From the President
 As you might expect, Jim Lloyd and Warren Truss have spent the week criss-crossing the country promoting the many transport merits contained in last week's Federal Budget. Warren Truss was in Tasmania yesterday confirming the Commonwealth's $60m commitment to the East Tamar Highway. On Tuesday he was in NSW opening new bridges in Lachlan Shire funded under the Roads to Recovery program. The shire will get an additional $1.3m as a result of $300m Budget boost for the R2R program. Meanwhile, Jim Lloyd has been undertaking a driving tour in southwest Victoria, talking to councils about road funding issues. Speaking on local radio, Jim Lloyd said the one thing that councils had expressed was "their great appreciation of the additional money that was announced for councils in the last Budget". I strongly encourage all councils to let their local federal members know - as publicly as possible - how much this additional funding is (1) needed and (2) appreciated. It's important this message gets to parliamentarians regardless of their party affiliation. As we focus on the needs of local roads, make sure you don't miss this year's National Local Roads and Transport Congress, to be held in Alice Springs on July 9-11. The Congress provides us with an important opportunity to look at our medium to long term transport needs and priorities. To this end, we will consider a draft national local roads and transport strategy. But get in early to ensure you secure your preferred accommodation options in Alice. We already have 200 registrations - and that's before the registration brochure has been mailed! See you in Alice.
Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President
Butt Trust sparks health concerns
Public health groups are concerned that the Butt Littering Trust is approaching councils and community groups offering financial incentives for joint initiatives to join its "Butt Free City" campaign. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) says the Trust was established and funded by British American Tobacco, one of the world's biggest tobacco companies. It considers the Trust's campaign to be a tobacco industry exercise in public relations to improve their image and to avoid measures that would be effective in reducing cigarette use. It also says the campaign gives the tobacco industry an avenue to be in contact with community leaders via local government. ASH says health organisations believe that although education is one important component of a campaign to reduce butt litter, the more effective measures of reducing cigarette use with audited reduction targets are avoided. Rather than supporting council initiatives for smoke-free outdoor dining areas, playgrounds and beaches, the Trust's interest is limited to educating smokers to bin their butts. The Trust says (PDF) the tobacco industry provides funding on a "no strings attached" basis. ASH has information for councils on smoking and health issues on its website. ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, said it was important that councils had all the facts and would seek further information from health groups.
Bushfire mitigation program
Federal Local Government Minister Jim Lloyd has invited councils to apply for funding for projects in 2006-07 under the bushfire mitigation program. The program provides $15m over three years for projects that identify and address bushfire mitigation priorities. Funding is available for eligible local government bushfire trail activities, with costs to be shared on a one third basis between the federal, state and local government. Applications must be received by June 30 and will be assessed on a competitive basis. Further details on the Department of Transport and Regional Services website.
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Sustainable Melbourne 2030
June 14-15 2006 - Melbourne
The Sustainable Melbourne 2030 and Beyond Conference will review in detail the progress towards achieving the Melbourne 2030 goals of building a liveable, balanced society which harmonises the city's economic, cultural and environmental goals.
The two-day conference on June 14-15 at Zinc at Federation Square will examine the achievements to date of the Melbourne 2030 plan with a number of case studies from councils that have implemented projects building on the 2030 framework.
Planning Minister, Rob Hulls, will deliver the keynote speech and there will be important contributions from Shelley Penn, Associate Victorian Government Architect; Jim Betts, the Director of Public Transport, and Mike Scrafton, the General Manager, Growth Areas Authority Establishment Taskforce.
Senior managers from a number of councils including Greensborough, Frankston, the City of Port Phillip and Moreland will outline their planning initiatives in response to Melbourne 2030, and there will also be important contributions from senior planning consultants which will help to illuminate the challenges and the opportunities within the 2030 framework. In particular, the role of the Growth Areas Authority will be outlined and explained.
