Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Engineering shortage starting to hurt Local Government

A shortage of engineers in Australia is threatening growth in Local Government infrastructure, according to industry bodies and recruitment companies. In response, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) has released a strategy and action plan to address the issue.

Editorial

Local Government is calling on greater Federal Government assistance to ease mounting pressure on water infrastructure. Across the country, issues concerning water are coming to the fore and the clear message is that we must find better ways to preserve water supplies. The problem is being exacerbated with the deterioration of much of the existing water infrastructure built in the postwar period.

President’s comment

In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Lynn Mason, President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania.

Bathurst extends its National Motor Racing Museum

In March, bronze portraits of two of the biggest names in Australian motor racing were unveiled at the National Motor Racing Museum at Mount Panorama, signalling an important new direction for one of the country’s most significant motor sport collections.

Bendigo’s new multi purpose exhibition centre

Construction of a multi million dollar, multi purpose Bendigo Exhibition Centre is nearing completion with the huge new building set to open in July, in time to host Australia’s largest sheep show.

Reducing accidents a top priority at Geraldton

Geraldton in Western Australia has become the only regional Local Government to receive a prestigious silver award for its occupational health and safety record. The City has joined the ranks of just three other Western Australian Local Governments to have received the Local Government Insurance Services (LGIS) Silver Award since the program’s inception four years ago.

Time to revisit New Growth Theory

The Good Oil by Rod Brown*
Professor Mike Berry (RMIT) recently reviewed the determinants of regional economic success in a paper titled, Innovation by Design: The Economic Drivers of Dynamic Regions. His analysis of the two approaches – the neoclassical school, and the new growth theory school – is timely because they represent the basic policy camps here in Canberra.

Tasmanian Mayors meet to consider major pulp mill

Local Governments in Northern Tasmania are planning for a rise in building and planning applications from the development of a proposed major paper mill. George Town Mayor, Councillor Lawrence Archer, said there is a need to be prepared for a steep increase in building and planning applications to house both construction and long term employees.

Engaging communities during Qld Local Government Week

From 13 to 19 June, Queensland Councils will showcase their people, local facilities and services in a week aimed at creating a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Local Government. The theme for the week is Local Government – Engaging Communities.

More work needed on NPC

More work was needed before a second National Packaging Covenant (NPC) could gain general support from Local Government, Australian Local Government Association President, Councillor Paul Bell, said last month.

Councillor profiles

A regular feature this month featuring two Councillors from Victoria.

Northern Grampians Shire Council

Women are putting their best feet forward in the Northern Grampians Shire Council and are getting recognised for it. Previously a traditional male dominated Council structure, the administrative team has recently gone through a transformation with many women being promoted from within and attracted to the organisation from metropolitan Melbourne.

Cooking up interest

The UK Experience by Malcolm Morley *
All Councils wrestle with getting local people interested in the issues with which they deal. Individuals take an interest in services that directly affect them but generally, unless there is a crisis either through the failure of a service or the threat of withdrawal of a service, most of the public don’t take much interest in Council services.

Gobba Lake revisited

The redesign of Gobba Lake in Western Australia’s City of Bayswater embraces the best in environmental design and thinking. The lake, located in former wasteland, is now at the cutting edge of environmental design.

Australia’s first solar powered fountain in Newcastle

Newcastle believes it has Australia’s first solar powered fountain with a 22 year old fountain now powered by the sun. The Pacific Park Fountain in inner Newcastle was donated to the people by the Newcastle Herald in 1982 to commemorate the City's 125th anniversary.

Coffs Harbour completes new sewerage links

Greater recycling and better environmental management are some of the key features of new sewerage works in Coffs Harbour. As a popular tourist destination and area for retirees and seachangers, catering for an increasing population is an ongoing issue for Council.

Keeping the best of the old

Two Local Governments in Melbourne - Moonee Valley and Brimbank - have adopted an innovative approach to swimming pool design. Rather than start from scratch, both have decided to refurbish and revitalise existing buildings Both have commissioned Peddle Thorp Architects to look at tired, old swimming pools.

Wins all round with innovative use of detention basins

Renewing a sewerage system is a huge undertaking and Launceston’s sewerage system, begun in the 1860s, is among the oldest systems in Australia. Group Manager Infrastructure, Geoff Brayford, said over time the system proved unable to cope with the flows generated by heavy rainfall, city growth and development in the catchments.

