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Strategic Regional Program – councils must move quickly to take up offers

As reported in 'ALGA News' immediately after the Budget, the Government has decided to provide $250 million in the current financial year for the AusLink Strategic Regional Program. The funding is being offered to councils that had submitted projects under this program but were not successful in receiving funding in the initial round.

The Government has selected a number of the previously unsuccessful projects and is making offers directly to those councils based on their original submissions. No new submissions are expected to be sought at this time.

The Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mark Vaile, is making the offers in writing to the councils that have submitted the selected projects. These councils will be followed up with phone calls from Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) officials.

The funding is to be provided to councils in the 2006-07 financial year. The funds must be transferred to council bank accounts by 30 June to fund the physical works in the future. The funding can only be transferred if funding agreements are in place. DOTARS has set 15 June as the closing date for the completion of funding agreements or the offer lapses.

As most projects receiving offers involve some joint funding, councils will need to consider the offer in the light of their ability to meet the joint funding required. If councils do not wish to proceed with an offer they should let DOTARS know as soon as possible so that consideration can be made to offering the funds to an alternative project.

Swansea is Australia's tidiest town

The Tasmanian coastal town of Swansea has won the title of Australia's Tidiest Town for 2007.

Swansea triumphed over 1,000 entries in the competition. Finalists were Cue, WA; Kingston, SA; Benalla, Victoria; Leeton in NSW and Roma in QLD.

The town boasts a substantial number of historic homes and buildings and was praised for its heritage restoration, colourful banners and well-kept residential gardens.

Recycling and resource recovery initiatives were also key to the win. Don Chambers, chair of Keep Australia Beautiful, which runs the competition, praised the competing towns' commitment to being green as well as tidy.

"It is particularly good to see that many towns are recognising the challenges posed by climate change and are working to address this issue," Mr Chambers said. "Swansea has shown a wide diversity of interaction between communities, local government, businesses and citizens. "Each and every one of our participants deserves thanks for their efforts to become a sustainable community."

Keep Australia Beautiful, together with ALGA and the Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, are pleased to announce that the winner of our Tidy Towns competition is Sally Siepen, Executive Officer of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council who correctly guessed Swansea to win the national title of Australia's Tidiest Town for 2007.

Sally will win $1000 prize money to be utilized for recycling and/or litter prevention of packaging materials. Free training on bin placement and management will also be provided by the PSF.

Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan addresses National Press Club

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In his Budget Reply Address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan said that Labor would be 'fiscally conservative' in government and would expand the productive capacities of the nation through a major boost to investment in education and learning.

Mr Swan said Labor would address the infrastructure challenges facing Australia's major cities: "Labor believes that the Federal Government, in partnership with states, territories and local governments, has a constructive role to play in city infrastructure."

"Under Labor, a 'Major Cities' program would support practical initiatives in our major cities to deal with urban infrastructure shortfalls," he said. "We'll start by establishing an independent body called Infrastructure Australia - to objectively identify priority infrastructure projects and remove hurdles to fast-track them whether private or public sector resources are used."

Last week, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd and Shadow Infrastructure and Water Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Labor would address the water crisis facing Australia's cities and towns, with a $250 million plan to fix leaky pipes and save some of the 155 thousand megalitres of water lost in major cities each year. ALGA President Cr Paul Bell has welcomed the announcement.

Mr Swan said that Labor was also looking at ways of working with the state and local governments to improve other social infrastructure such as housing, health, education, and community infrastructure, and would continue to announce 'Major Cities' policies throughout the year.

Cr Bell said urban policy was an important priority for local government and he was looking forward to hearing further detail about the 'Major Cities' initiative, first announced by Mr Rudd in December.
From the President

The push for a Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund (LCIRF) is gathering momentum with support from key lobby groups that recognise its importance in maintaining the wellbeing of Australian communities.

