From the President
Although the Federal election has yet to be called ALGA is out on the front foot pushing its election strategy, 'A 10-Point Plan for the Reinvigoration of Local Communities', which was launched last week. The Plan brings together many of the priorities which the Association and I as President have been championing over the past twelve months; including the need for a Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund, and I have spent recent days discussing the proposals with Federal politicians and participating in numerous radio interviews.
I think that maximizing our chances to get local government's priorities addressed at the Federal level requires two things; a clear, consistent statement of those priorities and the engagement of politicians by councils at the local level.
Our 10 Point Plan meets the first requirement. It has clear deliverables and it includes no surprises. To be frank, if an election document is the first time the major parties hear about your election wish list then I think your chances of success are slim. It takes a lot of time and effort to achieve worthwhile goals and that is why the ALGA Board has been so focused on the outcomes of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report since December last year.
A good document on its own is not enough, however. As people say, all politics is local and we as local government need to fully engage our politicians at the local level if we want them to address our priorities. Local candidates have to see how serious councils are and we have to persuade them of the local benefits of our priorities if we want them to become our advocates within their own parties.
For this reason I urge all councilors to contact their local candidates for the federal election and draw attention to our priorities. In particular, it is important for councils to let the candidates know of the community infrastructure challenges which could be addressed by a Local Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund. Focus on real examples of infrastructure that currently cannot be maintained and on the benefits the local community will get from fixing the swimming pools, playground equipment, ovals, libraries, meals on wheels kitchens, community halls, etc.
Local government represents all Australians and delivers an increasingly broad range of services that make a difference to the lives of communities across our nation. ALGA's 10 Point Plan is aimed at meeting three major goals; Fair funding for local government, Fair treatment for local government and formal recognition. We have added a fourth goal - Meeting Future Challenges - to address some of the emerging priorities in the area of climate change, water, urban sustainability and broadband. To help us achieve those goals I encourage all of you to become champions of local communities and to let our politicians know what is important to local government.
Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President
Living libraries wins government funding
An innovative project using people as 'living libraries' to foster understanding and community harmony has been awarded funding under the Australian Government's Living in Harmony Partnerships programme.
Funding of $150,000 was awarded to the Lismore City Council for its project The National Living Library Implementation Strategy. Under the Living Library concept, people from diverse backgrounds are invited to libraries to be interviewed or 'read' by others.
The library creates a safe environment where people who would not normally meet, can learn about each other, breaking down barriers and enhancing community harmony.
Beach safety and the law
Australians love the beach, with up to 55 million visits made annually. The beach is also at the heart of our sea change culture, coastal development and tourism destination image. Keeping beaches safe and providing for sustainable future use is a critical challenge for all of us.
Scheduled for 8-9 November at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa, Gold Coast, this National Beach Safety and the Law Summit will examine a unique set of legal issues concerning roles and responsibilities for those groups charged with ensuring a visit to the beach is safe and enjoyable.
Registration and full Summit program details are available at www.beachsafety.qut.edu.au or www.beachsafety.qut.edu.au/brochure/
program.PDF for the program.
Students creating a better community
Secondary School IT students in the Victorian town of Korumburra have set a benchmark initiative by developing a local website for all members in the community.
Supported by local business and community groups, students of Korumburra Secondary College have been developing the community-based website for several months, and today they celebrated its launch.
The website www.korumburra.vic.au is the first Community Geographic Domain Name (CGDN) site to be fully developed by students for their local community. Its success may become the catalyst for the project to be replicated by other schools in Victoria, and other states.
The initiative was generated as part of the Korumburra Streetlife project 2007 - a six-month Victorian Government initiative managed by the South Gippsland Shire Council's Economic Development Unit to encourage diverse and sustainable business growth.
The response by local communities to the initiative shows the tremendous appeal to them of having local websites which are easily identified and remembered by their locality based address which is simply formed by combining their town or suburbs name, with the state or territory. It is the easiest way for a community to be found on the internet.
Applications for Community Geographic Domain Names are now open. Community groups can find all of the information they need to apply, including requirements and criteria online at www.aucd.org.au
The Australian Government's Best Practice Regulation Handbook
The Best Practice Regulation Handbook has been launched by Dr Peter Shergold, Secretary of the Federal Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Handbook sets out the Australian Government's enhanced framework for analysing regulatory proposals. Regulatory impact analysis is a key tool for minimising the costs of regulation including business compliance burdens. It is intended to ensure that regulation is only introduced after a rigorous examination of options and consequences.
