Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Local Government leadership: the power and the passion

The decision by Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) to stage its 2007 National Congress and Business Expo in Hobart certainly paid off, with delegate and exhibition numbers surpassing recent years.

Melbourne wins 2007 Challenge

The 15th Australasian Management Challenge sponsored by GEAC involved 127 teams from Councils across Australia and New Zealand.

Editorial: Reform jeopardises LG trust in intergovernmental relations

Last month Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced that the Productivity Commission will commence a study into Local Government’s own revenue sources.

President’s comment

In each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Col Sullivan, President of the New South Wales Shires Association.

Water issues online

A free online radio program is highlighting the importance of water, sustainability and the environment. H2oToday is a weekly program featuring the latest developments for water professionals, practitioners and those with an interest in a more sustainable approach to water management.

Tourism toolkit to maximise marketing opportunities

Together with the Launceston Tamar Valley Tourism Association (LTVTA), Launceston City, West Tamar and George Town Councils have launched a tourism and marketing toolkit.

Water use in road works – a community wide issue

In March, the Civil Contractors Federation of Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia hosted the Use of Potable Water for Road Works Summit. The forum addressed the ongoing issue of using potable water on road construction and maintenance projects.

Regional support – example of 80/20 rule

The Good Oil * by Rod Brown
Last month, the Department of Family and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) announced 78 grants under its Local Answers program. The grants are to basically do good things to help rural communities cope with the social stresses of the drought.

Whittlesea stages LGPro PR Network seminar

In April, the Local Government Professionals (LGPro) Public Relations Network met at the Whittlesea City Council Offices for its bimonthly meeting.

Coffs Harbour to buy all renewable energy

In a move that will help cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent, Coffs Harbour City Council will source only renewable energy for all future electricity needs.

Councils unite to win Australian Technical College

Over the past few years, one of the biggest issues facing communities in Perth’s southeast region has been youth unemployment. This year, the Cities of Gosnells and Armadale plan to change that with the first intake of students to the Australian Technical College – Perth South.

Councillor Profiles

Councillor Profiles is a regular feature. This month we feature two Councillors from New South Wales.

Balranald Shire – a gateway to spectacular national park

Balranald Shire covers approximately 21,400 square kilometres and includes Balranald, the township of Euston and the localities of Kyalite, Oxley, Hatfield, Clare and Penarie.

NT calls for improved information flows

More than 70 delegates from over 30 Councils met in Alice Springs on 18–19 April for the General Meeting of Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) General Meeting.

Tasmania releases review of financial sustainability

In March, President of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), Mayor Mike Gaffney, released a new report into the financial sustainability of Tasmanian Councils.

Changes to rating disadvantaging NSW regional Councils

Councils in regional New South Wales are facing the loss of millions of dollars in rate revenue, with State legislation separating land and water for rating purposes. Under the separation, land that includes a water provider, such as a dam or a creek, is valued for rating purposes minus that provider. This decreases the value of the land and therefore Councils’ rate raising capacity.

Queensland to undergo historic reform

With more than 1,100 Councillors, Queensland’s 125 local Councils and 32 Indigenous Councils are to undergo their first sweeping reform in more than a century.

Queensland’s Local Government Week drives along – despite government roadblocks

From 28 May to 2 June, Queensland Councils and their local communities will celebrate Local Government Week 2007 with the theme ‘Roads – Driving Queensland, Pathways to Progress’. This year’s celebrations take on a special significance after the Queensland Government’s shock announcement on 17 April that it is imposing forced amalgamations on the State’s 157 Councils.

Alternative transport helps our planet

More than 7,000 people turned out for Thuringowa City Council’s Better Earth Expo staged at its Riverway precinct in March. As the region’s biggest ever environmental expo, the event saw a host of fun activities, exhibitions and presentations for the whole family.

Reorganising Local Government complexity

The UK Experience by Malcolm Morley*
UK Local Government is complex, particularly where there are Parish or Town Councils, District or Borough Councils and County Councils all operating within the same areas – each Council having its own separate responsibilities and each competing for the mantle of community leader.