The National Heart Foundation of Australia has enthusiastically endorsed our proposal. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases kill more Australians than any other disease group-47,600 deaths (36% of all deaths) and two of the major risk factors are being overweight and physically inactive.

This is why the National Heart Foundation of Australia believes it makes sense in terms of getting communities moving by renewing tired community sporting facilities which need upgrading such as walking tracks, swimming pools, playgrounds and ovals.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has expressed its support for the LCIRF because of the state of many of Australia's council-owned libraries which urgently need new carpet, renovations and in many cases, air-conditioning. Libraries are the hubs of many communities and host a range of activities and programs which can assist with problems of alienation by providing engagement and life-long learning.

Other friends have come on board such as Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) and the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors who are helping us spread the word. The Community Infrastructure Ideas Register on the ALGA website is also providing a valuable resource for informing decision-makers that there is an urgent need for the LCIRF, as identified in the PricewaterhouseCoopers report into local government funding. We have 170 ideas registered on the website and hope to reach double that by the end of June. Keep them coming!

This week in the media were two pieces of news that underscore the importance of community infrastructure renewal. Firstly was the news report that the continuing drought could worsen Australia's childhood obesity crisis.

Mark Brown, the executive officer of Sports Medicine Australia's Queensland branch, said an increasing number of sportspeople were suffering injuries because of cement-like sporting surfaces. He said sporting associations should be wary of giving up on maintaining sporting fields.

"If all the grounds are closed, there's going to be a lot of people not getting enough exercise. It might lead to more time in front of the (television) screen."

Local government will be under increasing pressure to work with sporting clubs to ensure that local sport doesn't dry up because of the drought.

The other pressure facing councils in NSW is the NSW Government’s decision this week to cap council rate rises. As my colleague Local Government and Shires Association president Genia McCaffery said, this will make it harder to maintain infrastructure and services. Rate rises of 3.4 per cent would help councils cover general operating costs, but would not allow them to make a dent in crippling infrastructure backlogs.

Councils around Australia are facing infrastructure backlogs and are under increasing financial pressure. The fact that local government does not have a growth tax such as the GST and that Financial Assistance Grants are not linked to cost movements such as wages and population growth is not just unfair, it means that communities are feeling the pinch through no fault of their own. They are paying their taxes but not getting the tangible benefits through adequate community facilities.

Local government and friends such as the Heart Foundation, ALIA, and others, are aware that a commitment by the Government and Opposition to fund community infrastructure is an issue of basic fairness but also of critical importance to the health and vitality of all Australians. That is why they are backing us all the way to ensure the LCIRF is included in the election commitments of both major parties.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

2008 to be Year of the Scout

The Scout movement will receive a multi-million dollar grant to install rainwater tanks as a federal government tribute to Year of the Scout, to be celebrated in Australia next year.

Announcing the Year of the Scout, Prime Minister John Howard said the movement would receive $17.7 million for tanks at its 16,000 halls across the country and a special coin would be struck in the movement's honour. The initiatives mark 100 years next year since the scouting movement kicked off in Australia.

Do Not Call registrations reach 500,000

More than five hundred thousand Australians listed their phone numbers on the national Do Not Call Register in the first week since it opened for pre-registrations.

‘We have had a fantastic response to the opening of the online registrations. And there's still plenty of time for people to get on board, either online, by mail or by telephone, before the register becomes fully operational on 31 May,' said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Online registration is available at www.donotcall.gov.au

Consumers can now also register by mail using the application form available from both the ACMA and the Do Not Call Register websites. Registration forms will be available in post offices from mid-May. Telephone registrations will open on 22 May. From 31 May it will be illegal to make telemarketing calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Register.

From 25 May, telemarketers will be able to submit their calling lists to the register operator for checking against the register. This will allow sufficient time for telemarketers affected to have their lists checked against the register before 31 May.

Local greenhouse action delivers results

A decade of action by local governments participating in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Australia program, has helped reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 8.8 million tonnes - the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off Australian roads for a year, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Malcolm Turnbull has said.

