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Joondalup takes out 2005 Management Challenge

The City of Joondalup has won the Australasian Local Government Management Challenge, ahead of a strong field of contenders from each State and a New Zealand winner. The Australasian final is held in conjunction with Local Government Managers Australia’s National Congress.

Good governance vital

Corruption, unethical practices and corporate fraud have placed an increasing focus on good governance and quality of leadership. Keynote speaker at the 24th National Congress of Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA), Ivan Deveson, warned of a ‘tsunami of corruption on its way to Australia’.

Editorial

A key issue raised at the International Asset Management Conference staged in Melbourne in May was that the old way of preparing budgets, of simply taking last year’s figures and adding or subtracting a few per cent, is no longer sustainable. Aptly described as looking in the rear vision mirror, delegates agreed that this must be discarded in favour of a strategic, forward looking, service driven approach.

President’s comment

In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor John Legoe, President of the Local Government Association of South Australia.

Breakout win for Cowra

The 60th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout featured prominently at the recent Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales cultural awards. Other winners included Bathurst, Baulkham Hills, Canterbury, Clarence Valley, Coolamon, Fairfield, Great Lakes, Hastings, Lane Cove, Tweed, Central West Regional Organisation of Councils, Southern Councils Group, Western Sydney and two joint entries from Manly and Pittwater and Fairfield and Holroyd.

Keep Australia Beautiful

Small towns, strong communities shine
Residents in Heywood, Victoria and Black Tank – Apmwarre Homeland in the Northern Territory can hold their heads high after taking out two of the national awards at the recent Keep Australia Beautiful Awards.

Aid role for Local Government – but needs a push

The Good Oil by Rod Brown*
There is a substantial and timely opportunity for Local Government to flex its muscles in the aid field. AusAID is currently taking advice on the role of Local Government in the tsunami relief effort. Why not broaden the agenda beyond the countries affected by the tsunami, and also widen the supply base of consultancy expertise?

Councils Working Together conference

The 2005 Council’s Working Together conference will be hosted by Murray Shire Council, at the Moama Bowling Club on July 14 and 15. This year’s conference will include an informative and thought provoking program, concerning Local Government strategic alliance issues.

Best practice in Local Government governance

Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd, recently launched a new manual which aims to assist Local Governments across Australia achieve best practice in governance. Developed by Australia’s peak accounting body, CPA Australia, and supported by Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA), the Excellence in Governance for Local Government manual is designed so Mayors, Councillors, and senior management can quickly and easily assess their governance performance and management practices.

Boulia bounces into the record books all for a good cause

After 31 hours and five minutes on the basketball court, the small town of Boulia located in the far western reaches of Queensland, took the title of World Record holder for the longest, continuous game of basketball. The Guinness World Record title was previously held by professional basketballers in Nebraska, USA, who were on court for 30 hours and 12 minutes.

Councillor profiles

A regular feature, this month we feature two Councillors from Queensland.

IPWEA Engineering Excellence Awards

Celebrating 100 years of achievement
At its State Conference on 23 May, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia – NSW Division presented its Engineering Excellence Awards for 2005. This year there were 77 entries representing some 56 Councils/organisations across New South Wales.

IPWEA/RTA Local Government Road Safety Strategy

The IPWEA/RTA Local Government Road Safety Strategy works to raise the priority of road safety in Local Government. This is achieved through support for Council road safety strategic planning, the administration of funding for local road safety initiatives and through the presentation of annual Local Government Excellence in Road Safety Awards, to recognise outstanding Council achievements. The IPWEA/RTA Strategy is one element of the NSW Local Government Road Safety Program conducted as part of Road Safety 2010, a framework for increasing road safety in NSW.

Sales in Local Government?

By Richard Perrin *
Selling, cross selling and up selling can be valuable tools in Local Government and in government agencies. Nevertheless, many public service customer service professionals are reluctant to add these tools to their repertoire because of the ‘stigma’ often associated with selling, the lack of formal sales training and not knowing how selling forms part of the business of the public sector. Hence, learning and development professionals can play a key role in making a transition to a ‘sales culture’.