Adelaide hosts International Public Works conference

You only get one chance every two years to attend the major event of the public works calendar. The IPWEA Adelaide International Public Works Conference is to be held from Sunday 21 to Thursday 25 August 2005 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.

ALGA applauds North Sydney’s approach toward smaller vehicles

The move by North Sydney Council to introduce a sliding scale of residential parking permits has been applauded by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). The President of ALGA, Councillor Paul Bell, said the scheme has lower fees for smaller vehicles and higher fees for large, four wheel drive and eight cylinder vehicles.

City of Casey operator takes out Caterpillar Challenge

Competition was stiff in the Caterpillar Operator’s Challenge at Melbourne’s ACE2005 expo in February. The best three operators all lost the same number of penalty points, so their respective times were then used to declare Richard Beard from the City of Casey in Melbourne’s southeast the winner.

Water reuse initiatives in urban catchment

Rainwater tanks and other water sensitive design measures are being increasingly adopted to assist with Total Water Cycle Management (TWCM) in urban catchments. As part of a range of initiatives, Kogarah Council was recently handed a rebate cheque from Sydney Water after installing rainwater tanks in 12 schools within its boundaries.

Future directions for engineering services

An interview with Patrick Murphy, Director Works and Technical Services, Boonah Shire Council, Queensland.

George Negus to open centenary conference for IPWEA (NSW)

For the past 25 years George Negus has been at the forefront of Australian political journalism earning considerable recognition as an international correspondent and charming audiences with his wit, humour and incisive style. IPWEA is looking forward to George’s take on the conference theme – Celebrating 100 Years of Achievement – where he will focus on the outstanding achievements from public works engineers over the last 100 years, together with celebrating current achievements and challenges in this competitive environment.

Barossa to drain lake as part of major park upgrade

The Barossa Council in South Australia will drain the lake at Victoria Creek Park, Williamstown as the first step of a major upgrade program of the park. Barossa’s Chief Executive Officer, Judith Jones, said Council wanted to clean the lake of silt before the onset of winter and undertake remedial work on the existing retaining wall.

Greenhouse emissions cut by REFIT kit

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Councillor Greg Piper, is tackling climate change and water conservation by having an energy and water REFIT kit installed in his family home. Councillor Piper is encouraging households in Lake Macquarie to play their part in reducing their impact on the environment.

BART - a tool for modelling asset renewal

In common with other Local Governments that provide infrastructure throughout Australia, in Burnside there is a shortfall in asset renewal expenditure over that required to maintain the present levels of service. South Australia’s City of Burnside manages engineering infrastructure assets with a replacement value of $296 million. A population of 41,000 largely funds an annual asset renewal program of $4 million in a budget of $21 million.

Local Councils tap into Community Water Grants

Local Governments will be able to save water, help their communities and cut their water bills thanks to the Australian Government’s Community Water Grants, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell and the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Ian Macdonald said. The Prime Minister, John Howard, officially launched the program on World Water Day in March with the Hon Gary Nairn MP and Mayor Roger Norton of Cooma-Monaro Council in attendance.

Launceston to host National Local Roads Congress

Launceston will this year host Local Government’s leading transport conference, the National Local Roads and Transport Congress, to be held on 3–5 July. This year’s program, themed Unifying Local Government’s transport agenda, will cover a range of core policy and operational issues for both metropolitan and regional/rural delegates.

Every cloud has a timber lining

A Local Government in Melbourne has taken steps to recycle trees damaged in February’s record breaking storms. City of Port Phillip Mayor, Councillor Darren Ray, said trees felled in the storm will be recycled as picnic tables, seats, fences and bollards – and maybe even art works.

New resource helps water businesses manage losses

Local Governments could benefit greatly from better water management and a new series of manuals aim to help them achieve that goal. In recent moves in Queensland, Wide Bay Water Corporation, a commercial arm of Hervey Bay Council, has deferred an augmented dam for seven years and saved an estimated $4.6 million in interest on capital expenditure.

Education campaign key to eliminating waste

Cowra Shire Council’s Waste Minimisation Communication Strategy is leading Local Government in educating and assisting communities to eliminate waste. Cowra Shire Council’s General Manager, James Roncon, said the recently released strategy has set the benchmark for Local Government.