CCP Australia is the world's largest and most successful local government greenhouse action program. It is part of the CCP international program, delivered in Australia in partnership with the Australian Government (through the Australian Greenhouse Office) and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. CCP encourages and supports local governments in initiating innovative actions within their local communities and operations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the Australian Government's investment of close to $20 million in CCP Australia," Mr Turnbull said. "During that time 218 local governments, representing 16 million Australians, have become world leaders in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the local level - an exceptional achievement."

Examples of innovative actions by CCP councils include Lismore Council in NSW using 'armies' of 100 million worms to reduce waste, and Northam Council in WA converting old railway houses into clean, green affordable homes for local residents.

"Australian local councils should be proud of their actions in tackling climate change. It's encouraging to see actions at the local level contributing to a better quality of life for individuals as well as the wider community and the world," Mr Turnbull said.

CCP Australia is part of the Australian Government’s more than $2 billion national climate change strategy. It is part of the Local Greenhouse Action initiative which helps local government, communities and individual households reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. For more information: www.greenhouse.gov.au/local

An opportunity for Australian councils to contribute valuable information that will shape the future

Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is conducting a study into energy consumption and energy sources for all types of Australian organisations that have large energy requirements. Local Government Councils are a valuable part of Australian society and by contributing information about your council's energy needs you can help to shape Australia's energy future.

How can you help?

Does your Council have an electricity bill greater than $10,000 per year? If so, by completing a short web-based survey, you can provide valuable information that will help inform future efforts to meet the energy needs of Australian organisations, both public and private.

What is in the survey?

The survey contains questions about your organisation’s inputs, outputs and energy consumption, and asks for opinions about some new energy technologies that CSIRO is investigating. The survey will take only 15-20 minutes to complete. To complete the survey go to: www.csiro.au/news/energysurvey.

What happens to your responses?

Survey responses are anonymous and will remain confidential within CSIRO. Reports generated from the survey will involve summaries of organisations only - no individual organisations will be described. Participation is voluntary and organisations are, of course, free to withdraw from the study at any time.

If you choose, we will send you a summary of the survey results once the study is complete.

Do you want more information?

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact Dr. John Gardner on (07) 3327 4076 or via email at John.Gardner@csiro.au.

Mental Health Week

Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) would like to invite all local councils around Australia to get involved in Mental Health week 7th - 13th October 2007.

The aim of Mental Health Week is to promote the importance of good mental health and well-being, prevent mental illness and remove the stigma associated with mental illness.

MMHA is the National leader in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. MMHA links a wide range of state and territory mental health specialists and services, advocacy groups and tertiary institutions to promote the mental health and well being of Australia's diverse communities. Further information: www.mmha.org.au

Rural doctors 'really neglected'

A survey by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has found rural GPs and specialists are at breaking point.

The survey of more than 3,000 rural doctors has found they are burning out, packing up and leaving town because of the stress, poor conditions and second-rate equipment.

Medical practices are winding down and hospitals are closing theatres and wards.

But Dr David Rivett from the AMA's Rural Reference Group says the situation is not because doctors do not want to work in the bush, or because they are not being paid enough.

Dr Rivett says working conditions and lack of support are driving rural doctors away.

"It's really the burden of the long hours on call that came through most strongly," he said.

"They felt guilty about taking a holiday or taking a break and doctors were talking about retiring early just to preserve their health because they're getting more stressed because of this."

Dr Rivett also says lack of proper resources and equipment is a problem.

"We had a period where endoscopes became so outmoded the surgeons refused to use them," he said.

"In the emergency department we weren't supplied with suture sets ... if you speak to doctors throughout Australia, the same thing's happening."