The Best Practice Regulation Handbook was first released as a draft in November last year and has been finalised following broad consultation. It provides guidance on the analysis and consultation to be undertaken when developing regulatory proposals.
Printed Copies of the guide can be obtained from the Office of Best Practice Regulation by phoning (02) 6240 3290 or emailing helpdesk@obpr.gov.au.
Active transport for childcare centres
A new resource for local Councils provides helpful guidance on the issue of 'active transport' to childcare centres. The resource is the culmination of a year-long action research project investigating active transport issues for pre-school aged children and their parents.
'Active transport' is any physical activity undertaken as a means of transport. As an alternative to private vehicle use, active transport has significant health, environmental and community benefits. In the context of this project, active transport includes parents walking with their children, pushing them in a stroller, cycling with childseats, or taking public transport together.
The research project investigated the reasons for the current, highly car-dependent travel behaviour of parents taking their children to and from childcare centres and the barriers to active transport. The three Sydney Councils involved in this project, namely Waverley, Marrickville and Sutherland Shire, used research conducted by ISF to inform the development of interventions to help increase the use of active transport in their communities.
These case studies are illlustrated in the resource, which also includes lessons from relevant literature and previous projects, findings from a parent survey conducted during the project, and tips for things Councils can do to plan for, encourage and increase active transport to childcare centres. The resource also includes links to further information and useful resources.
The resource was authored by ISF Research Principal Emma Partridge, and produced in partnership with the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), the Centre for Local Government (CLG), Marrickville, Waverley and Sutherland Shire Councils, and NSW Health. The research project was funded by the Local Government and Shires Associations' (LGSA) Healthy Local Government Grants Program. ISF contributed a range of research services to this collaborative project.
Clever Networks funding for Maroocy Shire
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan has announced $2.9 million in funding for the Maroochy Shire Council in Queensland to facilitate business innovation and productivity and increase service delivery options.
The project will use a mix of optical fibre cable, two new network points of presence, a number of new wireless base stations and the roll-out of a new 155Mbps additional backhaul link between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Citizenship test gets green light!
The Senate has approved the Federal Government's new Australian citizenship tests. The Citizenship tests ultimately will require prospective Australian citizens to correctly answer a number of questions based on Australia's geography, history, system of government and traditions. The Bill now goes back to the Lower House for final approval. Labor joined the Government in supporting the legislation but the Australian Democrats and Greens opposed it.
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Economic development managers, councillors and senior managers from local government and regional economic development bodies, including Area Consultative Committees, will meet in Sydney on 31 October- 1 November for the 2007 National Economic Development Conference.
The two-day conference, which will also host the 2007 Economic Development (ED) Awards, will take place at the Dockside Conference Centre overlooking Sydney's Darling Harbour precinct. More than 250 delegates are expected to attend the conference and the Awards Dinner, which follows on from the outstanding success of the inaugural Economic Development Conference in Melbourne last November.
International and local keynote speakers will include: Ronnie Bryant, Vice Chairman of the International Economic Development Council (US); Ann Verboeket, Director, Economic Development Association of New Zealand; David Keenan, Chair of Economic Development Australia, and Colin Dunn, Vice President, International Council of Small Business.
The two-day event will be hosted by Economic Development Australia, the professional body for economic development practitioners and managers in local, regional, state and federal governments. Successful case studies in attracting investment, rebuilding local economies, developing more entrepreneurial approaches within local businesses, and identifying the key drivers within regional and local economies will be outlined, allowing delegates to immediately use that information.
It will provide a unique opportunity to network with economic development managers in local government and regional economic organisations from all parts of the country. The agenda of the 2007 conference can be viewed at www.halledit.com.au/conferences For more information, please telephone the conference organisers, Hallmark Conferences on 03 8534 5000 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au
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Senate committee backs local democracy in Queensland
The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Pubic Administration has recommended that that the Senate pass legislation providing for Australian Electoral Commission support for local plebiscites on council amalgamation in Queensland. ALGA, the Local Government Association of Queensland and many councils made submissions supporting the legislation to the Committee and appeared at its public hearings.