Creating confidence to care

Emergency First Response is a global CPR, Automated External Defibrillation (AED) and First Aid training organisation with more than 26,000 instructors world wide, providing CPR and First Aid courses to the layperson, community groups and in workplaces.

Looking to the future

The UK Experience by Malcolm Morley *
The new Labour Government in England has confirmed that public service reform and Local Government are high up its agenda.

Redland’s ecoBiz wins ICLEI award

Redland Shire Council in south east Queensland has recently completed a successful local business eco-efficiency pilot program. Based on the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘ecoBiz’ program, the pilot was recently awarded the Local Government Initiative of the Month by the International Council of Local Government Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Kempsey trials new fisheries project

In recent times, dwindling fish numbers has become an issue in many river systems along the eastern seaboard. This has resulted in Kempsey Shire Council being selected by the NSW Department of Primary Industries to be part of a trial for its Stream Health – Road Crossings and Fish Passage Project.

Future directions in environmental management

An interview with Greg Waller, Director Development and Environmental Services at Salisbury City Council
Triple bottom line is more than a slogan at Salisbury Council. Indeed, Director of Development and Environmental Services, Greg Waller, believes it is part and parcel of the future of Local Government. He said Local Governments have demonstrated that they are very good at economic matters – the delivery of services in a timely, efficient and effective manner.

Fremantle tackles plastic bags use

As part of making Fremantle a plastic bag free city by 2008, a market research study of consumer attitudes has been undertaken to see how many people are using alternatives to plastic bags.

Citiwater leads in sustainability

A set of performance management indicators that reflect triple bottom line issues developed by Townsville City Council’s business unit, Citiwater, is gaining international attention. Citiwater is recognised as being among Australian and international leaders in working to supply and treat water on a sustainable basis – environmentally, socially and economically.

Hornsby’s GM wins national Baton sustainability prize

Hornsby Shire Council’s General Manager, Robert Ball, has received the prestigious Baton Prize for his contribution to local sustainability practice.

Contaminated soil successfully treated

By Daniel Blair*
Soil contamination is a problem often faced by Councils and property developers. Old industrial sites, in particular, can leave a legacy of contamination – prompting demand for new and innovative remediation measures.

Sustainable watering for thirsty parks, gardens and sportsfields

Australia has voted. IWT’s award winning new technology, KISSS (Kapillary Irrigation Sub Surface Systems) recently won the people’s choice on the ABC’s New Inventors. It is rapidly attracting attention around the nation. KISSS has proved to be up to 60 per cent more effective than other drip line technology, subsequently reducing irrigation and watering bills by up to 60 per cent.

Water ownership the major theme for Dubbo conference

Ownership of water will be a key theme at the 61st National Conference presented by the Murray Darling Association. The conference will be held at the RSL Club in Dubbo, New South Wales. The conference theme and program will explore the current topic of water ownership and the likely impact of the proposed separation of water and land titles across the Murray Darling Basin.

Community consultation key plank in Darwin’s EMP

Darwin City Council is working to protect the City’s natural resources for future generations with the development of a community focused Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and an Environmental Management System (EMS) to cover its own organisational practices. Environment Manager, Angelika Hesse, said Darwin is perhaps Australia’s only capital city with an abundance of native fauna, clean air and pristine waterways.

Environmental focus in Launceston

In recent years, Launceston City Council has been working hard to complete major improvements along the North Esk River and to build a walkway. In cooperation with the State Government, Council commenced an environmental audit of properties in St Leonards Road as part of a continued focus on improving the environment in the area.

Aerosol recycling award for Baulkham Hillse

Aerosols cans frequently have the lowest awareness when it comes to recycling as people tend to think they are too dangerous to recycle or don’t think of them as steel packaging. To reverse the trend, Baulkham Hills Shire Council undertook a public education campaign.

Frankston increases waste water re-use

Many Local Governments are looking to recycling treated water to increase water conservation. Frankston City Council has received a grant of $250,000 in the first round of the Victorian Government’s $10 million Stormwater and Urban Water Conservation Fund for a project to use treated effluent to irrigate the City’s major recreation reserves.