This Conference provides a unique opportunity for public and private sector decision-makers involved in, or affected by, the Melbourne urban plan to be brought up to date with the key issues. More than 200 people are expected to attend this event and there will be ample opportunities for vigorous feedback sessions and networking. For more details, including the full conference document and registration details, please go to www.halledit.com.au or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au or telephone 03 8534 5000.
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Council broadband role confirmed
The Australian Government will shortly call for expressions of interest in its $878m Broadband Connect program. Communications Minister Helen Coonan told a Telecommunications Users Group conference in Canberra this week that the process would be open to all interested parties including state, territory and local governments, telecommunications companies, utilities and infrastructure investment companies. An application-based or tender process aimed at funding "significant, scalable and competitive" infrastructure projects would be called later this year. Senator Coonan said these projects would need to meet "the needs of regional Australia, from large regional centres to smaller regional, rural and remote communities".
WALGA campaign targets skills shortage
Overcoming the severe skills shortage facing local government is a key objective of a new television advertising campaign launched by the Western Australian Local Government Association this week. The campaign, to be broadcast on both metropolitan and regional networks, promotes the wide range of jobs in local government, the opportunities to work in any part of the state and the diversity of facilities and services provided by councils. WALGA President, Cr Bill Mitchell, said the campaign would also help to "dispel the outdated notion that council rates and decisions are only concerned with roads and rubbish collection".
Council ageing award
The Office for an Ageing Australia is sponsoring the Planning for an Ageing Community Award, a part of the 2006 National Awards for Local Government. The award recognises the important role that local government can play in planning for the social and economic impacts of an ageing population. For further information please contact the awards team on freecall 1800 065 113 or see the awards website. Entries close on close midnight Tuesday June 13.
Heart Foundation awards
Councils have until June 9 to enter the prestigious Heart Foundation Kellogg Local Government Awards for 2006. The awards are open for all initiatives that build social connections, encourage people to get active and/or promote healthy food choices. The awards include $30,000 in cash prizes, plaques and recognition across four categories. Local governments that create supportive environments to promote better health and reduce the risk of chronic conditions can receive recognition through the awards. Further information from the Heart Foundation website or call 1300 362 787.
Community crime prevention
Australia is hosting a major conference in September for the International Centre for Prevention of Crime, a non-government organisation established in 1994 to help countries and cities enhance safety and reduce delinquency, violent crime and fear of crime. The conference is themed 'Communities in Action for Crime Prevention'. Individuals from local government interested in presenting a paper are asked to complete a registration-of-interest form and return it to the conference organsiers as soon as possible. Abstracts must be completed by May 31.
Nominate your planning heritage sites
What sites and places connected to urban and town planning around Australia may have national heritage significance? The Federal Department of the Environment and Heritage has commissioned the City Futures Research Centre at the University of NSW to undertake a study of urban and town planning achievements to provide a context for identifying and assessing nominations for the National Heritage List. The study will cast a wide net to identify places that may best express Australia's planning achievements. Councils and other stakeholders are asked to nominate places of potential significance by July 1 through a short on-line survey. Inquiries to planningheritage@fbe.unsw.edu.au or Dr Simon Pinnegar on 02 9385 6042.
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Public Relations Conference
Confirmed speakers include senior practitioners from Telstra, National Australia Bank, Kraft, CSIRO, Foster's Group, City of Melbourne, AMCOR, Tattersall's, Burson-Marsteller, Hill and Knowlton, Wrights, Communicado and many more.
Hear the media perspective from: ABC, The Age, 3AW, Sunday Herald Sun, Herald and Weekly Times, Channel Seven, The Podcast Network and Triple R.
If your role involves communicating with external and internal stakeholders such as: Local, State and Federal Government, broadcast and print media, pressure groups and employees, then this conference will appeal to you.
Full program and registration available on our website: www.frocomm.com.au
Delegate registration: $995 (+gst)
25th and 26th July
Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne
Team discount: Register 3 delegates and receive a 4th place free.
Contact: Glen Frost, Frocomm Australia. Tel: 02 9489 9010
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