» Australian Local Government Association » Subscribe » Archive » Feedback » Email a colleague

Promises for local government on water and sewerage infrastructure

Story 1

Both major parties are committing millions of dollars in pre-election spending in an attempt to address the demands of the water shortage crisis, brought on by drought and what some experts believe are the effects of climate change. Some of the money is being spent on local government water and sewerage infrastructure which is ageing and needs replacing.

ALGA President Cr Paul Bell says he is heartened by the policy announcements, many of which are directed at local councils. ALGA's election document, "A 10-Point Plan to Reinvigorate Local Communities," calls on political parties to commit to working with local government to secure and protect water resources.

"Ensuring a secure supply of good quality water to the community is critical and has far-reaching economic, environmental and social consequences," he said. "Local government faces an infrastructure crisis and with financial sustainability a huge issue for councils and the current infrastructure backlog across the board, I am delighted that both parties are recognizing local government's role in climate change mitigation and providing water and sewerage services.

The Government announced its $4 million program to support local action on climate change last week, and has announced a national action plan for water security, and Labor has promised $250 million over 4 years for its fix leaking water pipes program. On 5 October Labor announced, if it wins government, it would jointly invest $6.6 million in partnership with the NSW Government to fix Braidwood's sewerage system. This was followed by an announcement on Wednesday by Liberal MP for Eden-Monaro Gary Nairn of $5 million for water-supply and sewerage projects in Braidwood and Bungendore.

"I look forward to further announcements by both major parties on water and sewerage infrastructure during the election campaign which acknowledges the crisis facing Australian councils," Cr Bell said.

"It is pleasing for local government to see this important issue take centre stage in the lead-up to the election campaign," Cr Bell said. "ALGA will continue to lobby on the issue of structural adjustment packages to assist communities to adjust to the impacts of changes to water entitlements or major water trading."

In addition to local water and irrigation projects announced by both parties, Labor has previously promised a $300m solar, green energy and water renovation program and the Government has previously announced a $252 million in residential solar hot water rebates and $336 million for school solar hot water/rainwater tank rebates.

Ferguson outlines Labor's transport agenda

Story 2

Martin Ferguson, the Shadow Minister for Transport. Roads and Tourism, speaking at the Australian Road Forum and Victorian Civil Construction Industry Alliance in Melbourne provided further insight into Labor's land transport policies.

He committed to, as a first priority, the conduct of a national audit of Australia's infrastructure and to produce an Infrastructure Priority List within the first year of the next Parliament and pointed to the need for ten-year plan to deliver on these priorities.

He also reconfirmed the Labor commitment to establish a body called Infrastructure Australia whose role would be to coordinate and oversee the delivery of a future Labor Government infrastructure investment. This body would address, as Labor sees it, one of Australia's biggest problems with national infrastructure as the lack of clear responsibility and accountability for infrastructure provision.

In the speech, Mr Ferguson aligned the Labor position with that of the Government by agreeing that the role of the national government in transport infrastructure centres around the freight task and the needs of the economy thereby freeing up state and territory governments to fund public transport.

Mr Ferguson said: "The role of the national government will be clearly centred around economic transport infrastructure and increasing efficiency across the whole transport system. The role of State and Territory governments will be to invest in public transport systems.."

The position of Labor, and the Government, in relation to public transport is at odds with the ALGA position which is seeking direct Federal involvement in the funding of urban public transport like other central governments around the world.

Mr Ferguson identified the physical separation of freight and people movement as one of the key priority investment areas.

Mr Ferguson also committed a future Labor Government to reinvigoration of a reform agenda and linking reform to a clear delineation of responsibilities. An area of reform specifically identified was the use of burgeoning superannuation funds through Public Private Partnerships to fund infrastructure and used the M7 in Sydney and Melbourne's Eastlink Project as examples of how this might work. He also identified the need to improve the way works are contracted and saw the establishment of true alliances between infrastructure developers and the contracting sector.