Discovering the Kimberley

Western Australia’s Kimberley region has an area three times the size of the United Kingdom. Located in the far north of Australia’s largest State, its 33,000 residents are serviced by four Local Governments – the Shires of Broome, Derby/West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley. It is a region of extraordinary contrast and colour, rich in history and ancient art with rugged ranges, spectacular waterfalls, pristine beaches, lush rainforests and desert ecosystems. With its mining, pastoral and horticultural activities, pearling, fishing and aquaculture, Indigenous arts and culture, tourism and ecotourism – economic opportunities abound.

Force to be reckoned with

The four Local Governments in the Kimberley zone – the Shires of Broome, Derby/West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley – meet three or four times a year. Recognising a huge potential to do more together, at its annual forum in 2004, the Kimberley Group of Councils embarked on a process to develop a strategic plan for the region.

Tanamai Road – a vital link for local communities and tourists

Running from Halls Creek to the Northern Territory Border, the Tanamai Road services a number of indigenous communities and is becoming more and more popular for self drive tourists. In 2003, the Western Australian Government provided $10 million for the road to be upgraded over a five year period. The Shire has entered an agreement with the State Government to complete the majority of this work.

Protecting culture and country

Fringed by the Indian Ocean at Broome’s popular Cable Beach is Minyirr Park. With 22 kilometres of colour coded walking trails, the park is a joint project between the Shire of Broome and its traditional owners represented by the Rubibi Land Heritage and Development Group.

A blend of the old and the new

Wyndham – East Kimberley has two main townships. Established in 1864, Wyndham is the oldest town in the Kimberley while Kununurra is the youngest, established in 1961. Tourists can gain an understanding of the efforts of pioneers in settling this remote and wild region, while Kununurra is a modern, purposely built town to service agricultural expansion with the introduction of Ord River Irrigation Scheme.

Providing facilities and services in remote communities

With its two main towns, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing located 260 kilometres apart, the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley has its work cut out in providing community services.

Tjurabalin – a real whole of government approach

In 2003, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) identified 11 sites to introduce a whole of government approach in providing improved local services for remote communities. The Western Australian site is located within the Shire of Halls Creek. Tjurabalin Region has four local communities and some 1,000 residents. It is a region comprising land handed back to its traditional owners in 2001 by the Commonwealth Government.

Growth industries moving from strength to strength

Wyndham-East Kimberley’s three major industries are agriculture, mining and tourism. All are set to experience rapid growth over the next few years. Established in the 1960s, the Ord River Irrigation Scheme currently services 14,500 hectares. Key crops include sugar cane, mangos, melons, tropical fruits and cut flowers.

Broome celebrates 100 years of Local Government

On 22 November 1904 Broome held its first Local Government election. To mark the Centenary of this, last November a large crowd joined Council staff and Councillors in the Shire’s grounds to celebrate this event.

Tourism boost with more air services for Derby

Home of the Curtin RAAF base, Derby has the longest airstrip anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere. Alongside the RAAF strip is the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley’s airstrip that is able to take 60 seater jets. Working with local mining interests, the Shire has drawn up a business plan to attract a regular jet service into Derby. Owned and operated by Council, the Derby airport and runway were upgraded two years in preparation for this move.

Upgrade for Derby Wharf

A major project for the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley is the $2.35 million upgrade of the Derby Wharf.

New visitors centre for Broome

During peak season in a single day, the Broome Visitors Centre can have as many as 900 people through its doors. As user numbers steadily increase, the centre has clearly outgrown its current building.

Services for a young and growing community

As a thriving community with many young families, the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley is investing in a range of improved and new facilities. A new youth facility is in the final design stage. This 1.6 million dollar complex has been designed around what young people said they needed. Council has been working closely with young people particularly through its local Youth Advisory Council.

A new pool for Halls Creek

After 25 years of lobbying for Federal and State funding has paid off with work now commenced on a swimming pool complex for Halls Creek. Council will make up the funding shortfall. Stage 1 includes a 25 metre pool, wader’s pool, kiosk, change rooms and managers office. Stage II will provide two undercover basketball courts. Both stages are expected be completed early in 2006 at a total cost of 6.7 million dollars.