The Future of Local Government Summit

The MAV is hosting the third 'Future of Local Government Summit' on June 12 and 13, 2007 at the RACV Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

This 2007 Summit is an important event and provides all councillors/CEOs/senior managers with the opportunity to influence the strategic planning process for the sector, assisted by some of the leading local government thinkers from around the world. Online registration and other details are available at www.mav.asn.au/majorevents/FOLGSummit

Taskforce tackles indigenous planning

A new Indigenous Planning Taskforce has been launched in a bid to encourage planners to work with Indigenous Australians to build sustainable Indigenous communities.

The creation of the Indigenous Planning Taskforce was announced at the Planning Institute of Australia's (PIA) annual National Congress held at the Perth Convention Centre recently.

Its launch was followed by a keynote address by Reconciliation Australia Director and former Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal the Hon Fred Chaney, who has worked over many years on Aboriginal recognition, land rights and reconciliation.

Mr Chaney welcomed the establishment of the Taskforce.

"In the wake of the 1992 Mabo decision, many planners have had to re-think their traditional ways of working and there have been some positive leaps made in this area," he said.

"Recognition of native title has launched the planning profession into an exciting new realm - one that still needs to be fine tuned, but that has the potential to produce great spin-offs through collaboration.

"As with any change, it presents an opportunity for enhanced reconciliation flowing from recognition of special legal status. It has caused some sections of Australian society to rethink their relationships and it has required planners to take this new legal framework into account.

"At best it has produced opportunities for:

  • imaginative ways to regulate coexistence in a way which enhances all relevant interests
  • new opportunities for social and economic advancement, and
  • newly respectful relationships."

The first role of the Taskforce will be to identify practical, achievable actions for raising awareness and understanding of this issue within the profession and to engage with Indigenous populations to begin the exchange of values, knowledge and skills.

Hornsby Shire Council receives e-Government Award

Special Minister of State, Gary Nairn, announced the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) the winner of the e-Award for Excellence in e-Government for its eCensus in 2006.

The Hornsby Shire Council received a highly commended award for its Councils Online Services which allows extended hours access to council services and will make business dealings with council easier.
Advisory group on federal-state relations

Federal Labor today announced the formation of an Advisory Group on Federal/State Relations. It will make recommendations on how to improve relations between levels of government and assist on policy development in this important area before the forthcoming Federal election. The Shadow Minister for Federal State Relations Bob McMullan said that a wide variety of individuals, organisations and committees had identified the need for reform of our federation. "Disparate groups including the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Local Government Association have called for change in State-Federal relations," he said. ALGA President Cr Paul Bell said he would meet with Mr McMullan as early as next week to discuss the terms of reference of the advisory group and ALGA's objectives in terms of constitutional recognition and reform of financial arrangements such as revision of the escalation methodology of the Financial Assistance Grants.

ALP Roundtable - "Creating Health Promoting Communities"

ALGA welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the recent Opposition Roundtable - "Creating Health Promoting Communities" - held at Parliament House last Friday.

Local government was invited to contribute by Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Sport & Recreation and Health Promotion. The Roundtable was aimed at providing input into how a Federal Labor Government could be more effective in building and supporting health communities.

ALGA made a number of contributions to the Roundtable, including discussion of measures that would increase the capacity and resources of local government to contribute to planning and delivery of services and programs for their local communities.

ALGA was also keen to promote the potential for local government, as a sphere of government able to readily identify local needs, and therefore with the capacity for a higher level of involvement in the development of funding programs and policy at a national level.

The connection between local infrastructure and healthy communities was also firmly on the agenda, with ALGA taking the opportunity to promote the benefits of the Local Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund proposal.

Survey shows state governments to blame for the housing affordability crisis

Results from the Residential Development Council survey indicate 39 per cent of people think state governments are responsible for the lack of affordable housing.

Nineteen per cent blamed the Federal Government and 14 per cent pointed the finger at local governments.

The Development Council's executive director, Ross Elliott, says the results show the community is more informed about the property market.

"State governments hold most of the policy levers that affect housing markets, " he said.

"They're in control of land supply and they've been restricting land supply in recent years which has been forcing up prices."