National transport infrastructure priorities were listed by Mr Ferguson as:

  • Productivity gains in our key export supply chains like the wheat lines and our coal and iron ore ports;
  • Integration of land transport systems with air, sea; and inland ports; and
  • The easing of urban congestion in our cities.

Although there were no specific commitments on local roads in the speech, Mr Ferguson has previously committed to matching the Government on R2R funding.

ALGA will continue to monitor both the Opposition and the Government's announcements and bring these to the attention of councils over the period of the election campaign.

Council promotes responsible pet ownership

story3

Holroyd City Council's Petfest is about promoting responsible pet ownership, raising awareness of the council's low-kill policy for companion animals and raising funds to help rehome abandoned pets. The PetFest MC was the well-known Steve Austin from Harry's Practice."PetFest is a festive and fun way for pet owners and would-be pet owners to learn about their animals and services available from Council. It's not just about dogs and cats, but all sorts of pets (like ducks and goldfish)!," said Holroyd City Mayor Clr Dr John H Brodie.
From the President

The seemingly endless drought, arguably the worst in Australia's history, is having wide-ranging and largely unanticipated effects on communities throughout Australia, particularly in rural areas.

Much of the New South Wales wheat crop has already failed, South Australia's is patchy and in Western Australia the all important north-west wheat belt is in the midst of an unmitigated disaster.

Even in the cities, we are seeing prices for staples going up. The price of fruit and vegetables have risen by 30% in the past two years and there are reports that bacon and eggs could become a luxury with egg, milk, pork and meat producers complaining that higher feed grain prices were hitting them hard. Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader John Anderson predicted this week on ABC radio that falling production and soaring prices could cause a global 'food shock.'

Continuing drought payments through the Government's relief package for farmers, including exit payments for farmers to leave drought-stricken properties, are providing a welcome lifeline for farmers and local businesses will also benefit from the assistance. Labor has also promised that if elected it will spend a substantial amount on climate change research and funding to help farmers adjust.

The effect of the drought is being felt broadly across communities and local government is, in many cases, struggling to provide ongoing services in rural and regional Australia.

Short-term assistance may not be sufficient for many in the country if the extended drought signifies a fundamental change in longer-term weather patterns.

The recent Rural Drought Crisis Summit held in Parkes by the NSW Shires Association showed a way forward with its call for the establishment of a taskforce on drought and a rates subsidy which would ensure that cash-strapped local councils are able to continue to meet the needs of their communities.

Local councils lie at the heart of their communities and during hard times, it is often the local council which people rely on to keep a local community together. The services and facilities provided by councils become all the more important.

ALGA's recently released election document 'A 10-Point Plan to Rejuvenate Local Communities' has at its heart two major recommendations which seek to maintain the capacity of local councils to service their communities - the Local Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund and direct funding as a proportion of general taxation revenue of at least 1%.

The infrastructure backlog faced by many councils means that community facilities essential to local residents need to be urgently repaired and upgraded. Community ovals, libraries, council-run meals on wheels kitchens, scout halls and senior citizen centres, many of which were built in the 1960s and 1970s are in a dire state, and councils are unable to fix them with the existing rate structure. Reform to council funding arrangements would assist the problem in the long-term and in the short-term, councils across Australia have shown over 1,000 examples of community facilities that could benefit from a federal fund of $250 million per annum over 4 years.

Councils are doing their bit - I know that a few wealthier councils are helping those that are struggling through relief efforts, quietly and without fanfare, and this is a great example of the community spirit local government is able to harness and inspire. We need to continue to lobby our leaders at the highest level to ensure that the suffering of our communities is not beyond their capacity to endure. Having just experienced the driest September in the historical record back to 1900, recent announcements by both major political parties offer some comfort, but the impact on all members of the community, and the local councils which serve them, needs to be recognised and addressed before once-viable communities turn into ghost towns.

