Friday 24 February 2006 » Australian Local Government Association » Subscribe  » Archive of past issues

ALGA farewells Ian Chalmers

ALGA's Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers

ALGA's Chief Executive, Ian Chalmers, steps down from his post today after five years at the helm of Australia's peak local government organisation. ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, thanked Mr Chalmers for his strong contribution to local government during this time. "Ian will be remembered for his articulate advocacy of local government issues in key national forums and his management of a number of successful local government campaigns. The most important of these was securing the renewal - and expansion - of the Roads to Recovery program, now worth almost $1.5bn to councils over the next four years. Ian will be missed by the Executive and staff. We wish him well in his future career," Cr Bell said. A new chief executive would be announced in the near future. ALGA's Executive Director, Research and Policy, John Pritchard, will be acting Chief Executive in the interim.

NSW planning changes an "assault on local democracy"

House plans

New planning 'reforms' by the NSW Government constituted an attack on local communities and the democratic process of local government, the Local Government Association of NSW said yesterday. NSW LGA President, Cr Genia McCaffery, said NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor had threatened to "strip councils of their vital role in delivering development approvals". The Minister says he will remove the planning powers of councils which he declares to be under-performing in terms of time taken to reach critical decisions, without any definition of the criteria he will adopt. "Communities across NSW should be extremely concerned," Cr McCaffery said. "If their councils don't give approvals in double quick time, the Minister will remove their planning powers and determine them himself." In the past two months the state government has alarmed many councils by taking control of state significant development, removing councils from the planning determination. "This is the same Minister who as Lord Mayor of Sydney put out a 64-page glossy booklet titled Unwanted Legacies of the Land and Environment Court," Cr McCaffrey said. "And I'm not heartened to learn that the Property Council of Australia, many of whose members are major political donors, are cheering from the sidelines all the way," Cr McCaffery said. ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, said there was a major push underway by property interests to undermine the democratic decision-making process. "This must be vigorously opposed," he said. Cr McCaffrey is seeking an urgent meeting with the NSW Premier to express local government concerns over these attacks on councils and local democracy.

Strong growth puts more pressure on councils

Residential area sign

Outer suburban areas of capital cities - the so-called fringe cities - continued to record strong population growth in 2004-05, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday. In Melbourne, Wyndham increased by 7,900 during the year and Casey by 7,400. In Sydney, Blacktown increased by 5,400 and Baulkham Hills by 3,500. Strong growth was also experienced in a number of inner city areas, with the City of Perth recording the highest growth of all local government areas in Australia, up 13.1%. Coastal areas also grew rapidly. Mandurah and Busselton, both south of Perth, grew by 3,400 and 1,700 people respectively, while in Queensland, Cairns increased by 3,000 and Caloundra by 2,800. Inland regional centres such as Ballarat (up 1,800) in Victoria, Toowoomba (up 1,800) in Queensland and Maitland (up 1,700) in NSW all continued to gain population. The population of SE Queensland - including Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, grew by more than 53,00 people or more than 1,000 a week. ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, said that demographic change and population ageing were placing increasing pressure on council infrastructure and services. "We need fair federal funding to ensure councils can better meet the challenges of demographic change," Cr Bell said. "Nothing more, nothing less".
From the President

The Productivity Commission review of transport pricing - inspired by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) - is an interesting development for local government (see story below). It follows hot on the heels of National Transport Commission recommendations to increase road user charges for heavy vehicles. These are now before the nation's transport ministers for decision. The review holds the promise of addressing the current unproductive and noisy public debate on whether road or rail transport are currently advantaged or disadvantaged by the respective charging regimes under which they separately operate. The Productivity Commission review offers a further opportunity for ALGA to press for a share of user charges to be allocated to local government for the upkeep of the local road network. The Commission will release an issues paper shortly and invite submissions. The final report is to be presented to COAG by December. The question is, will COAG be willing to embark on a truly national scheme of transport pricing that is transparent and objective - or will the state and federal governments be more interested in protecting their individual sources of road-based revenue. Also noteworthy is the fact that the review is currently confined to freight transport but may recommend principles that could ultimately be applied to the entire road user population, including passenger cars.

