Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Vote 1 for roads and transport: Delivering on the Local Government strategy

In opening this year’s National Local Roads and Transport Congress, President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Councillor Paul Bell, said the recent Newcastle floods highlight the importance of infrastructure maintenance. Staged in Newcastle from 8–10 July, the theme of this year’s conference was ‘Vote 1 Roads and Transport: Delivering on the Local Government strategy’.

Editorial: long term planning key to sustainability

With recent Local Government financial sustainability studies, at both the national and state level, key findings are that, across the board Councils are struggling with an ever increasing infrastructure backlog, and this is throwing doubt on a number of Councils’ ongoing financial viability.

President’s comment

In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Paul Bell, President of the Local Government Association of Queensland.

UN environment award for Darebin’s travel scheme

Darebin City Council’s Going Places travel reward scheme recently won a United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) award.

Walk, cycle, play in Caloundra

Caloundra residents can enjoy their unique natural environment while staying healthy with the recent release of a guide detailing the City’s many bikeways, pathways and parks.

New sustainable Civic Centre and Library

The City of Victor Harbor has recently relocated to its new Civic Centre and Library.

The buzz factor

The Good Oil * by Rod Brown
You spend a few days or hours in a city, or a country town, and you can feel the buzz – in other words, it’s a go ahead, confident place, where people and companies really connect and share common values. I suspect a locality’s buzz ebbs and flows, and that it affects people differently.

Young managers lead the way

Each year, Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) Queensland recognises the contribution and efforts of young managers in Local Government who have made innovative and valuable contributions to their community and their workplace through the Young Manager Award for Leadership and Management Excellence.

Torres Youth Council continues strong growth

Torres Shire’s Youth Council provides an important link between youth and Local Government. The Youth Council was reactivated in 2006 to promote discussion of important topics among local youth and enhance the development of community leadership skills.

Pathways centre looking forward

South Australia’s City of Playford continues to provide ‘pathways’ for Indigenous youth through its Marni Waendi Indigenous Transition Pathways Centre.

Councillor profiles

Councillor Profiles is a regular feature. This month we feature two Councillors from Northern Territory.

Flinders Ranges Council

Flinders Ranges Council covers an area from Mount Brown Creek in the south to Arkaba in the north, a distance in excess of 100 kilometres.

Recognising LG’s high achievers

At the 2007 Local Government Managers Australia National Congress in Hobart, Local Government FOCUS invited delegates to nominate individuals or teams from their Council who are improving Council’s operations or enhancing service delivery within their community. In this edition, we showcase the first two of our high achievers for 2007.

Way forward for women in Local Government

The Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) has launched ‘The Way Forward’, a review of the National Framework for Women in Local Government.

What are you not doing?

The UK Experience by Malcolm Morley*
Risk is often defined as an event that might occur in the future that might impact on the ability of an organisation to achieve its objectives. This is a perfectly reasonable definition, and a two by two matrix often goes with this definition to enable practitioners to identify risk in terms of likelihood of occurrence and impact.

Enhancing recycled water efficiency

Finding the water to maintain Council park and streetscape assets in drought stricken circumstances has instigated a whole new way of doing business for Kogarah Council.

Innovative wall for new foreshore

Gold Coast Council’s Broadwater Esplanade program has received national attention for using an innovative material in its latest redevelopment.

New generator line delivers added performance and reliability*

Built with V-Twin Engines offering renowned performance and reliability, the SUBARU V-Twins deliver magical high power with smooth, reliable torque, improved breathing at high RPM, and low fuel consumption, compared to conventional side valve engines.

Mildura budget shows benefits of long term planning

Mildura Rural City Council’s 2007–2008 budget brings home the benefits of Council’s long term financial planning to the community.

Future directions in financial sustainability

An interview with Steven Shepherd, Director Corporate Services, City of Palmerston, NT.