Cr Paul Bell AM
ALGA President

United Nations Human Settlements Program awards

The UN-HABITAT Regional Awards on "Gender and Rights-Responsive Sustainable Cities in Asia and the Pacific" are now open. The theme of the 2007 award is "Mainstreaming Gender and Human Rights in Post-Disaster, Post-Conflict and Disaster Preparedness".

In total, 6 awards will be given: city awards (2 total: one for excellence, one for innovation), civil society awards (2 total: one for excellence, one for innovation), individual awards (2 total: one for excellence, one for innovation). Each will receive a cash prize acknowledgement, and awardees for excellence will be included in a UN-HABITAT awards ceremony in Fukuoka, Japan in March of 2008.

Further information about the awards process is available on our website.

Additionally, please feel free to contact ROAP Gender Focal Point, Lowie Rosales, (lowie.rosales@fukuoka.unhabitat.org ) with further questions.

Mental Health Kit for all workplaces

In marking World Mental Health Day, Minister for Workforce Participation Dr Sharman Stone has reminded employees and employers about the free Mental Health First Aid Kit.

"About one in five Australian adults will experience some form of common mental health problem in any one year," Minister Stone said . "So it's likely employers will employ someone with a mental health problem reasonably frequently."

The Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace e-learning course has been developed to give employers and managers , employees and their co-workers a greater understanding of mental illness and how people with mental illness can be supported in the workplace and the wider community.

The course is a joint effort between the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Mental Health Council of Australia. To get a copy of the Mental Health kit visit www.jobaccess.gov.au or phone 1800 464 800.

Launch of Australia's First Solar City

The Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, has officially launched Australia's first Solar City in Adelaide, this covers the Local Government areas of Adelaide, Salisbury, Tea Tree Gully and Playford.

$15 million is being invested in Northern Adelaide through the Australian Governments $75 million Solar Cities initiative, with a further $38 million expected to be contributed by industry and other partners to assist in the installation of clean energy systems.

The Adelaide Solar City will potentially save more than 28 gigawatt hours of electricity, representing $5 million a year in lower electricity costs and reduce greenhouse emissions by 30,000 tonnes each year.

Other Solar Cities include Townsville, Alice Springs, Blacktown and Central Victoria. The five Solar Cities in total will have more than 242,600 residents and businesses participating in the programme and eventual annual savings will exceed more than $10 million in electricity bills for the five communities.

For more information visit: www.greenhouse.gov.au/solarcities and www.adelaidesolarcity.com.au

Lismore like 'coleslaw' after hail storms

ismore Mayor Merv King says damage wrought by the hail storms that battered the north coast of New South Wales will cost the city close to 10 million dollars to repair.

The State Emergency Services Minister has declared the city a natural disaster area. Hundreds of homes and cars had their windows and roofs smashed in two fierce storms that hit yesterday afternoon with the SES receiving more than 500 requests from residents.

Emergency workers are now preparing for the worst with more storms forecast.Mr King says he did not expect the town to be fully operational for several months.

"The hail stones were the size of tea cups, amazing, I have never seen a hail storm like it in my 75 years here, it just went on and on and on," he said.

"The leaves and the mulch that had been knocked down from trees was six inches deep, it absolutely looked like coleslaw."

National Ride to Work Day - 17 October

Workplaces around Australia are being invited to be part of the inaugural National Ride to Work Day - Australia's biggest active workplace event. On 17 October regular and first-time riders from all states and territories will join in. Travelling by bicycle helps cut transport-related pollution and greenhouse gases as well as being great exercise!

Read more: www.bicyclensw.org.au/Ride2Work.asp

MAV welcomes planning statistics

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has welcomed the latest release of data from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) confirming that less than seven per cent of all local government planning permits are referred to the appeals tribunal.

Cr Dick Gross, MAV President said that despite increasingly complex planning scheme requirements and stretched resources, councils continue to improve their effectiveness in deciding applications to the satisfaction of the parties involved.