In addition to supporting the legislation, the Committee also recommended that the Commonwealth Government continue dialogue with local government on the issue of constitutional recognition of local government (the Federal Labor Opposition has already stated its support for constitutional recognition) and the Senate conduct a future inquiry into the impacts of the Queensland amalgamations.
The Committees report is available on the Senate Website.
The plebiscites Bill is currently being debated by the Senate and is expected to be passed by the Parliament next week.
ALGA President addresses AMA Rural Health Crisis Summit
ALGA President, Cr Paul Bell, was invited to present a local government perspective on rural health issues at the recent Australian Medical Association (AMA) Rural Health Crisis Summit which was held in Canberra this week.
Cr Bell emphasised the importance of local government being consulted by other spheres of government in the development of policy and programs that relate to rural health services, and pointed out the expanding role that local government has been taking to address declining services in rural and remote communities.
The impacts of cost shifting on Council finances and sustainability was also high on the agenda, acknowledging Councils taking on a broader health role where other spheres of government or private sector are withdrawing from providing both health facilities and services in many rural communities.
The overall importance that rural health services and professional health providers play to the long term sustainability and viability of regional Australia was discussed at length, as was the importance of providing infrastructure ranging from health facilities, to roads and airstrips to ensure access to rural and remote communities.
The use of more innovative solutions such as patient and education services that rely on broadband access across Australia were also seen as options to improving health care in rural areas, however it was the need to address the shortage of doctors and other health care professionals in rural Australia which was seen as the greatest challenge.
The summit was also addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, and saw the launch of the AMA's "Building Better Health Care for Rural Australia - Launch of the AMA Rural Health Policy Paper" by AMA Federal President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua.
Further information and copies of the AMA paper can be found at www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-76V7MC
Federal Opposition proposes changes to rural medical infrastructure fund
The Federal Opposition has announced that if elected it will make changes to the Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund to increase the amount of funding available to individual projects to $500,000 and to allow towns with populations of up to 20,000 to apply for funding. The increased limits were among a number of proposed changes to the $15 million program announced on 12 September by the Shadow Minister for Regional Services Simon Crean and the Shadow Minister for Health Nicola Roxon.
Reminder on presentations for Councils on Show at the 2007 National General Assembly
Time is running out to get presentations in for this year's Councils on Show segment at the 2007 National General Assembly to be held in Darwin from 26-29 November.
Councils on Show!, introduced at the 2006 event, will once again be a feature in the 2007 National General Assembly and councils are invited to submit DVD presentations of a maximum of 5 minutes duration showcasing local government innovation across Australia.
While not wishing to limit council entries, preferences for selection will be given to those entries that demonstrate initiatives in line with the NGA07 theme.
Under the theme, A Climate for Change, this year's Assembly will further build on ALGA's 3F campaign – Fair Funding; Fair Treatment and Formal Recognition. The Assembly will explore a broad range of issues impacting on local government:
Political climate – Constitutional recognition of local government
Financial climate – infrastructure affordability and financial sustainability for local government
Natural climate – climate change and its implications for local government
In addition, improved asset management is one of the key recommendations from the PricewaterhouseCoopers report into the financial sustainability of local government, commissioned by ALGA. Your council may have initiatives in the area of asset management that it wishes to share with local government nationally. Such an entry would be considered favourably for inclusion in Councils on Show!
Please send your applications by post to the National Events Manager, 8 Geils Court, Deakin, ACT, 2600 by no later than Monday 24 September 2007.
Councils receive advice on access standards for buildings
Councils across Australia would have recently received correspondence from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) regarding a range of access related issues relevant to local government.
One area that HREOC has drawn attention to is the work being undertaken to revise the current disability access provisions of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the development of a Disability Discrimination Act Disability Standard on Access to Premises (Premises Standard).
This work will have many important consequences for Councils. As it is drafted, the new BCA and Premises Standard will apply to all new and significantly renovated Council owned and operated buildings. Changes to the BCA will also have to be applied and monitored through relevant planning and building approval processes.
In mid 2006 the Australian Building Codes Board presented its recommendations on the draft Premises Standards to the Federal Attorney General and Minister for Industry, Science and Resources for their consideration, however at this time no decision has been made.