Forbes goes hi-tech to address skills shortage

Located within the central western slopes of New South Wales, Forbes Shire Council is using global positioning system (GPS) technology to reduce the survey and set out time required for road construction.

Visibility the key as Noosa switches to whole of Council Civica system*

Noosa Council is implementing the final stages of an enterprise wide, whole of Council computer solution by switching from a standalone financials package to the Financial and Assets applications from Civica’s AUTHORITY Local Government management solution.

Brighton introduces flat rating system

Located approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Hobart in Tasmania, Brighton Council has introduced a fairer flat rate system that is set to revolutionise the way rates are struck throughout Tasmania.

Sustainable management of Infrastructure: An essential part of doing business

The following is an abridged version of a paper delivered recently by Chris Champion, CEO of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, at the Civil Engineering Conference for Asian Region in Taipei, Taiwan.

CJD Volvo MATRIS When information is king*

How much do you really know about the condition of your construction equipment? Is it operating in a way that makes it the productive asset you need it to be?

Electronic workflow system improves efficiency

Blue Mountains City Council recently completed the implementation of an electronic works management system for the maintenance of its parks and roads.

Service and support through lifecycle of trucks*

Isuzu Australia Limited’s (IAL) three year ‘Customer Care Project’ initiative is nearing completion.

Summit offers international investment opportunities

Hundreds of senior civic and business leaders from cities throughout the Asia Pacific region will converge on Brisbane from 31 August to 3 September for the sixth Asia Pacific Cities Summit.

Difficult times bring out the best in people

By Janet Dore*
On Friday 8 June 2007 the world watched as the coal ship Pasha Bulker swept to shore in heavy seas at Newcastle’s Nobbys Beach. But while our attention was focused on the beach an even greater threat to Newcastle and the Hunter was building.

Dial Before You Dig – an invaluable national service*

Underground cables link hospitals, emergency services, schools, homes and businesses, and damaging these links can lead to significant disruption in our lives.

Cosmopolitan city celebrates 50 years

On 1 July 2007, Darwin City Council commemorated its 50th anniversary with birthday celebrations and placing of a time capsule in Darwin’s Civic Park.

Discover Darwin

Darwin is Australia’s northernmost capital city and probably the most cosmopolitan in Australia with more than 60 nationalities and some 80 ethnic groups represented.

ALGA’s National General Assembly heads north

In addition to the Australian Sister Cities Association conference, Darwin is also looking forward to hosting delegates to the Australian Local Government Association’s 2007 National General Assembly from 26–29 November.

Darwin to host national Sister Cities Conference

Sister Cities has been a vital part of Darwin City Council for 25 years, and Darwin is hosting the annual Australian Sister Cities Association Conference at the Darwin Entertainment Centre from Sunday 30 September to Wednesday 3 October 2007.

Territory dress code

The Territory has a dress code all of its own to take into account the tropical temperatures.

Working with other Councils in the Top End

Members of the Tiwi Islands Shire Transition Committee visited Darwin City Council recently to meet with Elected Members and staff and attend a Transition Committee Meeting.

Darwin and Kalymnos mark their silver anniversary

Darwin and Kalymnos in Greece have been Sister Cities for 25 years. To celebrate this, Acting Lord Mayor Dorothy Fox welcomed the Lord Mayor of Kalymnos, Georgios Roussos, and his delegation to Darwin in June.

Darwin remembers

On 19 February 1942 Japanese forces began a bombing campaign of Darwin that claimed more than 240 lives and devastated a large part of the city.

Everybody willing to pitch in

We like to say that Darwin is dynamic, different and diverse. As such, the duties of Elected Members and office staff are certainly different with everyone pitching in for the annual pre cyclone season clean up.

Sustainability now and into the future

After three years of development and community consultation, Darwin City Council’s Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was launched last month.

Wins all round from generation of green power

Environmentally friendly initiatives and practices – particularly greenhouse gas reduction and green energy generation – are high on the agenda for Darwin City Council.