Australia's newest Ramsar site

On 20 September 2007, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, announced that Australia has listed its 65th Wetland of International Importance - the Paroo River Wetlands Ramsar Site in north-western NSW. More about the Paroo River wetlands

Commonwealth seeks comment on threatened species nominations

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources has established the Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL) for the assessment period commencing 1 October 2007.

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) invites public comment on several FPAL items to assist it with its assessment of whether the items are eligible for inclusion in an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC list of threatened species and, if eligible, the category in which they are eligible to be included.

Comments are to be submitted in writing or electronically by no later than 13 November 2007 to:

Committee secretariat
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
or email: epbc.nominations@environment.gov.au

Nominate places for inclusion in the National Heritage List or Commonwealth Heritage List

In accordance with the provisions of sections 324J and 341H of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act), the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources invites the community to nominate places for inclusion in the National Heritage List or in the Commonwealth Heritage List.

The date by which nominations must be received is 21 December 2007.

Commonwealth Heritage nominations must be made on the official form, available from the Nominations Manager, whose address is given below.

In the case of the National List, submit an online request for the national heritage list nomination form.

Information on what places are already listed or nominated can be obtained from the Nominations Manager or from the Internet by searching the Australian Heritage Database.

Parliamentary Committee on Migration

A new report, released by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Migration, makes recommendations to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s temporary business visa program, maintain the program’s effectiveness to meet the needs of business, and ensure fair conditions for overseas and Australian workers.

The report makes 25 recommendations on Australia’s temporary skilled migration arrangements, with a particular focus on the 457 visa. Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4560, from the Committee's website or by emailing jscm@aph.gov.au.

'Playing Australia' Program

'Playing Australia', the National Performing Arts Touring Program, is an interesting program in the DCITA portfolio. It has assisted the touring of performing arts across Australia since 1992 - ballet, Indigenous dance, jazz, classical music, Shakespeare, bilingual theatre. Funding is to companies, producers, venues, presenters and tour organisers to tour across state borders where this is currently not commercially viable and there is demonstrated public demand. There are two funding rounds per year.

The Minister for Arts and Sport announces funding in April and September for tours commencing from July and January, respectively.

An advisory committee, appointed by the Minister for the Arts and Sport, assesses applications against the published program guidelines, through a competitive selection process.

The next round closes on Monday 17 December 2007 and will be for tours commencing after 1 July 2008.

For more information - email playing.australia@dcita.gov.au
or write to:
Senior Program Officer
Playing Australia
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: 02 6271 1665
Free call: 1800 819 461 (within Australia)
Fax: 02 6271 1122 (please note that faxed applications are not accepted)
ALGA Ten Point Election Plan - Response from the Australian Logistics Council

The Australian Logistics Council has responded to the ALGA 10-Point election plan to reinvigorate local communities. The Australian Logistics Council is the national peak body for freight and has indicated that it is ready to work closely with ALGA to deliver on issues of common interest. In particular it has identified working together on a number of freight related issues including:

  • Calling on all State Governments to complete comprehensive and integrated freight plans;
  • Supporting all local authorities to compete freight plans relevant to their circumstances;
  • Ensure AusLink funding targets the right priorities;
  • Working to develop skills and experience in the human capital needed by local business; and
  • Streamlining regulations to drive avoidable and unnecessary costs out of Australian supply chains.

The ALGA 10-Point Plan has been developed as a call from Local Government to all the political parties to address the specific issues affecting local communities. The Plan puts forward local government's agenda and calls on decision-makers to implement proposals aimed at reinvigorating local communities.

Details of the 10-Point Plan can be found at www.alga.asn.au

Broadband at more regional exchanges

Telstra will switch on ADSL broadband at another 211 regional exchanges after signing a funding agreement with the Australian Government.

The agreement means broadband will become available for the first time in towns such as Hoddles Creek in Victoria, Roseworthy in South Australia and Mount Alford in Queensland.

Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan said the new services were being delivered under the government's broadband guarantee.

The scheme involves federal subsidies for internet access for people in regional areas who cannot access a reasonable broadband service.

