very popular with young people. It is low cost, develops coordination skills and is lots of fun. However finding a place to skate safely without annoying or injuring others can be a problem.

Local Government's crucial role in community sport and recreation
The Australian Sports Commission is the national government body responsible for the funding and development of sport at all levels in Australia. The Commission has identified that Local Government is the largest provider of sport and recreation programs and facilities in Australia.

Active Australia Resource Kit
For many local Councils there is a great deal of interest in the Active Australia concept and how it might impact upon the policies and practices of Council. To provide Councils with the answers and information on how to do this, the Australian Sports Commission, with funding support from the National Office of Local Government has produced a resource kit.

Aussie Sport
AUSSIE SPORT is one part of Active Australia aimed at achieving quality junior sport and the development of young people through sport. Councils have an important role in assisting local sporting clubs, schools and community groups to develop active young Australians.

Funding for pilot projects
Local Government throughout Australia is an important provider of sport and recreation infrastructure and services to the community. In recognition of Local Government's role in the Active Australia framework, funding has been made available to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) from the National Office of Local Government's Local Government Development Program (LGDP).

Local Government Network
A key aspect of the Resource Kit is the information on the Active Australia Local Government Network. Councils are being encouraged to join this network to show they have made a commitment to, and demonstrated a recognition of, the Active Australia vision and goals in their policies and practices.

Being active - it's never too late!
The Never Too Late! Program is a joint initiative of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). The Program provides funding to organisations who propose to modify their sport and recreational activities to enable veterans to participate in new and existing physical activity opportunities.

Sport and Recreation in Local Government - a case study resource
The Sport and Recreation in Local Government Case Study resource brings together over 150 case studies of successful sport and recreation projects and initiatives. They have been drawn from material collected from local Councils and sport and recreation organisations throughout Australia over recent years.

ASC's Disability Education Program
The Australian Sports Commission's (ASC) Disability Education Program has been conducting disability awareness workshops with local service providers for three years.

Active Australia Awards
The sport and recreation industry is emerging as one of Australia's major service industries. As an emerging service industry it is important that the organisations and people, both paid and voluntary, working hard to ensure enjoyable, safe experiences for all Australians are recognised for their good practices and achievements. The Active Australia Annual Awards will recognise good practices in sport and recreation organisations.

Facilities information planned for the internet
The management and development of sporting facilities is a major activity in Local Government but all too often the wheel is reinvented because there is insufficient exchange of information about sporting facility management and development. The need to exchange information has been recognised by the Standing Committee on Sport and Recreation (SCORS) and its standing subcommittee, the Australasian Facilities Committee (AFC).

Quality coaching
According to the recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics report, titled 'Sport and Recreation 1996/97', at least 4.1 million Australians are involved in playing sport each year and over 600,000 Australians are involved in coaching, instructing or teaching sport. At the moment, there is no legal requirement for a coach to have a minimum coaching standard before they can coach. In other words, anyone can coach! This raises the concern regarding how it can be ensured that coaches provide safe and quality experiences for sport participants?

Active Australia SportSafe
The Australian Sports Injury Prevention Taskforce has presented its report, 'SportSafe Australia: A National Sports Safety Framework'. The report provides broad guidelines for Australians to participate in sport in the safest possible environment.