Barossa Council leads way in effluent disposal

The Barossa Council has recently awarded tenders worth nearly $2 million for the upgrade of the Nuriootpa and Tanunda septic tank effluent disposal schemes (STEDS). This move will further add to its reputation as a leading South Australian Council in the maintaining and upgrading of ageing effluent treatment and disposal infrastructure.

Albury energy smart and safer design

AlburyCity has been focusing on combining safe and environmentally friendly design. These are not always compatible, especially when it comes to issues such as building orientation, situating living spaces, and the placement of windows and doors.

A new economic confidence

The City of Townsville has emerged as one of Australia’s most dynamic regional centres, with its relaxed lifestyle attracting more than 3,000 new residents per year and a strong economy spurring significant new investment in infrastructure and services.

Townsville forges vibrant tourism reputation

Townsville has come of age as the new ‘hot spot’ for holidaying in the tropics. This progressive, modern and vibrant city is bursting with holiday ideas and experiences! Whether it’s the café scene, arts and culture, entertainment or retail therapy you are looking for, the Townsville inner city offers something special, for everyone.

A city is born

The beginning of the City of Townsville occurred on 15 February 1866, when the township was declared a Municipality and the Council was incorporated under the Municipalities Act of 1858.

‘CONCERT’ – a certified Council success story

Townsville City Council has welcomed the launch of CONCERT consultant certifiers as the new operator in the private sector of building certification this year. The in house building certification unit has been operating since the late 1990s in response to legislative changes, but has undergone an overhaul in recent years.

Council converts to E10 fuel

Townsville City Council vehicles are running on E – that’s E for Ethanol not for empty. Council has made the switch to a more sustainable fuel with 200 of its 315 strong fleet of vehicles now using 10 per cent ethanol blended fuel – E10.

The Strand is Australia’s cleanest beach

Townsville’s Strand is being featured on billboards throughout Queensland and New South Wales promoting its new title as Australia’s Cleanest Beach. The Strand’s win in the Australian Clean Beach Challenge is the latest in a number of accolades earned by Townsville’s seafront jewel in recent years.

Green Townsville shrugs off ‘Brownsville’ tag

Over the past decade, Townsville has lead Australia in city greening projects winning numerous national awards and generating a new pride among its residents. Townsville enjoys an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. And while that’s terrific news for visitors, it’s not always easy to keep city and residential gardens green.

Townsville to again lead national commemoration of 1945 Victory in the Pacific

Living Heroes – VP 60 Townsville from 12–15 August 2005
The commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War will take place over four days in August in Australia’s northern Garrison City Townsville. VP60 commemorates the 15 August 1945, the day on which Japan surrendered, bringing to an end the World War. While ending in Europe on VE Day on 8 May, the War continued for a further four months in the Pacific Theatre.

Townsville sport is in a league of its own

When it comes to sport, Townsville punches well above its weight at a national level. While pundits are heralding a golden era for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League, experts in the National Basketball League are also tipping 2005 to be the year of the Townsville Crocodiles.

Industry driving growth

Over the past decade, Townsville’s city fathers have worked tirelessly on strategies to establish the region as a centre for base metals processing excellence. These strategies have focused on the critical areas of energy, industrial land, transport infrastructure, water and a skilled workforce.

Fishwatch

Fishing is Queensland’s most popular past time and Townsville City Council has responded to the community’s interest by establishing a Fishwatch Advisory Committee. The Committee has been set up as a network for local fishers and community interests to discuss recreational fishing and the conservation of fish stocks in the Townsville area.

History for Sale?

While the Brisbane community is celebrating its victory over the Federal Government on the proposed sale of valuable community land known as ‘Poo Corner’, it seems the war over the disposal of other lucrative government sites around the State has just begun. And it seems popular Kissing Point at the northern point of Townsville’s Strand has emerged as the next battleground, with all spheres of government arming themselves for offensive on the possible future sale of this land.