Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Commitment needed from all spheres to bury the cables issue
A national report on how to underground cost effectively aerial telecommunications and electricity cabling was recently tabled in Federal Parliament. The report meets a legislative requirement now contained in the Telecommunications Act 1997.

NT reform agenda
Local Government in the Northern Territory is poised for a change in direction. The reform package has been developed over the past two years.

Editorial
With the Federal Government's recent backdown on trialing alternatives to prohibition and criminal sanctions when dealing with illicit drug use, Local Government has once again come to the forefront as a catalyst for formulating strategies to address community issues.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a State Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Tom Pyne, President Local Government Association of Queensland.

Fleurieu survey gives Councils valuable information
Having undertaken extensive surveys of biodiversity in some of the more remote areas of South Australia, the Scientific Expedition Group has embarked on a more accessible project to encourage greater participation by young people. Partially funded by the Mount Lofty Ranges Catchment Program, the Group, set up to inspire young people with an interest in science and nature, will monitor and chart road reserves in the District Councils of Victor Harbor and Yankalilla.

Family friendly city centre
Public water features in cities and towns soften the built environment. Unfortunately, they can also be dangerous. The City of Perth has resolved that dilemma with a child friendly water feature.

White ribbons say thank you
Acknowledgment of the debt we owe the people who carry out the stressful, sad, and unsavoury work of dealing with road accidents saw thousands of Western Australians wearing white ribbons over the Christmas holiday season. The campaign, conducted by Western Australia's Local Government Road Safety Strategy body, RoadWise, encouraged people to wear a white ribbon to say thank you and act as a reminder during the critical holiday period to be continually vigilant on the road.

Encouraging pet owners to act responsibly
Spot a Clean Dog™ is the developer and promoter of a new dog litter receptacle. It has been specifically designed to meet recent new requirements and obligations placed on Councils and dog owners by the NSW Companion Animal Act 1998. Under this Act, Councils are required, as of 1 December 1998, to provide special purpose rubbish receptacles in areas where dogs are exercised regularly.

Award for youth program
The difficulties facing youth in small towns and remote areas are well documented. Queensland's Woorabinda Council has tackled this problem with the establishment of a Centre located 15 kilometres from the town at Blackboy Creek. Here young people have the chance to gain a new and positive direction.

Marion wins KESAB Award
n the face of some strong competition, the City of Marion took out the 1998 Keep South Australia Beautiful (KESAB) Metropolitan Council of the Year Award.

Warriparinga Interpretive Centre - a community reconciliation project
The vision and efforts of local Kaurna people, Marion Council and the Marion community has led to the development of the Warriparinga Interpretive Centre. The aim is for the new Centre to be opened in 2001, as part of the celebrations marking the Centenary of Australia's Federation. The result will be an Aboriginal and European Heritage and Environmental Interpretive Centre of national significance.

Wetland an environmental asset
Construction of a 1.8 hectare, $1.7 million wetland project in the City of Marion will provide far reaching benefits for the entire south western region of Adelaide. The Project has a number of important aims including conservation, passive recreation, environmental education, and improved water quality.

Scholarships a two way benefit
Scholarships provided by Toowoomba City Council offer an income supplement and work experience for tertiary students as well as produce valuable work for Council. Running over a two year period, the scholarships provide recipients with $2,500 per annum and 40 days work experience in their chosen field.

Ensuring safety lessons are well learnt
At a recent Darling Downs Workplace, Health and Safety Officers meeting in Queensland, Council officers present determined that the current level of safety training provided to staff was not adequate to ensure the risk of injury was minimised. From that meeting the group is now developing a strategy to ensure that the level of training is improved.

How to prevent computer related strain
Mitch Mitchell & Associates have just released WorkPace, an advanced software package for the prevention and rehabilitation of Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS)**. The WorkPace software package reminds users to take carefully coordinated breaks called micropauses.

WA Councils benefit from health services
With nearly all WA Councils covered for workers compensation on a group basis, trading as Municipal WorkCare Scheme, a range of health and well being services has been introduced by the Scheme's administrators Jardine Local Government. If personal health issues are diagnosed early and the workforce is educated in general health and well being, then the exposure to workers compensation can be minimised.

Message from the Minister
Welcome to the first issue of National Perspective for 1999. We are looking forward to bringing you more news and information about innovation in local government through National Perspective and the National Office of Local Government.

Putting basic services back into rural areas
The Government has announced that it will set aside $70 million over five years to help establish up to 500 Rural Transaction Centres across Australia. The funds will be drawn from the social bonus arising from the sale of a further 16% of Telstra.

Are your business systems ready for the Year 2000?
The Year 2000 date problem is an issue all councils need to address immediately. Councils need to implement strategies to reduce the risk of being affected&endash;councils are as vulnerable as any other business.

Call for entries to 1999 National Awards for Innovation in Local Government
The National Awards for Innovation in Local Government provide an opportunity for councils throughout Australia to gain recognition for innovation in all aspects of local government. The Awards are open to all councils, including rural councils who are also eligible for the Rural Award.

Regional workshops to identify and address local government issues
The National Office of Local Government is in the process of organising 20 workshops with local government in regional areas in all states and territories.

Bellingen wins NOLG survey competition: council exchange visit
The National Office of Local Government would like to congratulate Bellingen Council and wishes them a safe and rewarding trip to their host council.

Environmental accounting for local government: new system begins to show the full picture
New research has shown that local government is spending far more on environmental management than has been previously acknowledged, as accounting systems are unable to measure the full extent of local government expenditure on environmental management. To promote better environmental performance in local government, the National Office of Local Government is working closely with researchers and local governments on an environmental accounting framework for local government.