Whyalla fights for its ratepayers

Located on the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia, Whyalla Council is fighting a new $105 annual levy on the City’s ratepayers, which it believes is cost shifting of State Government responsibilities.

Women, finance and super

Leading practitioners and academics in the superannuation and finance fields will discuss and illustrate the importance of Women, Finance and Super in a session at the 19th Women, Management and Employment Relations Conference.

Australian launch of Council HRIS*

Northgate HR is pleased to announce the recent launch of its flagship payroll and HR product, ResourceLink.

Geraldton Aquarena leads the way

Earlier this year, eight people from across Western Australia gathered at the Geraldton Aquarena for a Pool Operations Training course.

Innovative solutions abound at Logan City Council

In April, Logan City Council announced its 2006 Employee Innovation Awards. Major prizes went to staff involved in developing and constructing two new pieces of equipment: a mobile sewage pumping facility and specially designed truck steps.

Future directions in administration and management systems

Future directions is a regular feature. This month we interviewed Russell Peate, CEO District Council of Grant, South Australia.

Connected Intelligence – the single solution for LG

With its well established reputation for enterprise software solutions, Technology One has recently released its Connected Intelligence (Ci) platform, which upgrades the company’s “best in class” applications to provide a single seamless system using one common database.

Brisbane’s pix-o-gram trial provides great results

Brisbane City Council residents are using mobile phones to photograph damaged Council property and text them to Council to be fixed.

Ryde’s break from tradition focuses on the future

The City of Ryde has broken tradition and held a Committee of the Whole meeting outside of Council Chambers.

Report calls for LG industry reforms

An independent report has assessed the City of Gosnells as currently being in a sound financial position compared to other Perth Local Governments.

Murrindindi raises bushfire awareness

Following the 2006 summer bushfires in Victoria, Murrindindi Shire Council in the State’s outer north central held a Bushfire Recovery Roadshow.

Cost effective solution for parking infringement management*

Tenix Solutions offers a unique solution to completely manage the parking infringement lifecycle that can be tailored to suit Councils both large and small.

232 Local Councils across Australia collaborate to reduce red tape for business

The Australian Government through its business program delivery division, AusIndustry, established the $50 million Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund to provide Local Government Authorities (LGAs) with incentives to reduce the compliance burden on small and home based businesses.

Tasmania releases new Council cost index

The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) recently released its second Council cost index to assist Councils with their rate setting deliberations.

Pittwater Council: preventing outbreaks rather than fighting them*

Established in May 1992 as a separate New South Wales Local Government area, Pittwater Council borders the Narrabeen Bridge to the south, Tasman Sea to the east, Barrenjoey Headland to the north and Coal and Candle Creek to the west.

Councillor tours target far reaching community

Clarence Valley Council in New South Wales is using a Councillors’ Tours Program to reach its constituent population, which is spread over an area of 10,440 square kilometres.

Comprehensive enterprise compliance, risk and OHS management software*

Distributed Technology System’s QSE IMS is a comprehensive and easy to use quality, safety and environment workplace management system that has a proven record within local Councils and similar organisations.

Fixing the black spots on Australia’s roads

The Australian Government will spend $345 million over six years to fix about 2,300 dangerous locations on Australia’s roads. The extra spending will save lives and reduce the number of road accidents.

Message from the Minister

Welcome to my latest column for this important Local Government publication. Recently, I attended two meetings that I would like to report on – the Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council (LGPMC) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.

Governance activities on the ground: Monitoring the Aceh elections

Aceh’s local elections, held on 11 December 2006, were an historic event for the Indonesian province. The culmination of a two year peace process, it was the first time the Acehnese people were able to directly elect their own governor, and the first time independent candidates were permitted to run in the polls.

Invite your local businesses to register, be consulted and have their say

A new website that gives you up to date information about regulation reviews being undertaken across the Australian Government is now available.

Councils working through difficult times

Is your community suffering from drought? Does your community have too many difficulties to know what to do next? Then you can take heart from the experiences of the Goulburn-Mulwaree and the Campaspe Shire Councils.