"I welcome Telstra's participation in the Australian broadband guarantee, along with the other 13 applicants that have been approved to supply broadband services under the program," she said. "The Howard government knows how important access to fast and affordable broadband is for regional communities.

"The Australian broadband guarantee provides a safety net for all Australians who cannot receive an affordable metro-comparable broadband service."

Under a government plan to make fast internet services available to 99 per cent of Australians, built-up areas will get a high-speed fibre-to-the-node broadband network.

Regional areas will get a slower broadband service delivered via ADSL2+ and wireless WiMax technology. Details of the 211 exchanges available on the Minister's website: www.minister.dcita.gov.au

Architects call for more commitment to Indigenous Housing

The Federal Government should be commended for announcing increased spending on indigenous housing in the NT, but must show a similar commitment nationally to resolve long-term critical housing issues, argues the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA).

Releasing its new Indigenous Housing Policy, the RAIA said the Federal Government was showing much-needed leadership in addressing indigenous housing, but must be mindful of key issues. More information can be obtained here.

Tourism Impact Model seminars - free events in NSW and Darwin

In 2007, the Federal Minister for Tourism and Small Business, the Hon Fran Bailey MP released a new web-based Tourism Impact Model (TIM). TIM allows councils to estimate the costs and benefits of tourism on their budgets and on their local areas. TIM can be accessed by local governments at www.newtim.com.au. Access has been provided to every council in Australia.

In order to promote and assist in greater usage of the model, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources will hold national workshops in Sydney and Darwin.

The workshop will cover how TIM operates, what it can be used for and it will also highlight recent improvements in the model.

It will also cover the next data update which will be undertaken before the end of the year. The workshop will be of particular interest to local government tourism and economic development officers.

The first workshop will be held at the Local Government Association of NSW, Level 8, 28 Margaret Street Sydney NSW 2000. It will take place from 10.30 am to 3.00 pm on Tuesday 30 October 2007.

The Darwin workshop will take place from 10.45 am to 3.00 pm on Thursday 29 November 2007 in Darwin. The Darwin workshop will be held in Darwin at the at the Darwin City Council offices at Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin.

If there is sufficient demand, the Darwin workshop will be repeated on Friday 30 November.

The workshop has been timed to coincide with the National General Assembly of Local Governments which will take place in Darwin from 27 to 29 November.

If your local government wishes to send participant(s), could they please email the following details: their name, position, Email address and phone number, preferably before cob Friday 19 October 2007 to paul.kauffman@indsutry.gov.au. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Workshop details will then be forwarded to participants.

The workshops are free, and a free sandwich lunch and refreshments will also be provided for participants.

Top ten constraints on investment

Local government regulations is number 7 of the top ten constraints on business investment according to the latest SAI Global-ACCI Survey of Investor Confidence released today, with previous rankings in brackets.

  1. Availability of suitably qualified employees (1)
  2. Business taxes and government charges (2)
  3. Wage costs(4)
  4. State government regulations (3)
  5. Non-wage labour costs (5)
  6. Local competition (7)
  7. Local government regulations (8)
  8. Interest rates (9)
  9. Charges by leading institutions (10)
  10. Federal government regulations (7)
Greenhouse emissions 'worst case scenario' - Flannery

A keynote speaker at ALGA's National General Assembly in Darwin in November says Australia's greenhouse gas emissions have reached levels beyond the worst case scenario of projections.

Acclaimed author and scientist Professor Tim Flannery says the results of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change synthesis report due for release next month shows in 2005, Australia has already produced the amount of greenhouse gases expected a decade away. To register for the National General Assembly go to www.nga.alga.asn.au

Extra WA farmers eligible for drought assistance

An extra three thousand farmers in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia can apply for drought assistance.

Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has announced an additional 55 million dollars will be available to farmers under the extension of the exceptional circumstances area until March 2009.

Mr McGauran who visited the area last week says there's only been limited rainfall in September and all forecasts indicate another poor production year.