Thousands sign petition against council amalgamation

More than 5,600 people have signed an online petition to the Queensland parliament protesting against the proposed forced council amalgamations.

The petition was launched last week in the wake of the public protest at Barcaldine, in Queensland's south-west, attracted such a big response.

Speaking at the Day of Action in Barcaldine, Federal Local Government Minister Jim Lloyd has said the government would continue to fund councils at the same level even if mergers were forced on them.

"This process that they have undertaken ... has taken away the democratic process," he said. "It is unacceptable."

Minister Lloyd said the proposal from Premier Beattie to engage in forced amalgamations had the capacity to affect some 45,000 existing local government jobs.

The Prime Minister John Howard told Federal Parliament last week that Premier Peter Beattie had misjudged the mood of local communities.

"I think this is an abuse of power," he said. "These premiers every day of the week are saying: `Canberra is running roughshod over our rights and our interests', but if a local council gets in their way they essentially rub it out. I think that the premier of Queensland has misread the mood and the temper of his own state."

Labor leader Kevin Rudd weighed in on the council amalgamation debate, saying they shouldn't be forced to merge.

Mr Rudd said Mr Beattie should review his controversial plan and that there are better ways to fix the councils' problems.

Mr Rudd told ABC radio earlier this week that the councils should be allowed to use their collective financial muscle to invest in infrastructure, which could save them hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr Rudd met Mr Beattie on Wednesday to discuss his concerns that the furore is damaging Labor's chances of winning the federal election due later this year. He floated the idea of testing the views of communities at a referendum at the local government elections next March.

Clever Networks Round Two

Federal Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan says a $600 million national broadband plan will be announced some time after June.

Senator Coonan says an announcement is pending on the Government's Broadband Connect program, which will deliver high-speed Internet services to many more parts of the country.

Senator Coonan has called for a further round of submissions under the Australian Government's Clever Networks program.

Clever Networks delivers funding for smart solutions that provide the use of broadband for the delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia. The Clever Networks program has a focus on the use of broadband in health, education, government and emergency services. The Round 2 guidelines place a greater focus on encouraging applications from organisations directly involved in the delivery of these - such as community groups and not-for-profit organisations.

"I encourage all those interested applicants to have a good look at the successful projects from Round 1." Senator Coonan said.

Applications for funding under Round 2 of the Clever Networks program must be lodged by 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Monday 9 July 2007. It is likely that successful applications will involve projects from broadband service providers, and possibly other organisations able to provide similar services.

On 17 April 2007, Senator Coonan announced 16 preferred applicants under Round 1 of the Clever Networks Innovative Services Delivery element.

Clever Networks is part of the Australian Government's $1.1 billion Connect Australia package.

Guidelines and the submission package for round 2 are available at www.dcita.gov.au/clever_networks

SE Qld broadband plan

Woolworths chairman James Strong will spearhead a local council proposal to improve broadband services in south-east Queensland.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who is chairman of the region's Council of Mayors, said Mr Strong had agreed to be the inaugural chair of the local government-owned company, ConnectSEQ Pty Ltd, which aims to deliver next generation broadband infrastructure to the state's south-east.

The mayors' ConnectSEQ proposal aims to provide one in seven Australians with 50+ megabits per second access to a next generation broadband network.

The mayors are seeking $100 million from the federal government's Connect Australia program to better link the nation's fastest growing region to the information super highway.

They want to roll out fibre optic broadband cable throughout south-east Queensland while the state government rolls out its water grid infrastructure.

Mr Strong said the broadband plan would provide "community and economic development benefits and opportunities".

National Youth Agenda

Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) is developing a draft document entitled "Towards a National Agenda for Young People". The aim is to construct a consensus agenda on key issues for young Australians to complement the Research Directions themes established in 2004-05 and refined by the September 2005 think tank.

The first draft of the National Youth Agenda has now been updated and posted on the ARACY website

The project is being convened by Geoff Holloway at ARACY's Canberra office (Ph: 02 6232 5261, mobile 0424 497 409 or e-mail geoffh@aracy.org.au ).

