 Consultation phase for SA's
review of LG Act
The South Australian Minister for Local
Government, Mark Brindal MP, recently launched the Local Government
Act Review Consultation Program, 'Consulting Councils and
Communities'. He described the Consultation Program as a significant
milestone in the development of new Local Government legislation.
Councils benefit from employment
scheme
A scheme to provide indigenous Australians with work
skills and employment, the Community Development Employment Projects
(CDEP) Scheme, has proved to be a valuable resource for many
Councils. Under the Scheme, unemployed, indigenous Australians forego
their entitlements to Social Security payments and instead are
assisted to develop programs which provide skills for ongoing,
unsubsidised employment.
Editorial
Since the Treasurer
announced that tax reform was firmly on the agenda, the Australian
Local Government Association has been working to ensure Councils and
their communities will not be adversely affected by any changes. ALGA
has become very concerned by the failure of the Federal Government to
rule out a GST on Council rates. During Question Time on 7 April, the
Minister for Local Government, Alex Somlyay, stated that the
Government, at this stage, will not rule in or out anything that is
in the tax reform package.
President's comment
Each edition we
feature the views of a State Local Government Association President.
The following is from Councillor Margaret Vigants- President, Local
Government Association of the Northern Territory.
Local games win State tourism award
A
decision by Laidley Shire to stage its own 'Laidley Games' has proved
a winner for the rural community, bringing visitors, entertainment,
new economic opportunities, a higher profile and accolades to the
Shire. The event was so well organised it earned Laidley the South
East Queensland Regional Tourism Award for 1997.
Tourist Centre dedicated to 'our song'
No other country in the world is more readily identified by a
single song than is Australia by Waltzing Matilda. Winton Shire,
in outback Queensland, where the song was first penned by 'Banjo'
Patterson, has given it and its influence on Australian character,
official recognition. The $3.3 million Waltzing Matilda Centre has
been built as a permanent 'home' for the song.
Sunset concerts unite community
Adesire to provide cultural activity for its community and to raise
the profile of an underutilised community resource prompted the City
of Cockburn in Western Australia to stage a series of evening
concerts. Featuring local and other performers, the concerts proved
popular across all age groups.
Humane handling of impounded dogs
In
an effort to ease the trauma of impoundment for both dogs and dog
owners, the City of Armadale has built a new pound which it believes
represents world best practice.
World's cleanest treated water
A new
wastewater treatment plant at Noosa has been cited as a prime example
of what can be achieved when Local Government teams up with the
private sector. The $52 million Noosa Coastal Wastewater Treatment
Plant. The plant has been lauded as the most environmentally
sensitive wastewater treatment plant in Australia producing some of
the world's cleanest treated water.
Regional strategies to cut
unemployment
A strategy developed by the Playford, Salisbury and
Gawler Councils, under the umbrella of the Northern Adelaide
Development Board (NADB), aims to halve unemployment in this
region. The Councils believe Government funding should be
directed to regional programs which match training programs with
employer needs through industry specific training programs.
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