Cr Paul Bell
ALGA President

PC to review transport pricing

The ever-busy Productivity Commission is to review the economic costs of freight infrastructure and efficient approaches to transport pricing. Announcing the review yesterday, Treasurer Peter Costello said it "should be based on principles that prices charged should reflect all costs in each mode and that there are benefits in a national pricing scheme". He also said the results would help implement efficient pricing of road and rail infrastructure through consistent and competitively neutral pricing regimes. The review is to examine mass, distance and location charging for freight transport and is to take into account environmental and safety impacts of different transport modes.

Interim NSW report out next week

An interim report on the financial sustainability of local government in NSW will be released next Tuesday. The report has been prepared by an independent inquiry established last year by the NSW Local Government and Shires Associations. More than 100 submissions have already been made to the inquiry. Further consultations will follow the release of the interim report with a final to be delivered by May 1. The inquiry, chaired by former NSW Treasury head, Prof Percy Allen, has been tasked with making an independent assessment of the financial status of the state's municipalities, including their exposure to cost shifting.

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Roadworks

Road and Pavement Engineering and Management Conference

March 7 - 8 2006
Flemington, Melbourne

New sources of road funding presented at Road and Pavement Engineering and Management Conference. Many of the Council Engineers speaking at the Road and Pavement Engineering and Management Conference, March 7 - 8, Melbourne will be discussing new strategies that their councils have implemented to secure a broader mix of road funds.

Steve Piasente, Manager Engineering Services, Bass Coast Shire Council will be presenting on Special Charge Schemes, whereas Stewart McLeod, Director Technical Services, Dubbo City Council will speak on Special rate Variations which if maintained will overcome the road funding shortfall in Dubbo.

In addition to funding, a wide range of technical and road management issues will be presented by a diverse mix of highly regarded speakers from both the public and private sectors. Case studies from council engineers are a feature of the conference, including presentations from Dubbo, Benalla, Moira Shire, George Town and Cardinia Councils.

Ian Matthews, General Manager Infrastructure Contracts, RTA NSW will deliver a keynote presentation on the RTA's experience with Alliance Contracting on the recently completed world class Lawrence Hargrave Drive Project.

There are two streams each day including roads, bridges, a landscape stream and a pavements workshop so that delegates can tailor the conference to their needs. Delegates may freely swap between any streams.

The full speaking program and registration details can be viewed at:

or contact Denise McQueen at:

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Conference

Third annual local government instrastructure conference

April 6-7 2006
Double Bay, Syney

The third annual Building and Financing Local Government Infrastructure Conference will be held in Sydney between April 6-7 at the Stamford Plaza in Double Bay.

This popular event which attracts more than 150 senior managers and councillors annually will focus on assisting local government decision makers to bridge the infrastructure financing gap and will showcase leading examples of innovation and success in building and financing much needed infrastructure.

Experts from a wide range of disciplines will address the conference including Ross Greenwood, the Deputy Director General of the NSW Dept of Local Government; the Hon Anna Bligh, Deputy Premier of Queensland; Maha Sinnathamby, the Chairman of the Greater Springfield Land Corporation; John Davis from IDSM; and Doug Owens from Banyule City Council.

Case studies will include the City of Townsville's Cleveland Bay Treatment Plant PPP: the City of Charles Sturt's clever use of debt financing to overcome what would have been a high cost replacement of major parts of its road system; Wollongong Council's City Beach Redevelopment and Parramatta City's CBD Renewal Project.

For more information about the conference see www.halledit.com.au or telephone Denise McQueen on 03 8534 5000.

State of the Regions report 2005-06
Managing emergency grants

Local government bodies and eligible volunteer emergency management groups nationwide have until March 3 to lodge applications for Australian Government funding under the Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative. The funding, offered through the Local Grants Scheme and the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund, is intended to assist in improving Australia's capability to manage emergencies and disasters and contribute to the development of safer sustainable communities. Attorney General Philip Ruddock has urged local groups to lodge applications for funding for 2006-07 by the March 3 deadline. Some 450 successful grants were made in the first funding round.

Corish report released

The much anticipated Corish report - a blueprint for agriculture in the medium term - has been released by the Australian Government. It makes more than 50 recommendations on issues including agricultural markets, biosecurity and biotechnology, water, climate change, transport, skills and labour supply and natural resource management. It also examines the agriculture sector's ability to adapt to change and remain competitive. The authors of the report believe the rural sector has a bright future ahead of them, as long as individuals, industries, communities and governments continue to work collaboratively. The Government is expected to respond to the recommendations in coming months.