New asset management framework proposal for NSW councils

Local Government peak bodies have welcomed the release of the NSW Department of Local Government's position paper entitled Asset Management Planning for NSW Local Government, which proposes a new asset management framework for councils in NSW.

The paper responds to the findings and recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into the Financial Sustainability of NSW Local Government (Allan Report).

The inquiry found that only 20 per cent of councils have adequate asset management systems and practices in place and recommended that all councils – with technical and financial support from the NSW Government - adopt total asset management systems with consistent asset accounting practices.

The position paper was developed by the Department of Local Government in close consultation with the NSW Infrastructure Task Force which includes the Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA), the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA), the Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA), and the Local Government Auditors Association.

Major features of the proposed framework include:

  • Strategic long term asset management and financial planning become essential components of an integrated strategic planning framework across NSW Local Government;
  • Legislative amendments requiring long term asset management and 10-year strategic and financial planning be introduced in a broad manner into the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW);
  • Councils to adopt asset management systems and practices which are broadly consistent with the national framework for financial sustainability and asset management, and where applicable and practical, the IPWEA’s International Infrastructure Management Manual;
  • Establishment of a financial reporting framework for asset management that is embedded in the strategic planning process. This framework would significantly improve current reporting requirement, particularly Special Schedule 7;
  • An initial basic (core) approach to asset management be suggested as an agreed minimum level for all NSW councils; and
  • An improvement and capacity building program to progressively raise asset management including a range of training, tools, templates and guidelines be introduced.

Similar programs have been funded in South Australia and Queensland in close consultation with relevant State Treasuries who have recognised it is in their state interests to ensure that community infrastructure assets are effectively and efficiently managed, so that the states are not at risk of the moral hazard of being the 'underwriter of last resort.'

Terminal illness - make a difference

The Australian Local Government Association is working in partnership with Palliative Care Australia to support a new national campaign designed to promote a better understanding of terminal illness and palliative care.

The campaign will focus on National Palliative Care Week (20-26 May) and it will appeal to all local government and city councils to assist wherever possible to help to promote these important messages in all Australian communities.

Palliative Care Australia has the support of more than 25 national organisations and over this week and next all councils will receive an Event Resource Kit containing a variety of information material: four posters, three sets of brochures, some balloons, stickers, speaking notes and draft media releases.

These are all designed for councils to place posters and brochures in areas accessible to the public, such as council chambers and libraries, and for staff to wear the stickers when dealing with the public. Speaking notes are suitable to make comment during council meetings or at public venues. The draft Media Release can be adjusted to include your comments and then go to local media outlets.

The new campaign is called the National Community Education Initiative and it aims to help people in their own communities to develop the healthy attitudes, knowledge and understanding about how people experience terminal illness in themselves or those close to them.

PCA is making available Events Resource Kits containing our new informational brochures and posters to support the campaign. An order form will be placed on the website www.pallcare.org.au to order the Event resource Kits or to order brochures.

Quote of the week

"Enough research will tend to support your theory."
Murphy's Law

International news  

Britain's youngest municipal councillor was elected when an 18-year-old high school student won a seat on his local authority.

The lowering of the minimum age limit from 21 to 18 meant William Lloyd was able to stand for the Conservative Party in Brentwood, 50 kilometres east of London.

Lloyd, who is studying politics, history, geography and travel and tourism at Brentwood County High School, defeated the sitting Liberal Democrat councillor to win a place on Brentwood Borough Council.

The teenager, who cites his political heroes as former British prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, is hoping to combine his duties as a councillor with study for a politics degree from September. "Most councillors have full-time jobs and fulfil their duties at the same time so I don't think it will be a problem," he said.

About 10,500 seats were contested for 312 English councils. Polls were also held for Scotland's 32 councils, plus the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

State of the Regions report 2006-07