Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Native title: a new guide for LG
With assistance and support from the National Native Title Tribunal and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has prepared a detailed guide to working with native title for Councils.

Editorial
At the recent Tasmanian Local Government Conference, Futurist Dr Peter Ellyard, referred to the 'death of national government and birth of community'. However, on the issue of community leadership he said we tend to put managers into positions where leaders are needed.

President's comment
Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Mayor Rosemary Craddock, President of the Local Government Association of South Australia.

Quality certification a first
Gold Coast City Council's Water Directorate has become Queensland's first water authority with its entire operations meeting strict environmental and management standards.

Australians urged to keep the places that shape us
In the lead up to the new millennium all Australians are being urged to protect their heritage. The combination of three major events&emdash;the Olympics, the millennium and the anniversary of Federation&emdash;gives us an unparalleled opportunity to reflect on our identity and on the places which help to shape our national character.

Domestic violence and the workplace
Brisbane City Council is demonstrating a positive commitment to staff by endeavouring to address domestic violence issues through the workplace. An estimated one third of families suffer domestic violence and this impacts on work performance and absenteeism. The Committee is developing action plans and other strategies to tackle the issue in Council's workplace and the wider community.

Foreshore works to improve environment
Works designed to remove algae and odours from the City of Albany's foreshore lakes will bring the added bonus of improved recreational and aesthetic value.

Seed funding promotes new jobs in Alice Springs
Alice Springs Town Council has allocated $28,500 to support an initiative which will provide local young people with employment , skills and business expertise. Through its Community Grants Scheme, Council aims to provide seed funding to assist new businesses and employment opportunities in the Town.

Kiwis help Toowoomba 'fix it'
Toowoomba City Council is enlisting the help of residents in tracking matters which need attention in the City. Mayor Tony Burke said that Council was making it easier for residents to report problems by providing them with a reply paid 'Fix-It' form.

Comprehensive corporate information via intranet system
Queensland's Caboolture Shire Council has developed an intranet system for its internal communications. This follows a determination to introduce electronic Quality Assurance based on ISO 9001.

BEP solutions for Internet payments
Local Government bodies can now more easily identify, select and procure products and services for enabling online service delivery through the Business Entry Point initiative.

Ratepayers have a say on rates
The need to reconcile different rating systems inherited from former municipalities prompted South Australia's City of Playford to undertake extensive community consultation on options for a new system. Council felt that, as the toughest and most important issue since its inception in 1997, it was vital to have community input.

Bonus NCP funding
Hard work by Council's Finance section and business units has earned more than half a million dollars of Federal Government funding for Maroochy Shire Council.

Young cities planning for infrastructure replacement
Cities where infrastructure has been installed in a relatively short period of time face a difficult problem when it comes to asset management according to Darwin City Council's Director of Corporate Services Marten Tieleman.

WA budgets continue to improve
Western Australia's annual review of municipal budgets has resulted in five Councils receiving Certificates of Excellence for ratings of over 94%.

Linking pavement management to GIS
Queensland's Logan City Council has linked its Pavement Management System (PMS) with its Geographical Information Systems(GIS) to provide information about its road system in a graphical format.

Accurately costing all activities
In response to the introduction of National Competition Policy (NCP) and Councils being more open to market forces, Tweed Shire Council has adopted Activity Based Costing (ABC).

National award for asset management manual
With over $600 million in infrastructure assets and an annual depreciation of around $13 million per annum, Melbourne's City of Maroondah identified that even a small increase in the effectiveness of its recurrent and capital expenditure would produce marked savings. As a result, Council embarked on a program titled 'Total Life Cycle Asset Management'.

Rehabilitating infrastructure
A new inter disciplinary research centre established at the University of Technology, Sydney aims to address problems which stem from the aging of Australia's infrastructure assets. Launched in March, the Centre for Built Infrastructure Research based at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern includes expertise in Engineering, Science and Design, Architecture and Building.

Capital city with a clear vision
Lord Mayor, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith, describes Adelaide as a 'very civil city.' Having resided in England and America, the Lord Mayor emphasised this is the place she has chosen to live.

Promoting Adelaide
In heading up Adelaide City Marketing, Janet Campbell's role is to promote and coordinate all there is on offer in Adelaide. City Marketing offers advice, ideas and planning assistance to people and organisations staging various events.

City at heart of the State
With over 90% of the State's population residing in Greater Adelaide, the City of Adelaide sees itself as having broader responsibilities than most Local Governments including other Capital City Councils.

Doing business with Council
A new Customer Centre presents a friendly and efficient face to people seeking information or doing business with Council. The aim is to provide customers with a single point at which they can complete transactions with Council.

Conference City of Australia
Adelaide's compact size and world class facilities make the City an ideal venue for conferences and conventions, giving it the capacity to be the 'conference city' of Australia.

Education a key plank in Council's economic strategy
Education is one of the major planks of Adelaide City Council's five year Economic Development Strategy.

Arts a driver of urban renewal
The Adelaide City Council's strategy to transform the West End into the arts centre of Adelaide has been given the seal of approval with the State Government's arts funding body, ArtSA, moving into the refurbished West's Coffee Palace in Hindley Street.

Living in the city is easy
As each new apartment block and warehouse renovation moves off the drawing board and on to the streets of Adelaide, more and more people are being offered the chance to live in the heart of the City.

Wingfield Centre helps reduce waste
Twelve kilometres north of the CBD lies Wingfield, Adelaide's waste management centre. One of the largest waste management facilities in Australia, this 94 hectare site combines recycling, gas extraction, power generation, plant rehabilitation and education.

Committed to the environment
To ensure the protection and enhancement of the city environs, including its renowned Park Lands and Squares, Adelaide City Council has introduced an Environmental Management Plan, called Local Agenda 21.

Quality waterways a priority
Adelaide City Council is taking an active role in ensuring the quality of its waterways is sustained.

Maintaining Adelaide's unique heritage
The City's mix of heritage buildings and houses are one of Adelaide's most attractive and distinctive features. Nearly 20% of the City's buildings are listed on heritage registers.