This is an important issue for many Councils and resolution of the matter would address the current inconsistencies and confusions between building law and discrimination law.
A range of other access related resources are also being promoted by HREOC to local government including the CD titled "The good, the bad and the ugly "which looks at examples of common mistakes made in applying today's BCA
The CD is free and can be obtained from publications@humanrights.gov.au or from the Commission's website.
Further information on these and other access related issues is available from HREOC by contacting Michael Small in the Disability Rights Unit at michaelsmall@humanrights.gov.au or by visiting www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) rural woman's award 2008
Nominations for the above Award are now open and will close on World Rural Women's Day on 15 October 2007. The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women's Award 2008 is designed to recognise, but more importantly encourage, the vital contribution women make to rural Australia.
For further details visit www.ruralwomensaward.gov.au/default.htm
2006 Australian retail snapshot
The Australian Retail Snapshot 2006 provides coverage of the key issues affecting the retail industry in 2006. Released annually, the Snapshot series provides insights into industry performance, key players, consumer and retailer trends, and important opportunities and threats. It can be purchased from the Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS) website. See http://url.edna.edu.au/szPh
Appointment of planning administrators or panels - unsatisfactory performance order
The NSW Department of Planning has advised of the recent gazettal of heads of consideration for the exercise of power under section 118 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to appoint a planning administrator or panel to exercise the functions of a council where there is unsatisfactory performance in dealing with planning and development matters.
Under section 118(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 the NSW Minister for Planning may appoint a planning administrator or panel, or both, if: council has failed to comply with its obligations under the planning legislation, or the performance of a council in dealing with planning and development matters is unsatisfactory, or council agrees to the appointment, or the Independent Commission Against Corruption recommends it because of serious corrupt conduct by any councilors.
The Minister must take into account the heads of consideration in deciding whether the performance of a council is 'unsatisfactory' under s118 (1) (b). Council's planning performance may be deemed unsatisfactory if it does not meet any of the more than twenty criteria set out in the recently gazetted heads of consideration (see Departmental Circular).
The Presidents of the New South Wales Local Government and Shires Associations have protested the wide ranging and subjective nature of the heads of consideration that allow the Minister almost unfettered powers to take away a council's planning powers (see LGSA media release ) The Associations have called on the State Government to make changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to ensure that councils' planning functions are not unjustifiably removed and to put in place a system where councils are given a formal warning and an opportunity to respond prior to any action being taken by the Minister.
State of Australian Cities (SOAC) national conference - Adelaide 28-30 November
SOAC is one of Australia's major urban policy and research conferences and this year's conference is being held in Adelaide from 28-30 November. Early bird registrations for the third State of Australian Cities conference close on 1 October.
Applications for the National Youth Roundtable 2008 are now open!
Applications for the National Youth Roundtable 2008 (Roundtable 2008) are now open and will close on Thursday 18 October 2007. The contact officers in the Youth Bureau are Debbie O’Donoghue (6212 9440) and Sharon Kent (6212 9559).
The Roundtable 2008 application form and supporting documents are available at www.thesource.gov.au/involve/NYR/
Quote of the week
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, It is a thing to be achieved."
Wm Jennings Bryant
International news 
Crushed Glass to Be Spread on Beaches. Picture a beautiful beach spanning miles of coastline, gently lapped by aqua-colored water-and sprinkled with glass. Ouch? Think again. It feels just like sand, but with granules that sparkle in the sunlight. Faced with the constant erosion of Florida's beaches, Broward County officials are exploring using recycled glass-crushed into tiny grains and mixed with regular sand-to help fill gaps. - Associated Press
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Annual Public Sector Update
Current directions in governance
With the ever-increasing complexity and evolution of public sector governance issues, CSA’s Public Sector Update is the best opportunity to gather current governance information in one fell swoop. It is also an excellent chance to interact with experts in this field and with peers.
The 2007 Update will cover: Is public sector governance heading in the right direction? How to balance commercial needs with policy responsibilities; How to develop an ethically sound governance culture; and How to ensure a return on investment in governance when risks become a reality.
Adelaide - 20 th September
For further information or to register visit www.CSAust.com/PublicSectorUpdate or call 1800 251 849
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