He says small businesses in drought stricken towns of up to 10 thousand people could also apply for EC assistance.

The funding is on top of a 714 million dollar lifeline to farmers announced by Prime Minister John Howard last month.

Improved Broadband Technology for Flying Doctors

The provision of medical services to rural Australia and broadband access to improve these services is something that ALGA has been very supportive on in recent times.

The recent announcement from the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, recently announced $2.7 million in funding as part of the "Clever Networks" program that will be used to develop the "eHealth for Remote Australia" project.

This project will enable The Royal Flying Doctor Service, and other appropriate health practitioners to access medical histories and other patient information of those in rural and remote areas of Australia, in an effort to improve the quality of health services in these areas.

The technology will enable mobile access to information that will improve in-flight assessments and also enable a better response on the ground.

Further information on the project can be obtained from: www.dcita.gov.au/clevernetworks

NSW faces election cost hikes

The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW today met the NSW Electoral Commissioner to raise concerns with massive hikes in bills for the 2008 Local Government elections.

As a result of the meeting, the Associations are calling on councils to arrange similar meetings to discuss their individual bill increases.

"It was encouraging the Electoral Commissioner was open to discussions on the issue of election costs, given it's the State Government that decides who runs elections and how much councils will be charged," Cr McCaffery said.

"During the meeting the Commissioner undertook to listen to particular council case studies and make adjustments, and we are strongly encouraging councils to take up that offer.

President of the Shires Association, Cr Bruce Miller said the massive hike in bills, in some cases up to four times greater than in 2004, was a classic case of cost shifting.

"Councils were not consulted and no explanations were given - they literally received letters in the mail saying their communities were going to be hit with bills of up to $1.2 million," Cr Miller said.

"It's a classic case of cost shifting and symptomatic of Local Government's lack of autonomy.

The Associations say the solution is either Federal funding or councils being given the power to run their own elections free from fundraising constraints such as rate pegging.

The 2008 National SARRAH Conference

Call for abstracts now open for the Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH)conference in Yeppoon in August 2008.

Information available on the website – www.sarrah.org.au Deadline for abstracts: Friday 1 February 2008

Voter apathy dominates NZ local elections

The overwhelming trend in local elections across New Zealand is apathy. Not voting seems to be the clear choice in this round of local and regional council and health board elections, with about only one in four bothering to cast their votes. The returns are expected to the lowest in voting history.

Local Government New Zealand manager of local governance Mike Reid said the lowest voter turnouts were in the big cities, where people didn't know much about who they were voting for. "It's better they make an informed vote than just vote. On the other hand, we ought to be asking some questions about why people aren't making use in that opportunity they have got," he said. "There are lots of places in the world where people are fighting in the streets simply to have the freedom to vote, to choose their political leaders."

Quote of the week

"I don't think there's anything such as a safe seat any more."
Treasurer Peter Costello

International news  

The city of Belmont just south of San Francisco has banned smoking in multi-unit apartment buildings, making it one of the first cities in the world to take such draconian measures against secondhand smoke.

The Belmont City Council passed the ordinance on a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, declaring secondhand smoke a public nuisance and extending the city's current smoking ban to include individual apartments in multi-unit, multi-story residences.

Smoking will be permitted only in designated outdoor areas of multi-unit housing.Though Belmont and some other California cities already restrict smoking in multi-unit common areas, Belmont is the first city to extend secondhand smoke regulation to the inside of individual apartment units.

Smoking will still be allowed in single-family homes and their yards, and units and yards in apartment buildings, condominiums and townhouses that do not share any common floors or ceilings with other units.

The ban will not take effect for an additional 14 months after the ordinance is passed, so that one-year lease agreements will be unaffected.

Under the new ordinance smoking will not be allowed in indoor and outdoor workplaces, or in parks, stadiums, sports fields, trails and outdoor shopping areas.

Smoking on city streets and footpaths will still be permitted - AAP

State of the Regions report 2006-07