Fuel Tax Bill under examination

Treasury is consulting ALGA on an exposure draft of the Fuel Tax Bill 2006. The Bill will implement significant changes to the fuel tax regime foreshadowed by the Australian Government's energy white paper. Under the new legislation, a single system of fuel tax credits for all taxable fuels will be introduced replacing the current complex array of fuel tax concessions. It will also establish - from July 2011 - a framework for the taxation of liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas at a "discounted" rate. These fuels will also become eligible for energy credits when used for certain purposes. All taxable fuels used in off-road applications for business purposes will become tax-free over time. From July 2006, the on-road energy credits will be extended to operators of vehicles between 4.5 and 20 tonnes (GVM) in urban areas, and will apply to all taxable fuels, including petrol. Compliance costs will be reduced by facilitating claims for energy credits through the business activity statement.

Council model option for Norfolk Island

The Australian Government has warned Norfolk Island residents that their distinct form of self-government is financially unsustainable and they should consider a local government model while handing some state-type powers to the Commonwealth. Territories Minister Jim Lloyd has announced new policy options for the Pacific island to address its financial difficulties. A financial study has suggested the island would probably become insolvent in two years under current arrangements. Mr Lloyd said two broad options would be considered in consultation with the island. One calls for a modified self-government model with greater involvement by the Australian Government. The second is a local government model, with state-type functions assumed by the Commonwealth. Federal government financial assistance could be extended to the island to provide an equitable level of service delivery comparable with Australian communities of a similar size.

Irish travel show seeks tales from Oz

ALGA News has been contacted by the producer of a popular Irish TV travel series seeking to make contact with Australian councils or tourist bureaus. The series - to be presented by Hector O hEochagáin (yes, he really is an Irish travel show presenter - we googled him) will film in Australia between April and June this year. The producer says they are "looking for mad stories, unusual people to interview, weird things, interesting, off track, wacky stories ... anything that would be really mad television viewing". Those game enough to try can contact the producer, Evan Chamberlain, via email at Good Company Productions - goodcompany@eircom.net

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ALGA logo

Industry Heavyweights Headline PR Conference

A stellar line-up of leading PR practitioners, editors and journalists will speak at the upcoming Public Relations & Corporate Communications Summit in Sydney in May. International guest keynote speaker Dr Leslie Gaines-Ross from Burson-Marsteller New York will give her perspective on the future role for in-house PR and Public Affairs practitioners.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Jane Schulze, Business Reporter, The Australian
  • Dr Leslie Gaines-Ross, Chief Knowledge Officer, Burson-Marsteller USA
  • David Breen, Director of News, Ten Network
  • Sandi Logan, Assistant Secretary, National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA)
  • Brett Gale, General Manager, Public Affairs, NRMA
  • Helen Karlis, GM Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, David Jones
  • Alastair Walton, Director of Communications, City of Sydney
  • Bryan Fitzgerald, GM, Media and Issues Management, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
  • Sarah Clarry, CSR and Communications Manager, Unilever Australasia
  • Alan Deans, Business Editor, The Bulletin/Newsweek… and many more

A must for everyone interested in the future of public, media and stakeholder relations. This two-day Summit ensures you have the opportunity to discuss critical issues, trends and opportunities with other PR practitioners in the industry.

Dates: Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd May 2006
Venue: Dockside, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Delegate registration: early bird just $995 (+gst)
Full details and register online at: www.frocomm.com.au
Contact: Glen Frost
Tel: 02 9489 9010

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TIE 2006
2nd Technology and Innovation (TIE) Conference

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
15-17 March 2006
Local Government Association of Queensland

TIE 2006 showcases the use of technology and innovation by councils from across Australia and New Zealand. The expo is a great opportunity to witness first-hand how Councils in Australia and New Zealand are exercising vision and leadership within their organisations, and for their communities. TIE is one of the highlights of the 2006 Local Government calendar. A selection of the best in council innovation and technology will be on offer with 13 council best practice showcases, 8 demonstrations from industry leaders,and 5 keynote sessions featuring renowned national and international speakers. Register now!